'.t^, ,,■; 



^:^r^^;;^• ;:;;.: ;.•■■■ 

•■•V;, j,-,y.' ,- .'• '.' ■ 



.' ',■ ■•>. •jL'.-.-.vv.} 




** *v », f 

• ■•''■ t « 






-:Ot'./ .V.!.-.\'y;juv. 

■ ^■■" 

,. .^^ .... . . .„,,, . 

rj.'.,-^r.-,'it;''.; .. ■ ;■•;• 

vv^J-v',- .:■,: 
■ 'W' ■ '. ■ 

H.; ,•;:■;. -:,■■ 













Qass_L_5_S_^ 



Book. 



^^Ho. 



/ 



u 






_© 



k^ ^-«- 

9/' 



HISTORY 



OF 



STEUBEN COUNTY, 



INDIANA, 



TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNS, 
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL 
HIOTORT, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND 
BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. 






ALSO A CONDENSED 



HISTORY OF INDIANA, 



EMBODYING ACCOUNTS OF PREHISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, WINNE- 
BAGO AND BLACK HAWK WARS, AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS 
CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY. 



-^ 



IlililJSTKATED. 



CHICAGO: 
INTER-STATE PUBLISHING CO. 

1885. 






^t 



-S> 






S^3 /. 



THE BLAKELY PRINTING COMPANY. 

PRINTERS, 
'SS * IS7 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO. 



DONOHUE <Sr HENNEBERRY 
BOOKBINDERS, 
3IS-32I WABASH AVE., COR, CONGRESS ST. 
CHICAGO. 



■i" 



19 



l\^ 



PREFACE. 



(0 



Although Indiana, which has been styled the Eden of the new 
world, is destined in her strides to empire to become one of the 
first States of the Union, her history has been strangely neglected. 
Fragments have been written at different times, but only of de- 
tached periods and embracing but a small part of the century and 
a half which has elapsed since the first explorations. To supply 
this deficiency and furnish a history commensurate with her 
present advancement in power and civilization, it is necessary that 
the different localities in the State do their respective shares in 
compiling the material from which a suitable work may sooner or 
later be made up. 

To do this work for Steuben County, and furnish a history that 
may be of interest to the present generation, and of increasing 
value to those yet unborn, has been the aim of the publishers of 
this volume. In presenting it to subscribers, confidence is felt 
that it will meet with a cordial reception, j^o trouble nor expense 
has been spared to make it a complete and reliable history, and 
any errors or inaccuracies it may contain are due to the inability 
of the compilers to obtain the necessary information. 

Perfection is not claimed for the book, for " to err is human;" 
and although sci*upalous care has been observed, there is no doubt 
that the critic will find something to fill his hungry soal with de- 
light. Thanks are due to the editors of the RejpiMican and 
Herald for courtesies extended; to all the county officers, for 
innumerable favors; to public societies and churches for data 
furnished; and to the citizens generally for their ready co- 
operation and the interest they have taken. It has been our 
aim to give at least the name, if not more extended notice, of 
every " old pioneer," and if any are omitted, it is owing to the 



-TT 



"5> 



to 



<3\ 






PREFACE 



slight importance placed on the preservation of records in the early- 
days of our history, and failure on the part of those having the 
knowledge to impart it to the compiler. In the spelling of proper 
names, vs^e have found in this as in other counties that members 
of a family disagree; and where such is the case, who shall decide? 
In the personal sketches we of course "followed copy," but in the 
general history we have tried to give the preference to the forms 
used by the majority. Also, members of the same family differ 
often as 'to dates and places. In public records, too, we have 
found a single name spelled no less than twelve different ways. 

The desire expressed by many citizens for an outline history of 
Indiana induced us to add that feature to our prospectus, and we 
have accordingly prepared a history which we are willing to have 
compared with any yet published. But a review of the contents 
of this volume is not necessary. Our readers must be the judges 
of its value. We trust they will pronounce as their verdict that 
the book is not one to be read to day and then laid on the shelf; 
that, as other sources of information diminish, it will stand as a 
monument to tell to coming generations the noble part their fore- 
fathers took in the settlement of the grand State of Indiana, and 
the beautiful little county of Steuben. 

THE PUBLISHERS. 

Chicago, September, 1885. 



-7\ 



i \ 



<5\ 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Pre-Historic Races— First 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

FORMER OCCUPANTS. 

Immigration-Second Immigration-The Tartars-Relics of the 



'Mound BuUders-The Indians-Manners and Customs 

EXPLORATION BY THE WHITES. 



17-36 



37-51 



EXPEDITION OF COL. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 
Against Kaskaskia-Vincennes-Ingenious Ruse Against the Indians-Subsequent Career ^^^ 

of Hamilton- Gibault— Vigo 

GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST. 

„ . ^ 67-74 

Ordinance of 1787— Liquor and Gaming Laws 

MILITARY HISTORY, 1790-1800. 

Expedition 01 Harmar,Scott and Wilkinson- Expeditions of St-^lair and Wayne-Gen- ^_^^ 



eral Wayne's Great Victory. 



TERRITORIAL HISTORY. 



Organization of Indiana Territory-First Territorial Legislature--The Western Sun-Indl-^^^^^ 

ana in 1810 

GOVERNOR HARRISON AND THE INDIANS. 

87 100 
Treaties of Peace-Harrison's Campaign-Battle of Tippecanoe 

WAR OF 1812 WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 
Declaration of War-Siege of Fort Wayne-Expedition Against the Indians-Close of the ^^^ 

War 

TECUMSEH. 

poinlment 

CIVIL MATTERS OF 1812-1815. 

Messaee of John Gibson-Message of Governor Posey-Hospitality Toward the Indians-- 
Popu?ation of TsiS-General View-Close of Territorial History "^ 1^ 

ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE. 

Constitutional Convention-First General Assembly-Governor's Message-Rush of Im'^i-^,^^^ 
grants to the New State— General Prosperity 

BLACK HAWK WAR. 

Removal of Indians West of the Mississippi-Unwilling to Leave T^id' , hunting Grounds- 
An Attempt to Defy the Decrees of Government-Tlie Militia Called ^^'i*-*-^?^'''^® i^J_i3o 

Black Hawk 

LAST EXODUS OF THE INDIANS. 

Emigration under Command of Colonel Pepper and General Tipton-Indian Title8-6,000,-^_^^^ 
000 Acres Ceded to the United States 



4 



=!4 



CONTEJSTS. 

LAND SALES. 

First Land Sale— Settlers vs. Land Speculators— An Indian Scare— Harmony Com- 
munity 133-135 

MEXICAN WAR. 

Cause of the War-Troops Called Out— Incidents of the War— Bravery of the Soldiers— The 
Troops from Indiana— Cost of the War 136-143 

SLAVERY, AND INDIANA IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

Fifteenth Amendment— Indiana Patriots Among the First to Respond to the Call for Troops 
—Indiana's "War Governor" to the Front— 10,000 Men from Indiana— Three Months' Keg- 
iments- Three Years' Regiments— Minute Men— Six Months' Regimentg— One Hundred 
Days Volunteers-The President's Call of July, 1864— Call of December, 1864— Inde- 
pendent Cavalry Company— Colored Troops— Light Artillery— Battles in v?hich Indiana 
Soldiers Fought— After the War 144193 

FINANCIAL. 

Early Taxes— State Bank— Wealth and Progress— Internal Improvements— Canals— Turn- 
pikes— Railroads 194 205 

GEOLOGY. 
Developments of Mineral Resources— Rich Iron Mines— Coal— Lime 205-209 

AGRICULTURAL. 

State Board of Agriculture— Exposition -Indiana Horticultural Society— Indiana Pomo- 
logical Society 209-215 

EDUCATION. 

Public Schools— Indiana State University— Purdue University— Indiana State Normal 
School- Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute, Valparaiso— Denom- 
inational and Private Institutions 315-232 

BENEVOLENT AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS. 

Institute for the Education of the Blind— Institute for the Deaf and Dumb— Hospital for the 
Insane-The State Prison South— The State Prison North— Female Prison and Reforma- 
tory-Indiana House of Refuge 233-244 



Introductory. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEX COUNTY. 

CHAPTER I. 



Importance of Local History— Life in the Backwoods— Courage of the Pioneers— Their 
Labor and Rewards— Change of Fifty Years— Integrity and Generosity of the Early Set- 
tlers-Grand Achievements 245-351 

CHAPTER IL 

Scientific. 

Geography and Topography— Geology-Zoology 252-372 

CHAPTER III. 
Eari.t,.Histort. 

First Settlement and First Land Entries— Organization of County— Location of County 
Seat -Name ol County— First Officials— First Session Board of Commissioners— Bond 
of Joseph Pierce— Erection of Jamestown Township— First Treasurer of County— Erec- 
tion of Otsego Township— Assessor and Collector Appointed— County Buildings, Court- 
house, Jail and Asylum— Pioneer Reunions— Organization of Society— Proceedings of 
Meetings from 1873 to 1884— D. B. Griffin's Reminiscences— Mrs. J. B. Wisel's Reminis- 
cences 273-313 

CHAPTER IV. 

Political History. 

Whig, then Republican— Early Majorities— Presidential Vote from 1840 to 1884— Politi- 
cal Complexion of Townships— Total Vote at Each Presidential Election— Local Inde- 
pendence of Party Fetters— Personal Campaigns— Underground Railway Station at 
Orland— Official Vote from 1830 to 1884— Official List 314-338 



a' 

"7. 



Q a^ 



^- «6) 



CONTENTS. 



r 



The Cival War. 



CHAPTER V. 



Opening of the Strife— Springing to Arms— First Company in Steuben County— Early 
Enlistments- S-ott Township Guards— Regimental Sketches— Twenty-ninth— History 
of Company A, by Irenus McGowan— Forty-fourth— Forty-eighth— One Hundredth- 
One Hundred and Twenty-seventh (Twelfth Cavalry)— One Hundred and Twenty-ninth— 
One Hundred and Fifty-second- List of Steuben County's Volunteers— Soldiers' Reun- 
ion at Angola 339-406 



Thb Bar. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Early Lawyers— First Resident Attorney— Sketches of Those Who have Practiced Here 
—Present Bar— Sketches of Prominent Attorneys— G. B. Adams— E. A. Bratton— Cvrus 
Cline— A. W. Hendry— J. B. Langworthy— E. G. Melendy— J. K. Morrow— F. M Powers 
— L. H. Stocker— Stephen Powers ' 407 418 



Medical. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Pioneer Physicians— Union Medical Society— Steuben County Medical Society— Orn-an- 
ization-Requir-ments— First Officers— Changes in Membership— Present Officers- 
Steuben County Medical and Surgical Society— Organization— First Officers— Member- 
ship— Sketches of Prominent Physicians— T. E. Bierl y— J. B. Blue— D N E Brown— 
J. M. Browu-H. M. Byall— J. F. Cameron— A. P. Clark— M. T. Clay— Albert Eastman— 
S. H. Fuller— C. W Goodale— D. P. Hathaway— G. W. McConnell— James McConnell— 
W. H. Miller— J. H. Moore— A. G. Parsell- E. S. Robison— M. F. Shaw— Frederick Sher 
man— E. B. Simmons— Robert Smith— E. A. Taylor— W. H. Waller— T B Williams— 
H. D. Wood— T. F. Wood 419 444 



The Press. 

Indiana Review 
W. Ferrier, 
Sheffer 



CHAPTER VIII. 



view— Hoosier Banner— Truth Seeker— Steuben Republican— Sketches of W 
, O. F. Rauestraw aud F, T. Burnham— Angola Herald— Sketch of W. k! 



.445-449 



Educational. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Introductory— Progress in Methods and Standards— Importance of Good Schools— Early 
Schools— Text Books— Northeastern Indiana Literary Institute, or Orland Academy-- 



Tri-State Normal College. 



AaaiCTILTURAL. 



CHAPTER X. 



Steuben an Agricultural County— Steuben Agricultural Society— Fairs— Pleasant Lake 
Agricultural Society— Fairs at Orland— Agricultural Statistics 458-465 



Miscellaneous. 



CHAPTER XI. 



Postofflces and Postal Service in Steuben County— Property and Taxation— United 
Brethren Church— Red Ribbon Movement— Drowned in the Lak 38— Steuben's Oldest 
Inhabitant— A Lucky Find— Spelling Matches— Silas Doty 466-494 



Mill Grove Township. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Geographical and Descriptive— First Settlement— Arrivals in 18,35 and 1836— Naming of 
Orland— First Mill and Dwellings— First Store— First Births, Marriages and Deaths- 
Early School-houses and Religious Meetings— Early Physicians— Churches and Pastors 
—Lodges— Political— Biographical 495-518 



Jamestown Township. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Position— Geography andTopography— First Settlers— First Land Entries— Postmasters 
and Post Routes— First Events— Independence Day in 1841— Jamestown's Early Days- 
Michael Depue— Barton Collins-Population— Agricultural Statistics— Politics— Town- 
ship Officials— Biographical 519-540 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Fremont Township, 

Fir?t Known as Brockville— Geography and Topography— Earlv Settlement— Those 
Who Came Before 1810— R. A. Gaines and His Career— Platting of Brockville, afterward 
Fremont— Mail Routes— Ad. Knott's Store— Fourth of July, 1838— First Dwellin<T8 
School-houses and Churches— First Land Entries— Fremont— Societies— Business Firms 
— S.atiStical-Politics— Biographical 541-583 

CHAPTER XV. 

Clfau Lake Township. 

Tiie Northeastern Corner of Indiana— Description— Geography — Clear Lake— First Set- 
tljrs and Land Eutries-First Birth, Marriage and Death— Early Religious Services— 
Population- Agricultural Statistics— Property and Taxation— Politics— Official— Bio- 
graphical 533-593 



(5^ 






:A 



'^ 



CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER XVI. 

YOEK TO^TJSHIP. 

Geographical— DeBcriptive— First Land Entries and Settlers— Immigrants Prior to 1840 
-First Events— Population and Agricultural Statistics— Property and Taxation— Polit- 
ical— Official— Biographical 594-631 

CHAPTER XVII. 
Scott Township. 

Formation— Boundaries— Description-First Land Entries— First Settlers— Oldest In- 
habitant, Willard Dewitt— First Mill, School, Teacher and School-house— Population- 
Statistics— Politics— Official— Biographical 632-646 



Pleasant Township. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Geography— Description— First Land Entries and Settlers— First Religions Services and 
Schools— First Marriage and Birth— Living Pioneers— Population— Statistics— Politics 
—Official— Angola— Survey— County Seat — Postofflce- First Lawyers and Physician— 
Banks— Angola Incorporated— Additions— Business Directory— Banks— Officials — Pro- 
fessional— Churches— Societies-Biographical 647-697 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Jackson Township. 

Geography— Description — Oldest Settled Township in County— First Comers and Land 
Entries— Name— First Events— Pioneers from 1831 to 1840— Flint— Popnlation-Statis- 
tlcs- Politics— Biographical 698-721 

CHAPTER XX. 
Salem Township. ' 

Situation— Geography— Description— First Entries and Settlers— First Church and 
School-house— Postofflces— SaUm Center— Hudson— Turkey Creek-Population —Sta- 
tistics— Politics— Biographical 722-765 

CHAPTER XXI. 
Steuben Township. 

Geography— Description-First Events— Steubenville—Steubenville, Jr.— Pleasant Lake 
— Founders- Societies, Churches and Business— Population— Statistical — Political— Offi- 
cial— Biographical 766-805 

CHAPTER XXn. 
Otsego Township. 

Geography-Description— Lakes— First Land Entries— First Settlers— First School- 
house- First Birth and Death— Enterprise, or Hamilton— Population of the Township — 
Agricultural Statistics— Property and Taxation— Politics-Presidential Vote, 1840- '84— 
Biographical 806-850 



Richland Township. 
Position— Geography 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



Description— First Land Entries— Early Settlers — First Frame 
Dwelling— First School house. Mill, Ctiurch— Richland Center, or Alvarado- Pioneers- 
Population— Statistics— Politics— Biographical 851-868 



BIOORAPHICAIi SKETCHES. 



Chandler, M. L 586 

Davenport, G. H 587 

Lash, Samuel 588 



Burdick, J. L 557 

Callen, William 558 

Caswell, A. M 559 

Dougherty, C. H 560 

Failing, Adam 561 

P^ollett, A. R .561 

Fox, J.K 562 

Gleason, Wakefield 563 

Goff, B. J 563 

Goodell, W. M 564 

Hall, J. H 565 



CLEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP. 

McElroy, Robert 588 

OberRt, Christopher 589 

Rathbun, V. W 589 

FREMONT TOWNSHIP. 

Heath, W.T 566 

Holcomb, B. B 566 

Johnston, Thomas 567 

McCuen, Robert 56'^ 

McNaughton, J. S. C .'569 

Michael, Philip 569 

Miller, Daniel 570 

Milnes,G.A 571 

Noyes, J. W 572 

Shaeffer, Daniel 573 

Shaefler, John 574 



Teeters, D. B 590 

Teeters, Elisha .591 

Young, L. I. C ...591 



Scott, W. L 574 

Shenk, Jacob 575 

Stephens, Joshua 576 

Straw, Elias 577 

Straw, Frederick 577 

Tillotson, Demary 578 

Trecarten, Henry 579 

White, Charles .^80 

Wolf, Jacob 581 



«• 



71< 



-^W 



Q_ 



CONTENTS. 



/e) 



Alcott, C. L 703 

Barr, Luke 70:i 

Boweiman, Michael 704 

BrowD, George 704 

Browu, Morris ..*,.... 704 

Butler, Justus 705 

Cleveland, (i. D 706 

Coleman, John 707 

Davie. David 707 

Doudt, Levi 708 

Baker, U. W 531 

Brown, Hon. Ezekiel 531 

Brown, Ruesel.... 532 

Collins, Barton 529 

Collins, G.W 532 

Cory,C. H 533 

Depue, Michael !i29 

Dewey, C.T 533 

Bennett, J. U 50fi 

Haokett,John 507 

Hunter, J. A 50S 

Johnson, Peter 508 

Linquist, Nelson 509 

Lyons, O. E 509 

Aldrich, D. W 810 

Baker, Christopher 810 

Baker, Jacob 811 

Baker, J. S 811 

Baker, Nathaniel 812 

Baker, Samuel 813 

Beard, Elijah 813 

Beard, Franklin 814 

Beaid, L. H ..814 

Bland, William 815 

Brooks, S. S 810 

Browu, W.H. L 81ti 

Buret), Chester 817 

Bnrch, Henry 817 

Cameron, William 818 

Carpenter G. H 818 

Carpenter, H. J 819 

Chard, Levi 819 

Clark, James 820 

Cox,S. M 821 

Anspaugh, Samuel 665 

Batlielder, Charles Bti5 

Bar jarow , A . J 6H6 

Beard, W. H 6G7 

Bigler, Levi 637 

Cameron, John 6ti8 

Carlin, K. V 668 

Carpenter, J. H 669 

Carpenter, J. N 669 

Carr, W. M 670 

Carter, Harrison 671 

Carver, Orville 673 

Cole, Capt. W.H 672 

Crain, A. D 673 

Dunnam, Alonzo 674 

Fast, Allen 675 

AUman, Barnabas 8.54 

AUomon^, Jo:^eph 854 

Anspaugh, J. A. J 855 

Antipaugh, John 855 

Beebe, A. T 856 

Gary, W. S ..857 

Croy, Andrew 858 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

Golden, George 708 

Haines, T. W 709 

Huffman, John 709 

Hulls, Guernsty 710 

Jarvis, I>rael 711 

Jones, H. S 711 

Mariette, Daniel 712 

Mundy, George 713 

Mundy, Lewis 713 

Ousterhout, J. N 714 

JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP. 

Failing, Thomas 534 

Goodfellow, G. W 534 

Haiijht, Frank 534 

Lemmon, W.H..' 535 

Mallory, Asa 536 

Mallory, Clayton 536 

Mallory, Ellas 537 

Miller, H. C 538 

MILL GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



Parsell, A. D 715 

Richner, J. B 715 

Rysn, Robert. 716 

Sams, David 717 

Shaff stall, Nathaniel 717 

Shank, N. C 718 

Spangle, Henry 718 

Sqniers, C. S 719 

Siayner, Periy 719 

Twichell, Jonas, Jr 720 



Mugs;, Thomas 530 

Pereing, L. P .538 

Shutts, H. C 538 

Touslev, Joseph 530 

Ward, D. C 539 

Wheaton, Daniel 539 

Wilder, J. H 539 



McNelt, Jacob 510 i Slllabaugh, Elias 515 

Partridge, A Win 511 LSmith, Hezekiah 515 



Patterson, Adam 513 

Pocock, Levi 512 

Salisbury, C. D 513 

Schneider, C. F 514 

OTSEGO. TOWNSHIP. 

Crain, L. H 823 

Davie, D. H 822 

Parnum, G. R 823 

Faruum,Q.V 823 

Fee, John 824 

Pifer, Lewis 825 

Gilbert, J. A 835 

Griffith, B. P 826 

Griffith, John 827 

Griffith, Capt. Lewis 827 

Humphreys, R. H 828 

Ingalle, W. R 829 

Jackman, Robert 830 

Jackson, Andrew 830 

Jackson, Edwin 831 

Johnson, E. C 832 

Johnson, James 832 

Keyeb-, W. H e33 

Lemmon, Clay 834 

Lemmon, D. R 836 

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 

Fast, Christian 676 

Ferrier, William . .. .676 

Frey gang, Herman 678 

Goodale, Orville 678 

Green, George 679 

Hathaway,!!. P 679 

Hinwood, Peter 680 

Hcff,J. B 681 

Johnson, R.H 681 

Kemery, lirael 682 

Legg,T. E 683 

Loug, A. W 684 

l.ong, James 684 

Macartney, Francis 685 

Palireyman, William 686 

Phenicie, D. L 687 

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP, 

Douglas, John 859 

Gaskill, Melvin 860 

Uoadley, E. B 860 

Ireland, James, Sr 861 

Llut, J. S 862 

Money, Albert 863 

Morley, R. G 864 



Spear, Rev. E. R 516 

Thomson, W. W 516 

Wilder, G. K 516 

Wilder, Orlando 517 



Lininger, John 836 

Markley, Jonas 837 

Pelre, Chrictopher 838 

Reuner, K. G 839 

Rummel, Henry 840 

Ruu.mel, George 840 

Sauxter, Christopher 841 

Sewell, Andrew 841 

SiBson, L. P 843 

Slaybaugh, Isaac 843 

'Smith, L. 0-. 843 

Sweet, Hiram 844 

Switt,G. W 845 

Thomas, J. W 845 

Thomae, Rev. Jonathan 847 

Wtjlberry, G. H 847 

Williams, E. B 848 

Zimmer, Peter 849 



Poland, G.W 688 

Scoville, David 689 

Sesur, J. A 690 

Wowle, A. W. A 690 

Sowle, Francis 691 

Snyder, A. J 693 

Stealy, Lewis 693 

Slevens, Francis 693 

Voorhecs, J. S 694 

Ward, Ancil 694 

Waugh, J. E 695 

Welch, Rawson 695 

Wiggins, Endress 696 

Wiggins, Nathan 696 

Williams, L. R 696 



Musser, W. A 864 

Omstead, A. H 865 

Scoville, S. W 866 

Scoville, W. D 867 

Waller, Garrett 867 







CONTENTS. 



'k^ 



Bodley, L.N 737 

Brown, Charles 737 

Brown, S. W 738 

Brugli, Lcander 738 

Butler, II. P. &M. B 789 

Butler, .S. S 740 

Clink, Charles 741 

Conkliu, Calvin 741 

Oifflnbaugh, Abraham ... .742 

Emersouj Avery 74^ 

Fereusoii, Samuel 744 

Fisher, David 741 

FuUerton, Alexander 74.i 

Gilles-pie, D. S 74."> 

Goneor, Moses 74() 

GunsauUus, E. D 74ti 

Brown, Eobert 63(5 

Carpenter, Urial 636 

Covell.L. G 637 

Ewiu?. A. H ,63S 

Ewing, F. U H38 

Folck, J. K ()39 

Abbey, J. I> 771 

Aldrith, K. .S 773 

Ball, Julius 773 

Ball, A. V 773 

Birr, S.imuel 774 

BrooUs, George 775 

Carter, Samuel 776 

Chadvvick, F. H 777 

Charlton, William 777 

Clink, JohM 778 

Closson, G. W 778 

Grain, J. M 7S8 

Crampton, William 779 

CrOiion, Hiram 779 

Barron, Elmns L 602 

Barron, Fayette 603 

Boyer, Harmon 603 

Brooks, Willinni 604 

Couri. O. A 604 

Dunham Chester 60.") 

Duoliam, Lorenzo 60.") 

>;ilinti, J.C 1)06 

Elliott, S. H 607 

Elli*, H. D 60S 

Ferrier, John tiOH 

Frot^t, Leverett 60H 

Frost, Solomon 6(9 

Giliicrt, W. S 610 



SALEM TOWNSHIP. 

Haines, E. Ti 747 

Hammond, A. K 748 

Harpster, John 748 

Hay ward, Francis 748 

Ketch uni, Joseph 749 

Kimmel, J. R 7."i0 

Kimsey. W. E 7.')0 

Kirlin, John 750 

Lewis, Ha:vey 751 

Loughrey, John 7.'>2 

McLBiu,L.N 752 

Noll, Samuel 753 

Parker, Samuel 754 

Sams, Abdalla 755 

Shade, Christopher 7.55 

Shade, Marion ,..756 

SCOTT TOWNSHIP, 

Gasser, Benedict 639 

Gilford, Anauiah 640 

Goddard, R. H 640 

Greeuamyer, Jesse 641 

Harmon, L. D 611 

tiutchin8;Nelson t)42 

STEUBEN TOWNSHIP. 

Deller, Aaron 780 

Gardner, I. A 781 

Gaylord, D. W 781 

iieorge, Capt. S. B 782 

Gilbert, D. S 783 

Harpham, John, Sr 784 

Harpham, John, Jr 784 

Hottinnii, Daniel 785 

Huffman, A. F 785 

Jackson, Tlieophilas 786 

Lacy.N. M 787 

Lacy. T, S 787 

Lochwood, J. S 788 

Menges, Samuel 789 

YORK TOWNSHIP. 

Gundnim, Larry. .. 610 i 

Gundrum, Michael 611 

Hall, W. II 612 

Ueadloy, John 612 1 

Hemry Charles 613 

His.R.B 613 

Johnson, G. W 614 

Knieely, J, B 614 

Mitchell, W^.R 615 

Musser, J. F 616 

Phillips, A. C 616 

Porter, J. W 617 

Porter, S. D 617 

Powers, Calvin 618 



ShafEstall, Adam 7."6 

Shaffstall, Franklin 757 

Shaffstall, J. A 758 

Shields, Jesse 7.58 

Stover, Georg(» 7.59 

Stover, Samu 1 759 

Strawser, G. W 76() 

Sutherland, A. J 760 

Tubbs, Leroy 761 

Wagner, J. H 761 

Wilson, John 761 

Wisel, Otis 762 

Whysong, J. C 763 

Wright, Hhcry 764 

Wright, M. F 765 



Jones, J. W 613 

Jonts, Ziba H43 

Sharitl, John 644 

Segur, C. A 644 

Tasker, Thomas 645 



Murray, G. S 7t*9 

Ritter, Henry 789 

Ritter, Pi.ilip 790 

Robertson, Cyrus 79u 

Simmons, J. C 7'91 

•Smith, Isaiah 791 

Snyder, Jo: n 792 

Tuttle, C. V 793 

Van rt uken, F. B 794 

Van Auken, J. II 796 

Van All ken, Nancy 800 

Williams, S. R 803 

Wiusor, Ab;.er 80 » 

Wolf, William 805 



Powers, C.P 619 

Powers, Hon. Clark 620 

Powers, G. R 621 

Powers, J. Clark C'i2 

Powers, Myron 623 

Powers, S .' A 623 

Powers, Winn 626 

Rose, M. F 627 

Rummel, D. P, 628 

SattisoD, J ohn 629 

•Souder, G. A 629 

Weiss, W. L 6:',0 

Wicoff, William 630 



lIil.lTSTKATIO]ir!S. 



Carpenter, H J 818 

(;lark, Gen. Geo. Rogers... E3 
Early Explorers of Indiana 

Territory ... 25 

nioros;iyphiC8 of the Mound 

Builders 29 

Hunting Prairie Wolves 191 



Indians Attacking Front- 
ier-men 43 

Ma'> of Steuben County.. ..245 

McConuell, G. W 433 

Opening an Indiana Forest. 123 

Pioneer Dwelling 179 

Scene on the Ohio River.... 233 



Scene on the Wabash 145 

Tecumseh 109 

The Shawnee Prophet 88 

Van Anken.J. II 796 

Van Auken, Nancy 7's)7 

Vertical Section of the 
Rocks 257 




^ m> ^ 



^1 



-I- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



FORMER OCCUPANTS. 



PREHISTORIC RACES. 



Scientists have ascribed to the Mound Builders varied origins^ 
and though their divergence of opinion may for a time seem incom- 
patible with a thorough investigation of the subject, and tend to 
a confusion of ideas, no doubt whatever can exist as to the compar- 
ative accuracy of conclusions arrived at by some of them. Like 
the vexed question of the Pillar Towers of Ireland, it has caused 
much speculation, and elicited the opinions of so many learned 
antiquarians, ethnologists and travelers, that it will not be found 
beyond the range of possibility to make deductions that may 
suflSce to solve the problem who were the prehistoric settlers of 
America. To achieve this it will not be necessary to go beyond the 
period over which Scripture history extends, or to indulge in those 
airy flights of imagination so sadly identified with occasional 
writers of even the Christian school, and all the accepted literary 
exponents of modern paganism. 

That this continent is co-existent with the world of the ancients 
cannot be questioned. Every investigation, instituted under the 
auspices of modern civilization, confirms the fact and leaves no 
channel open through which the skeptic can escape the thorough 
refutation of his opinions. China, with its numerous living testi- 
monials of antiquity, with its ancient, though limited literature 
and its Babelish superstitions, claims a continuous history from 
antediluvian times; but although its continuity may be denied 
with every just reason, there is nothing to prevent the transmission 
of a hieroglyphic record of its history prior to 1656 anno mundi, 
since many traces of its early settlement survived the Deluge, and 
became sacred objects of the first historical epoch. This very sur- 
vival of a record, such as that of which the Chinese boast, is not 
at variance with the designs of a God who made and ruled the 
universe; but that an antediluvian people inhabited this continent. 



« 



J^ 



18 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



will not be claimed; because it is not probable, though it may be 
possible, that a settlement in a land which may be considered a 
portion of the Asiatic continent, was eifected bj the immediate 
followers of the first progenitors of the human race. Therefore, on 
entering the study of the ancient people who raised these tumu- 
lus monuments over large tracts of the country, it will be just 
sufficient to wander back to that time when the flood-gates of 
lieaven were swung open to hurl destruction on a wicked world; 
and in doing so the inquiry must be based on legendary, or rather 
upon many circumstantial evidences; for, so far as written narra- 
tive extends, there is nothing to show that a movement of people 
too far east resulted in a Western settlement. 






THE FIRST IMMIGRATION. 

The first and most probable sources in which the origin of the 
Builders must be sought, are those countries lying along the east- 
ern coast of Asia, which doubtless at that time stretched far bevond 
its present limits, and presented a continuous shore from Lopatka 
to Point Cambodia, holding a population comparatively civilized, 
and all professing some elementary form of the Boodhism of later 
days. Those peoples, like the Chinese of the present, were bound 
to live at home, and probably observed that law until after the con- 
fusion of languages and the dispersion of the builders of Babel in 
1757, A. M. ; but subsequently, within the following century, the 
old Mongolians, like the new, crossed the great ocean in the very 
paths taken by the present representatives of the race, arrived on 
the same shores, which now extend a very questionable hospitality 
to them, and entered at once upon the colonization of the country 
south and east, while the Caucasian race engaged in a similar move- 
ment of exploration and colonization over what may be justly 
termed the western extension of Asia, and both peoples growing 
stalwart under the change, attained a moral and physical eminence 
to which they never could lay claim under the tropical sun which 
shed its beams upon the cradle of the human race. 

That mysterious people who, like the Brahmins of to-day, wor- 
shiped some transitory deity, and in after years, evidently embraced 
tlie idealization of Boodhism, as preached in Mongolia early in the 
35th century of the world, together with acquiring the learning of 
the Confucian and Pythagorean schools of the same period, spread 
all over the land, and in their numerous settlements erected these 
raths, or mounds, and sacrificial altars whereon they received their 



W'l<r 



■v 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



19 



periodical visiting gods, surrendered their bodies to natural absorp- 
tion or annihilation, and watched for the return of some transmi- 
grated soul, the while adoring the universe, which with all beings 
they believed would be eternally existent. They possessed religious 
orders corresponding in external show at least with the Essenes or 
Theraputse of the pre-Christian and Christian epochs, and to the 
reformed Theraputae or monks of the present. Every memento 
of their coming and their stay which has descended to us is an evi- 
dence of their civilized condition. The free copper found within 
the tumuli ; the open veins of the Superior and Iron Mountain 
copper-mines, with all the modus operandi of ancient mining, such 
as ladders, levers, chisels, and hammer-heads, discovered by the 
French explorers of the jSTorthwest and the Mississippi, are conclu- 
sive proofs that those prehistoric people were highly civilized, and 
that many flourishing colonies were spread throughout the Missis- 
sippi valley, while yet the mammoth, the mastodon, and a hundred 
other animals, now only known by their gigantic fossil remains, 
guarded the eastern shore of the continent as it were against sup- 
posed invasions of the Tower Builders who went west from Babel; 
while yet the beautiful isles of the Antilles formed an integral 
portion of this continent, long years before the European l!Torthman 
dreamed of setting forth to the discovery of Greenland and the 
northern isles, and certainly at a time when all that portion of 
America north of latitude 45* was an ice-incumbered waste. 

Within the last few years great advances have been made toward 
the discovery of antiquities whether pertaining to remains of organic 
or inorganic nature. Together with many small, but telling 
relics of the early inhabitants of the country, the fossils of pre- 
historic animals have been unearthed from end to end of the land, 
and in districts, too, long pronounced by geologists of some repute 
to be without even a vestige of vertebrate fossils. Among the 
collected souvenirs of an age about which so very little is known, 
are twenty-five vertebrae averaging thirteen inches in diameter, 
and three vertebrae ossified together measure nine cubical feet; a 
thigh-bone five feet long by twenty-eight, by twelve inches in 
diameter, and the shaft fourteen by eight inches thick, the entire 
lot weighing 600 lbs. These fossils are presumed to belong to the 
cretaceous period, when the Dinosaur roamed over the country from 
East to West, desolating the villages of the people. This animal 
is said to have been sixty feet long, and when feeding in cypress 
and palm forests, to extend himself eighty-five feet, so that he may 



"5> 









20 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



devour the budding tops of those great trees. Other efforts in this 
direction may lead to great results, and culminate probably in the 
discovery of a tablet engraven by some learned Mound Builder, 
describing in the ancient hieroglyphics of China all these men and 
beasts whose history excites so much speculation. The identity of 
the Mound Builders with the Mongolians might lead us to hope 
for such a consummation; nor is it beyond the range of probability, 
particularly in this practical age, to find the future labors of some 
industrious antiquarian requited by the upheaval of a tablet, written 
in the Tartar characters of lYOO years ago, bearing on a subject 
which can now be treated only on a purely circumstantial basis. 

THE SECOND IMMIGRATION 

may have begun a few centuries prior to the Christian era, and 
unlike the former expedition or expeditions, to have traversed north- 
eastern Asia to its Arctic confines, and then east to the narrow 
channel now known as Behring's Straits, which they crossed, and 
sailing up the unchanging Yukon, settled under the shadow of 
Mount St. Elias for many years, and pushing South commingled 
with their countrymen, soon acquiring the characteristics of the 
descendants of the first colonists. Chinese chronicles tell of such 
a people, who went North and were never heard of more. Circum- 
stances conspire to render that particular colony the carriers of a 
new religious faith and of an alphabetic system of a representative 
character to the old colonists, and they, doubtless, exercised a most 
beneficial influence in other respects ; because the influx of immi- 
grants of such culture as were the Chinese, even of that remote 
period, must necessarily bear very favorable results, not only in 
bringing in reports of their travels, but also accounts from the 
fatherland bearing on the latest events. 

With the idea of a second and important exodus there are many 
theorists united, one of. whom says: "It is now the generally 
received opinion that the first inhabitants of America passed over 
from Asia through these straits. The number of small islands 
lying between both continents renders this opinion still more 
probable; and it is yet farther confirmed by some remarkable traces 
of similarity in the physical conformation of the northern natives 
of both continents. The Esquimaux of North America, the 
Samoieds of Asia, and the Laplanders of Europe, are supposed to 
be of the same family; and this supposition is strengthened by the 
affinity which exists in their languages. The researches of Hum- 



-7- 



V* 



-tu 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



21 



boldt have traced the Mexicans to the vicinity of Behring's Straits; 
whence it is conjectured that they, as well as the Peruvians and 
other tribes, came originally from Asia, and were the Hiongnoos, 
who are, in the Chinese annals, said to have emigrated under Puno, 
and to have been lost in the North of Siberia." 

Since this theory is accepted by most antiquaries, there is every 
reason to believe that from the discovery of what may be called an 
overland route to what was then considered an eastern extension of 
that country which is now known as the " Celestial Empire," many 
caravans of emigrants passed to their new homes in the land of 
illimitable possibilities until the way became a well-marked trail 
over which the Asiatic might travel forward, and having once 
entered the Elysian fields never entertained an idea of returning. 
Thus from generation to generation the tide of immigration poured 
in until the slopes of the Pacific and the banks of the great inland 
rivers became hives of busy industry. Magnificent cities and 
monuments were raised at the bidding of the tribal leaders and 
populous settlements centered with happy villages sprung up 
everywhere in manifestation of the power and wealth and knowl= 
edge of the people. The colonizing Caucasian of the historic 
period walked over this great country on the very ruins of a civil- 
ization which a thousand years before eclipsed all that of which he 
could boast. He walked through the wilderness of the West over 
buried treasures hidden under the accumulated growth of nature, 
nor rested until he saw, with great surprise, the remains of ancient 
pyramids and temples and cities, larger and evidently more beauti- 
ful than ancient Egypt could bring forth after its long years of 
uninterrupted history. The pyramids resemble those of Egypt in 
exterior form, and in some instances are of larger dimensions. The 
pyramid of Cholula is square, having each side of its base 1,335 
feet in length, and its height about 172 feet. Another pyramidj 
situated in the north of Vera Cruz, is formed of large blocks 
of highly-polished porphyry, and bears upon its front hiero- 
glyphic inscriptions and curious sculpture. Each side of its 
square base is 82 feet in length, and a flight of 57 steps conducts to 
its summit, which is 65 feet in height. The ruins of Palenque are 
said to extend 20 miles along the ridge of a mountain, and the 
remains of an Aztec city, near the banks of the river Gila, are 
spread over more than a square league. Their literature consisted 
of hieroglyphics; but their arithmetical knowledge did not extend 
farther than their calculations by the aid of grains of corn. Yet, 



-J ® 



\ 



IS 




22 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

notwithstanding all their varied accomplishments, and they were 
evidently many, their notions of religious duty led to a most demo- 
niac zeal at once barbarously savage and ferociously cruel. Each 
visiting, god instead of bringing new life to the people, brought 
death to thousands; and their grotesque idols, exposed to drown 
the senses of the beholders in fear, wrought wretchedness rather 
than spiritual happiness, until, as some learned and humane Monte- 
zumian said, the people never approached these idols without fear, 
and this fear was the great animating principle, the great religious 
motive power which sustained the terrible religion. Their altars 
were sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies in large 
quantities, and on them thousands of human victims were sacri- 
ficed in honor of the demons whom they worshiped. The head 
and heart of every captive taken in war were offered up as a bloody 
sacrifice to the god of battles, while the victorious legions feasted 
on the remaining portions of the dead bodies. It has been ascer- 
tained that during the ceremonies attendant on the consecration of 
two of their temples, the number of prisoners offered up in sacri- 
fice was 12,210; while their own legions contributed voluntary 
victims to the terrible belief in large numbers. Nor did this 
horrible custom cease immediately after 1521, when Cortez entered 
the imperial city of the Montezumas; for, on being driven from 
it, all his troops who fell into the hands of the native soldiers were 
subjected to the most terrible and prolonged suffering that could be 
experienced in this world, and when about to yield up that spirit 
which is indestructible, were offered in sacrifice, their hearts and 
heads consecrated, and the victors allowed to feast on the yet warm 
flesh. 

A reference is made here to the period when the Montezumas 
ruled over Mexico, simply to gain a better idea of the hideous 
idolatry which took the place of the old Boodhism of the Mound 
Builders, and doubtless helped in a great measure to give victory 
to the new comers, even as the tenets of Mahometanism urged the 
ignorant followers of the prophet to the conquest of great nations. 
It was not the faith of the people who built the mounds and the 
pyramids and the temples, and who, 200 years before the Christian 
era, built the great wall of jealous China. No : rather was it that 
terrible faith born of tlie Tartar victory, which carried the great 
defenses of China at the point of the javelin and hatchet, who 
afterward marched to the very walls of Rome, under Alaric, and 



^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



23 



spread over the islands of Polynesia to the Pacific slopes of South 
America. 

THE TARTARS 

came there, and, like the pure Mongols of Mexico and the Missis- 
sippi valley, rose to a state of civilization bordering on that attained 
by them. Here for centuries the sons of the fierce Tartar race con- 
tinued to dwell in comparative peace until the all-ruling ambition 
of empire took in the whole country from the Pacific to the Atlan- 
tic, and peopled the vast territory watered by the Amazon with a 
race that was destined to cojiquer all the peoples of the Orient, 
and only to fall before the march of the arch-civilizing Caucasian. 
In course of time those fierce Tartars pushed their settlements 
northward, and ultimatelv entered the territories of the Mound 
Builders, putting to death all who fell within their reach, and 
causing the survivors of the death-dealing invasion to seek a refuge 
from the hordes of this semi-barbarous people in the wilds and fast- 
nesses of the North and JSTorthwest. The beautiful country of the 
Mound Builders was now in the hands of savage invaders, the quiet, 
industrious people who raised the temples and pyramids were gone; 
and the wealth of intelligence and industry, accumulating for ages, 
passed into the possession of a rapacious horde, who could admire 
it only so far as it ofifered objects for plunder. Even in this the 
invaders were satisfied, and then having arrived at the height of 
their ambition, rested on their swords and entered upon the luxury 
and ease in the enjoyment of which they were found when the van- 
guard of European civilization appeared upon the scene. Mean- 
time the southern countries which those adventurers abandoned 
after having completed their conquests in the North, were soon 
peopled by hundreds of people, always moving from island to 
island and ultimately halting amid the ruins of villages deserted 
by those who, as legends tell, had passed eastward but never returned; 
and it would scarcely be a matter for surprise if those emigrants 
were found to be the progenitors of that race found by the Spaniards 
in 1532, and identical with the Araucanians, Cuenches and Huil- 
tiches of to-day. 

RELICS OF THE MOUND BUILDERS. 

One of the most brilliant and impartial historians of the Republic 
stated that the valley of the Mississippi contained no monuments. 
So far as the word is entertained now, he was literally correct, but 



-^w 



^'. 



to 



24 HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 

in some hasty effort neglected to qualify his sentence by a refer- 
ence to the numerous relics of antiquity to be found throughout 
its length and breadth, and so exposed his chapters to criticism. 
The valley of the Father of Waters, and indeed the country from 
the trap rocks of the Great Lakes southeast to the Gulf and south- 
west to Mexico, abound in tell-tale monuments of a race of people 
much farther advanced in civilization than the Montezumas of the 
sixteenth century . The remains of walls and fortifications found 
in Kentucky and Indiana, the earthworks of Vincennes and 
throughout the valley of the "Wabash, the mounds scattered over 
Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Virginia, and those found in Illi- 
nois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, are all evidences of the univer- 
sality of the Chinese Mongols and of their advance toward a com- 
parative knowledge of man and cosmology. At the mouth of 
Fourteen-Mile creek, in Clark county, Indiana, there stands one of 
these old monuments known as the "-Stone Fort." It is an 
unmistakable heirloom of a great and ancient people, and must 
have formed one of their most important posts. The State Geolo- 
gist's report, filed among the records of the State and furnished 
by Prof. Cox, says: "At the mouth of Fourteen-Mile creek, and 
about three miles from Charleston, the county-seat of Clark county, 
there is one of the most remarkable stone fortifications which has 
ever come under my notice. Accompanied by my assistant, Mr. 
Borden, and a number of citizens of Charleston, I visited the 'Stone 
Fort' for the purpose of making an examination of it. The locality 
selected for this fort presents many natural advantages for making 
it impregnable to the opposing forces of prehistoric times. It 
occupies the point of an elevated narrow ridge which faces the 
Ohio river on the east and is bordered by Fourteen-Mile creek on 
the west side. This creek empties into the Ohio a short distance 
below the fort. The top of the ridge is pear-shaped, with the 
part answering to the neck at the north end. This part is not 
over twenty feet wide, and is protected by precipitous natural walls 
of stone. It is 280 feet above the level of the Ohio river, and the 
slope is very gradual to the south. At the upper field it is 240 feet 
high and one hundred steps wide. At the lower timber it is 120 
feet high. The bottom land at the foot of the south end is sixty 
feet above the river. Along the greater part of the Ohio river 
front there is an abrupt escarpment rock, entirely too steep to be 
scaled, and a similar natural barrier exists along a portion of the 
northwest side of the ridge, facing the creek. This natural wall 




Tv 



(O 



HISTOEY OF INDIANA. 27 

is joined to the neck of an artificial wall, made by piling up, mason 
fashion but without mortar, loose stone, which had evidently been 
pried up from the carboniferous layers of rock. This made wall, at 
this point, is about 150 feet long. It is built along the slope of the 
hill and had an elevation of about 75 feet above its base, the upper 
ten feet being vertical. The inside of the wall is protected by a 
ditch. The remainder of the hill is protected by an artificial stone 
wall, built in the same manner, but not more than ten feet high. 
The elevation of the side wall above the creek bottom is 80 feet. 
Within the artificial walls is a string of mounds which rise to the 
height of the wall, and are protected from the washing of the hill- 
sides by a ditch 20 feet wide and four feet deep. The position of 
the artificial walls, natural clifiPs of bedded stone, as well as that of 
the ditch and mounds, are well illustrated. The top of the enclosed 
ridge embraces ten or twelve acres, and there are as many as five 
mounds that can be recognized on the flat surface, while no doubt 
many others existed which have been obliterated by time, and 
though the agency of man in his eflforts to cultivate a portion of 
the ground. A trench was cut into one of these mounds in search 
of relics. A few fragments of charcoal and decomposed bones, and 
a large irregular, diamond-shaped boulder, with a small circular 
indentation near the middle of the upper part, that was worn quite 
smooth by the use to which it had been put, and the small pieces 
of fossil coral, comprised all the articles of note which were revealed 
by the excavation. The earth of which the mound is made resem- 
bles that seen on the hillside, and was probably in most part taken 
from the ditch. The margin next to the ditch was protected by 
slabs of stone set on edge, and leaning at an angle corresponding to 
the slope of the mound. This stone shield was two and one-half 
feet wide and one foot high. At intervals along the great ditch 
there are channels formed between the mounds that probably served 
to carry off the surplus water through openings in the outer wall. 
On the top of the enclosed ridge, and near its narrowest part, there 
is one mound much larger than any of the others, and so situated 
as to command an extensive view up and down the Ohio river, as well 
as affording an unobstructed view east and west. This is designated 
as ' Look-out Mound.' There is near it a slight break in the cliff 
of rock, which furnished a narrow passage way to the Ohio river. 
Though the locality afforded many natural advantages for a fort or 
stronghold, one is compelled to admit that much skill was displayed 
and labor expended in making its defense as perfect as possible at 






iw 



G) 



28 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

all points. Stone axes, pestles, arrow-heads, spear-points, totums, 
charms and flint flakes have been found in great abundance in 
plowing the field at the foot of the old fort." 

From the " Stone Fort " the Professor turns his steps to Posey 
county, at a point on the Wabash, ten miles above the mouth, 
called "Bone Bank," on account of the number of human bones 
continually washed out from the river bank. " It is," he states 
"situated in a bend on the left bank of the river; and the ground 
is about ten feet above high-water mark, being the only land along 
this portion of the river that is not submerged in seasons of high 
water. The bank slopes gradually back from the river to a slough. 
This slough now seldom contains water, but no doubt at one time 
it was an arm of the "Wabash river, which flowed around the Bone 
Bank and afl'orded protection to the island home of the Mound 
Builders. The Wabash has been changing its bed for many years, 
leaving a broad extent of newly made land on the right shore, and 
gradually making inroads on the left shore by cutting away the 
Bone Bank. The stages of growth of land on the right bank of the 
river are well defined by thecottonwood trees, which increase in size 
as you go back from the river. Unless there is a change in the cur- 
rent of the river, all trace of the Bone Bank will be obliterated. 
Already within the memory of the white inhabitants, the bank has 
been removed to the width of several hundred yards. As the bank 
is cut by the current of the river it loses its support, and when the 
water sinks it tumbles over, carrying with it the bones of the 
Mound Builders and the cherished articles buried with them. No 
locality in the country furnishes a greater number and variety of 
relics than this. It has proved especially rich in pottery of 
quaint design and skillful workmanship. I have a number of jugs 
and pots and a cup found at the Bone Bank. This kind of work 
has been very abundant, and is still found in snch quantities that 
we are led to conclude that its manufacture formed a leading indus- 
try of the inhabitants of the Bone Bank. It is not in Europe 
alone that we find a well-founded claim of high antiquity for the 
art of making hard and durable stone by a mixture of clay, lime, 
sand and stone; for I am convinced that this art was possessed by 
a race of people who inhabited this continent at a period so remote 
that neither tradition nor history can furnish any account of them. 
They belonged to the Neolithic, or polished-stone, age. They lived 
in towns and built mounds for sepulture and worship and pro- 
tected their homes by surrounding them with walls of earth and r 

, g I ' _ ■ — - rr^ 



k- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



29 



stone. In some of these mounds specimens of various kinds of 
pottery, in a perfect state of preservation, have from time to time 
been found, and frap^raents are so common that every student of 
archaeology can have a bountiful supply. Some of these fragments 
indicate vessels of very great size. At the Saline springs of Gal- 
latin I picked up fragments that indicated, by their curvature, ves- 
sels five to six feet in diameter, and it is probable they are frag- 
ments of artificial stone pans used to hold brine that was manufac- 
tured into salt by solar evaporation. 

" Now, all the pottery belonging to the Mound Builders' age, 
which I have seen, is composed of alluvial clay and sand, or a mix- 
ture of the former with pulverized fresh-water shells. A paste 
made of such a mixture possesses, in high degree, the properties of 
hydraulic Puzzuoland and Portland cement, so that vessels formed 
of it hardened without being burned, as is customary with modern 
pottery." 

The Professor deals very aptly with this industry of the aborig- 
ines, and concludes a very able disquisition on the Bone Bank in 
its relation to the prehistoric builders. 





niEROGLYPniCS OF THE MOUND-BUILDERS. 

The great circular redoubt or earth-work found two miles west ot 
the village of New Washington, and the " Stone Fort," on a ridge 
one mile west of the village of Deputy, ofier a subject for the anti- 
quarian as deeply interesting as any of the monuments of a 
decayed empire so far discovered. 



FT 



30 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

From end to end of Indiana there are to be found many other rel- 
ics of the obscure past. Some of them have been unearthed and now 
appear among the collected antiquities at Indianapolis. The highly 
finished sandstone pipe, the copper ax, stone axes, flint arrow-heads 
and magnetic plummets found a few years ago beneath the soil of 
Cut- Off Island near New Harmony, together with the pipes of rare 
workmanship and undoubted age, unearthed near Covington, all 
live as it were in testimony of their owner's and maker's excel- 
lence, and hold a share in the evidence of the partial annihilation 
of a race, with the complete disruption of its manners, customs 
and industries; and it is possible that when numbers of these relics 
are placed together, a key to the phonetic or rather hieroglyphic 
system of that remote period might be evolved. 

It may be asked what these hieroglyphical characters really are. 
Well, they are varied in form, so much so that the pipes found in 
the mounds of Indians, each bearing a distinct representation of 
some animal, may be taken for one species, used to represent the 
abstract ideas of the Mound Builders. The second form consists 
of pure hieroglyphics or phonetic characters, in which the sound is 
represented instead of the object; and the third, or painted form of 
the first, conveys to the mind that which is desired to be repre- 
sented. This form exists among the Cree Indians of the far North- 
west, at present. They, when departing from their permanent vil- 
lages for the distant hunting grounds, paint on the barked trees in 
the neighborhood the figure of a snake or eagle, or perhaps huskey 
dog; and this animal is supposed to guard the position until the 
warrior's return, or welcome any friendly tribes that may arrive 
there in the interim. In the case of the Mound Builders, it is un- 
likely that this latter extreme was resorted to, for the simple reason 
that the relics of their occupation are too high in the ways of art to 
tolerate such a barbarous science of language; but the sculptured 
pipes and javelins and spear-heads of the Mound Builders may be 
taken as a collection of graven images, each conveying a set of 
ideas easily understood, and perhaps sometimes or more generally 
used to designate the vocation, name or character of the owner. 
That the builders possessed an alphabet of a phonetic form, and 
purely hieroglyphic, can scarcely be questioned; but until one or 
more of the unearthed tablets, which bore all or even a portion of 
such characters, are raised from their centuried graves, the mystery 
which surrounds this people must remain, while we must dwell in 
a world of mere suecujation. 



■i" 



.\h ^ "> dL 

* 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 31 

Vigo, Jasper, Sullivan, Switzerland and Ohio counties can boast 
of a most liberal endowment in this relation; and when in other 
days the people will direct a minute inquiry, and penetrate to the 
very heart of the thousand cones which are scattered throughout 
the land, they may possibly extract the blood in the shape of metal- 
lic and porcelain works, with liieroglyphic tablets, while leaving 
the form of heart and body complete to entertain and delight un- 
born generations, who in- their time will wonder much when they 
learn that an American people, living toward the close of the 59th 
century, could possibly indulge in such an anachronism as is im- 
plied in the term "New World." 

THE INDIANS. 

The origin of the Red Men, or American Indians, is a subject 
which interests as well as instructs. It is a favorite with the eth- 
nologist, even as it is one of deep concern to the ordinary reader. 
A review of two works lately published on the origin of the Indians 
treats the matter in a peculiarly reasonable light. It says: 

" Recently a German writer has put forward one theory on the 
subject, and an English writer has put forward another and directly 
opposite theory. The difference of opinion concerning our aborig- 
inals among authors who have made a profound study of races is at 
once curious and interesting. Blumenbach treats them in his 
classifications as a distinct variety of the human family; but, in the 
threefold division of Dr. Latham, they are ranked among theMon- 
golidse. Other writers on race regard them as a branch of the great 
Mongolian family, which at a distant period found its way from 
Asia^to this continent, and remained here for centuries separate 
from the rest of mankind, passing, meanwhile, through divers 
phases of barbarism and civilization. Morton, our eminent eth- 
nologist, and his followers, Nott and Gliddon, claim for our native 
Red Men an origin as distinct as the flora and fauna of this conti- 
nent. Prichard, whose views are apt to differ from Morton's, finds 
reason to believe, on comparing the American tribes together, that 
they must have formed a separate department of nations from the 
earliest period of the world. The era of their existence as a distinct 
and insulated people must probably be dated back to the time 
which separated into nations the inhabitants of the Old World, and 
gave to each its individuality and primitive language. Dr. Robert 
Brown, the latest authority, attributes, in his " Races of Mankind," 
an Asiatic origin to our aboriginals. He says that the Western In- 
dians not only personally resemble their nearest neighbors — the 
Northeastern Asiatics— but they resemble them in language and 
traditions. The Esquimaux on the American and the Tchuktchis 
on the Asiatic side understand one another perfectly. Modern an- 

c — ■ 



- * 

32 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

thropologists, indeed, are disposed to think that Japan, the Kuriles, 
and neighboring regions, may be regarded as the original home of 
the greater part of the native American race. It is also admitted 
by them that between the tribes scattered from the Arctic sea to 
Cape Horn there is more uniformity of physical features than is 
seen in any other quarter of the globe. The weight of evidence 
and authority is altogether in favor of the opinion that our so- 
called Indians are a branch of the Mongolian family, and all addi- 
tional researches strengthen the opinion. The tribes of both Korth 
and South America are unquestionably homogeneous, and, in all 
likelihood, had their origin in Asia, though they have been altered 
and modified by thousands of years of total separation from the 
parent stock." 

The conclusions arrived at by the reviewer at that time, though 
safe, are too general to lead the reader to form any definite idea on 
the subject. No doubt whatever can exist, when the American In- 
dian is regarded as of an Asiatic origin; but there is nothing in the 
works or even in the review, to which these works were subjected, 
which might account for the vast difference in manner and form 
between the Hed Man, as he is now known, or even as he appeared 
to Columbus and his successors in the field of discovery, and the 
comparatively civilized inhabitants of Mexico, as seen in 1521 by 
Cortez, and of Peru, as witnessed by Pizarro in 1532. The fact is 
that the pure bred Indian of the present is descended directly 
from the earliest inhabitants, or in other words from the survivors 
of that people who, on being driven from their fair possessions, re- 
tired to the wilderness in sorrow and reared up their children under 
the saddening influences of their unquenchable griefs, bequeathing 
them only the habits of the wild, cloud-roofed home of their de- 
clining years, a sullen silence, and a rude moral code. In after 
years these wild sons of the forest and prairie grew in numbers and 
in strength. Some legend told them of their present sufferings, of 
the station which their fathers once had known, and of the riotous 
race which now reveled in wealth which should be theirs. The 
fierce passions of the savage were aroused, and uniting their scat- 
tered bands marched in silence upon the villages of the Tartars, 
driving them onward to the capital of their Incas, and consigning 
their homes to the flames. Once in view of the great city, the 
hurrying bands halted in surprise; but Tartar cunning took in the 
situation and offered pledges of amity, which were sacredly ob- 
served. Henceforth Mexico was open to the Indians, bearing pre- 
cisely the same relation to them that the Hudson's Bay Company's 



""^^p 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 33 

villages do to the Northwestern Indians of the present; obtaining 
all, and bestowing very little. The subjection of the Mongolian 
race represented in North America by that branch of it to which 
the Tartars belonged, represented in the Southern portion of the con- 
tinent, seems to have taken place some five centuries before the 
advent of the European, while it may be concluded that the war of 
the races which resulted in reducing the villages erected by the 
Tartar hordes to ruin took place between one and two hundred 
years later. These statements, though actually referring to events 
which in point of time are comparatively modern, can only be sub- 
stantiated by the facts that, about the periods mentioned the dead 
bodies of an unknown race of men were washed ashore on the Eu- 
ropean coasts, while previous to that time there is no account 
whatever in European annals of even a vestige of trans-Atlantic hu- 
manity being transferred by ocean currents to the gaze of a won- 
dering people. Towards the latter half ot the 15th century two 
dead bodies entirely free from decomposition, and corresponding 
with the Red Men as they afterward appeared to Columbus, were 
cast on the shores of the Azores, and confirmed Columbus in his be- 
lief in the existence of a western world and western people. 

Storm and flood and diseatie have created sad havoc in the ranks 
of the Indian since the occupation of the country by the white man. 
These natural causes have conspired to decimate the race even more 
than the advance of civilization, which seems not to aflfect it to any 
material extent. In its maintenance of the same number of rep- 
resentatives during three centuries, and its existence in the very 
face of a most unceremonious, and, whenever necessary, cruel con- 
quest, the grand dispensations of the unseen Ruler of the universe 
is demonstrated; for, without the aborigines, savage and treach- 
erous as they were, it is possible that the explorers of former times 
would have so many natural difficulties to contend with, that their 
work would be surrendered in despair, and the most fertile regions 
of the continent saved for the plowshares of generations yet un- 
born. It is questionable whether we owe the discovery of this con- 
tinent to the unaided scientific knowledge of Columbus, or to the 
dead bodies of the two Indians referred to above; nor can their ser- 
vices to the explorers of ancient and modern times be over-esti- 
mated. Their existence is embraced in the plan of the Divinity 
for the government of the world, and it will not form subject for 
surprise to learn that the same intelligence which sent a thrill of 
liberty into every corner of the republic, will, in the near future, 



"6 



\ Q ^ i • v>- 

34 HISTOKT OF INDIANA. 

devise some method under which the remnant of a great and an- 
cient race may taste the sweets of public kindness, and feel that, 
after centuries of turmoil and tyranny, they have at last found a 
shelter amid a sympathizing people. Many have looked at the In- 
dian as the pessimist does at all things; they say that he was never 
formidable until the white man supplied him with the weapons of 
modern warfare; but there is no mention made of his eviction from 
his retired home, and the little plot of cultivated garden which 
formed the nucleus of a village that, if fostered instead of being 
destroyed, might possibly hold an Indian population of some im- 
portance in the economy of the nation. There is no intention what- 
ever to maintain that the occupation of this country by the favored 
races is wrong even in principle; for where any obstacle to advanc- 
ing civilization exists, it has to fall to the ground; but it may be 
said, with some truth, that the white man, instead of a policy of 
conciliation formed upon the power of kindness, indulged in bel- 
ligerency as impolitic as it was unjust. A modern writer says, 
when speaking of the Indian's character: "He did not exhibit that 
steady valor and efficient discipline of the American soldier; and 
to-day on the plains Sheridan's troopers would not hesitate to 
attack the bravest band, though outnumbered three to one." This 
piece of information applies to the European and African, as well 
as to the Indian. The American soldier, and particularly the 
troopers referred to, would not fear or shrink from a very legion of 
demons, even with odds against them. This mode of warfare seems 
strangely peculiar when compared with the military systems of 
civilized countries; yet, since the main object of armed men is to 
defend a country or a principle, and to destroy anything which may 
oppose itself to them, the mode of warfare pursued by the savage 
will be found admirably adapted to their requirements in this con- 
nection, and will doubtless compare favorably with the systems of 
the Afghans and Persians of the present, and the Caucasian people 
vf the first historic period. 

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

The art of hunting not only supplied the Indian with food, but, 
like that of war, was a means of gratifying his love of distinction. 
The male children, as soon as they acquired sufficient age and 
strength, were furnished with a bow and arrow and taught to shoot 
birds and other small game. Success in killing a large quadruped 
required years of careful study and practice, and the art was as 



Is 



^^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 35 

sedulously inculcated in the minds of the rising generation as are 
the elements of reading, writing and arithmetic in the common 
schools of civilized communities. The mazes of the forest and the 
dense, tall grass of the prairies were the best fields for the exercise 
of the hunter's skill. No feet could be impressed in the yielding 
soil but that the tracks were the objects of the most searching 
scrutiny, and revealed at a glance the animal that made them, the 
direction it was pursuing, and the time that had elapsed since it 
had passed. In a forest country he selected the valleys, because 
they were most frequently the resort of game. The most easily 
taken, perhaps, of all the animals of the chase was the deer. It is 
endowed with a curiosity which prompts it to stop in its flight and 
look back at the approaching hunter, who always avails himself of 
this opportunity to let fly the fatal arrow. 

Their general councils were composed of the chiefs and old men. 
When in council, they usually sat in concentric circles around the 
speaker, and each individual, notwithstanding the fiery passions 
that rankled within, preserved an exterior as immovable as if cast 
in bronze. Before commencing business a person appeared with 
the sacred pipe, and another with fire to kindle it. After being 
lighted it was first presented to heaven, secondly to the earth, 
thirdly to the presiding spirit, and lastly the several councilors, 
each of whom took a whiff". These formalities were observed with 
as close exactness as state etiquette in civilized courts. 

The dwellings of the Indians were of the simplest and rudest 
character. On some pleasant spot by the bank of a river, or near 
an ever-running spring, they raised their groups of wigwams, con- 
structed of the bark of trees, and easily taken down and removed 
to another spot. The dwelling-places of the chiefs were sometimes 
more spacious, and constructed with greater care, but of the same 
materials. Skins taken in the chase served them for repose. 
Though principally dependent upon hunting and fishing, the 
uncertain supply from those sources led them to cultivate small 
patches of corn. Every family did everything necessary within 
itself, commerce, or an interchange of articles, being almost unknown 
to them. In cases of dispute and dissension, each Indian relied 
upon himself for retaliation. Blood for blood was the rule, and 
the relatives of the slain man were bound to obtain bloody revenge 
for his death. This principle gave rise, as a matter of course, to 
innumerable and bitter feuds, and wars of extermination where such 
were possible. War, indeed, rather than peace, was the Indian's 



19 



— 1 (Ci 

36 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

glory and delight, — war, not conducted as civilization, but war 
where individual skill, endurance, gallantry and cruelty were prime 
requisites. For such a purpose as revenge the Indian would make 
great sacrifices, and display a patience and perseverance truly heroic; 
but when the excitement was over, he sank back into a listless, un- 
occupied, well-nigh useless savage. During the intervals of his 
more exciting pursuits, the Indian employed his time in decorating 
his person with all the refinement of paint and feathers, and in the 
manufacture of his arms and of canoes. These were constructed of 
bark, and so light that they could easily be carried on the shoulder 
from stream to stream. His amusements were the war-dance, ath- 
letic games, the narration of his exploits, and listening to the ora- 
tory of the chiefs; but during long periods of such existence he 
remained in a state of torpor, gazing listlessly upon the trees of 
the forests and the clouds that sailed above them ; and this vacancy 
imprinted an habitual gravity, and even melancholy, upon his gen- 
eral deportment. 

The main labor and drudgery of Indian communities fell upon 
the women. The planting, tending and gathering of the crops, 
making mats and baskets, carrying burdens, — in fact, all things of 
the kind were performed by them, thus making their condition but 
little better than that of slaves. Marriage was merely a matter of 
bargain and sale, the husband giving presents to the father of the 
bride. In general they had but few children. They were sub- 
jected to many and severe attacks of sickness, and at times famine 
and pestilence swept away whole tribes. 







i^ 



EXPLORATIONS BY THE WHITES. 

EARLIEST EXPLORERS. 

The State of Indiana is bounded on the east bj the meridian line 
which forms also the western boundary of Ohio, extending due 
north from the mouth of the Great Miami river; on the south by 
the Ohio river from the mouth of the Great Miami to the mouth 
of the "Wabash; on the west by aline drawn along the middle of 
the "Wabash river from its mouth to a point where a due north 
line from the town of Vincennes would last touch the shore of said 
river, and thence directly north to Lake Michigan; and on the north 
by said lake and an east and west line ten miles north of the ex- 
treme south end of the lake, and extending to its intersection with 
the aforesaid meridian, the west boundary of Ohio. These bound- 
aries include an area of 33,809 square miles, lying between 37° 
47' and 41° 50' north latitude, and between 7° 45' and 11° 1' west 
longitude from "Washington. 

After tlie discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, more than 
150 years passed away before any portion of the territory now com- 
prised within the above limits was explored by Europeans. Colo- 
nies were established in Florida, Virginia and Nova Scotia by the 
principal rival governments of Europe, but not until about 1670-'2 
did the first white travelers venture as far into the Northwest as 
Indiana or Lake Michigan. These explorers were Frenchmen by 
the names of Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, who then visited 
what is now the eastern part of "Wisconsin, the northeastern portion 
of Illinois and probably that portion of this State north of the Kan- 
kakee river. In the following year M. Joliet, an agent of the 
French Colonial government, and James Marquette, a good and 
simple-hearted missionary who had his station at Mackinaw, ex- 
plored the country about Green Bay, and along Fox and "Wiscon- 
sin rivers as far westward as the Mississippi, the banks of which 
they reached June 17, 1673. They descended this river to about 
33° 40', but returned by way of the Illinois river and the route 
they came in the Lake Region. At a village among the Illinois In- 
dians, Marquette and his small band of adventurers were received 

(37) 



\ 



G\ 



88 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

in a friendly manner and treated hospitably. They were made the 
honored guests at a great feast, where hominy, fish, dog meat and 
roast buffalo meat were spread before them in great abundance. In 
1682 LaSalle explored the "West, but it is not known that he entered 
the region now embraced within the State of Indiana. He took 
formal possession, however, of all the Mississippi region in the 
name of the King of France, in whose honor he gave all this Mis- 
sissippi region, including what is now Indiana, the name " Louisi- 
ana." Spain at the same time laid claim to all the region about 
the Gulf of Mexico, and thus these two great nations were brought 
into collision. But the country was actually held and occupied by 
the great Miami confederacy of Indians, the Miamis proper (an- 
ciently the Twightwees) being the eastern and most powerful tribe. 
Their territory extended strictly from the Scioto river west to the 
Illinois river. Their villages were few and scattering, and their 
occupation was scarcely dense enough to maintain itself against in- 
vasion. Their settlements were occasionally visited by Christian 
missionaries, fur traders and adventurers, but no body of white men 
made any settlement sufficiently permanent for a title to national 
possession. Christian zeal animated France and England in mis- 
sionary enterprise, the former in the interests of Catholicism and 
the latter in the interests of Protestantism. Hence their haste to 
preoccupy the land and proselyte the aborigines. No doubt this 
ugly rivalry was often seen by Indians, and they refused to be 
proselyted to either branch of Christianity . 

The " Five Nations," farther east, comprised the Mohawks, 
Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondaguas and Senecas. In 1677 the number 
of warriors in this confederacy was 2,150. About 1711 the Tusca- 
roras retired from Carolina and joined the Iroquois, or Five Na- 
tions, which, after that event, became known as the " Six Nations." 
In 1689 hostilities broke out between the Five Nations and the 
colonists of Canada, and the almost constant wars in which France 
was engaged until the treaty of Eyswick in 1697 combined to 
check the grasping policy of Louis XIY., and to retard the plant- 
ing of French colonies in the Mississippi valley. Missionary efforts, 
however, continued with more failure than success, the Jesuits 
allying themselves with the Indians in habits and customs, even 
encouraging inter-marriage between them and their white fol- 
lowers. 



v 



jj-a- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



39 



OUABACHE. 

The Wabash was first named by the French, and spelled by them 
Ouabache. This river was known even before the Ohio, and was 
navigated as the Ouabache all the way to the Mississippi a long time 
before it was discovered that it was a tributary of the Ohio (Belle 
Riviere). In navigating the Mississippi they thought they passed 
the mouth of the Ouabache instead of the Ohio. In traveling from 
the Great Lakes to the south, the French always went by the way of 
the Ouabache or Illinois. 



VINCENNES. 



Francois Morgan de Yinsenne served in Canada as early as 1720 
in the regiment of " De Carrignan " of the French service, and 
again on the lakes in the vicinity of Sault Ste. Marie in the same 
service under M. de Vaudriel, in 1725. It is possible that his ad- 
vent to Yincennes may have taken place in 1732; and in proof of 
this the only record is an act of sale under the joint names of him- 
self and Madame Yinsenne, the daughter of M. Philip Longprie, 
and dated Jan. 5, 1735. This document gives his military position 
as commandant of the post of Ouabache in the service of the French 
King. The will of Longprie, dated March 10, same year, bequeaths 
him, among other things, 408 pounds of pork, which he ordered to 
be kept safe until Yinsenne, who was then at Ouabache, returned 
to Kaskaskia. 

There are many other documents connected with its early settle- 
ment by Yinsenne, among which is a receipt for the 100 pistoles 
granted him as his wife's marriage dowry. In 1736 this officer was 
ordered to Charlevoix by D'Artagette, viceroy of the King at New 
Orleans, and commandant of Illinois. Here M. St. Yinsenne re- 
ceived his mortal wounds. The event is chronicled as follows, in 
the words of D'Artagette: " We have just received very bad news 
from Louisiana, and our war with the Chickasaws. The French 
have been defeated. Among the slain is M. de Yinsenne, who 
ceased not until his last breath to exhort his men to behave worthy 
of their faith and fatherland." 

Thus closed the career of this gallant officer, leaving a name 
which holds as a remembrancer the present beautiful town of Yin- 
cennes, changed from Yinsenne to its present orthography in 1749. 

Post Yincennes was settled as early as 1710 or 1711. In a letter 
from Father Marest to Father Germon, dated at Kaskaskia, Nov. 9, 
1712, occurs this passage: "Xes Francois itoieiit itabli -an fort sur 



(0 



^ 



) \ 



J- 



40 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

lefleuve Ouabache / ih deinanderent un missionaire / et le Pere 
Mermet leur fat envoy e. Ce Pere crut devoir travailler a la 
conversion des Mascoutens qui avoient fait un village sur les 
bords dumeme jleuve. Cest une nation Indians qui entend la 
langue mi/noise." Translated: " The French have established a 
fort upon the river "Wabash, and want a missionary; and Father 
Mermet has been sent to them. That Father believes he should 
labor 'for the conversion of the Mascoutens, who have built a vil- 
lage on the banks of the same river. They are a nation of Indians 
who understand the language of the Illinois." 

Mermet was therefore the first preacher of Christianity in this 
part of the world, and his mission was to convert the Mascoutens, 
a branch of the Miamis. "The way I took," says he, " was to con- 
found, in the presence of the whole tribe, one of these charlatans 
[medicine men], whose Manitou, or great spirit which he wor- 
shiped, was the buffalo. After leading him on insensibly to the 
avowal that it was not the buffalo that he worshiped, but the Man- 
itou, or spirit, of the buffalo, which was under the earth and ani- 
mated all buffaloes, which heals the sick and has all power, I asked 
him whether other beasts, the bear for instance, and which one of 
bis nation worshiped, was not equally inhabited by a Manitou, 
which was under the earth. ' Without doubt,' said the grand medi- 
cine man. ' If this is so,' said I, ' men ought to have a Manitou 
who inhabits them.' ' Nothing more certain,' said he. ' Ought 
not that to convince you,' continued I, ' that you are not very 
reasonable? For if man upon the earth is the master of all animals, 
if he kills them, if he eats them, does it not follow that the Mani- 
tou which inhabits him must have a mastery over all other Mani- 
tous? Why then do you not invoke him instead of the Manitou 
of the bear and the buffalo, when you are sick?' This reasoning 
disconcerted the charlatan. But this was all the effect it 
produced." 

The result of convincing these heathen by logic, as is generally 
the case the world over, was only a temporary logical victory, and 
no change whatever was produced in the professions and practices 
of the Indians. 

But the first Christian (Catholic) missionary at this place whose 
name we find recorded in the Church annals, was Meurin, in 1849. 

The church building used by these early missionaries at Yin- 
cennes is thus described hy the " oldest inhabitants:" Fronting on 
Water street and running back on Church street, it was a plain 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 41 

building with a rou^h exterior, of upright posts, chinked and 
daubed, with a rough coat of cement on the outside; about 20 feet 
wide and 60 long; one story high, with a small belfry and an equally 
small bell. It was dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. This spot is 
now occupied by a splendid cathedral. 

Yincennes has ever been a stronghold of Catholicism. The 
Church there has educated and sent out many clergymen of her 
faith, some of whom have become bishops, or attained other high 
positions in ecclesiastical authority. 

Almost contemporaneous with the progress of the Church at 
Vincennes was a missionary work near the mouth of the Wea river, 
among the Ouiatenons, but the settlement there was broken up in 
early day. 

NATIONAL POLICIES. 

THE GEE AT FKENOH S^CHEME. 

Soon after the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi by La- 
Salle in 1682, the government of France began to encourage the 
policy of establishing a line of trading posts and missionary 
stations extending through the West from Canada to Louisiana, 
and this policy was maintained, with partial success, for about 75 
years. The traders persisted in importing whisky, which cancelled 
nearly every civilizing influence that could be brought to bear upon 
the Indian, and the vast distances between posts prevented that 
strength which can be enjoyed only by close and convenient inter- 
communication. Another characteristic of Indian nature was to 
listen attentively to all the missionary said, pretending to believe 
all he preached, and then offer in turn his theory of the world, of 
religion, etc., and because he was not listened to with the same 
degree of attention and pretense of belief, would go off disgusted. 
This was his idea of the golden rule. 

The river St. Joseph of Lake Michigan was called " the river 
Miamis" in 1679, in which year LaSalle built a small fort on its 
bank, near the lake shore. The principal station of the mission 
for the instruction of the Miamis was established on the borders of 
this river. The first French post within the territory of the 
Miamis was at the mouth of the river Miamis, on an eminence 
naturally fortified on two sides by the river, and on one side by a 



\ 



4^ 

—I /£> 



42 HISTORY OF IKDIANA. 

deep ditch made by a fall of water. It was of triangular form. 
The missionary Hennepin gives a good description of it, as he was 
one of the company who built it, in 1679. Says he: " We fell the 
trees that were on the top of the hill; and having cleared the same 
from bushes for about two musket shot, we began to build a 
redoubt of 80 feet long and 40 feet broad, with great square pieces 
of timber laid one upon another, and prepared a great number of 
stakes of about 25 feet long to drive into the ground, to make our 
fort more inaccessible on the riverside. We employed the whole 
month of November about that work, which was very hard, though 
we had no other food but the bear's flesh our savage killed. These 
beasts are very common in that place because of the great quantity 
of grapes they find there; but their flesh being too fat and luscious, 
our men began to be weary of it and desired leave to go a hunting 
to kill some wild goats. M. LaSalle denied them that liberty, 
which caused some murmurs among them; and it was but unwill- 
ingly that they continued their work. This, together with the 
approach of winter and the apprehension that M. LaSalle had that 
his vessel (the Griffin) was lost, made him very melancholy, though 
he concealed it as much as he could. We made a cabin wherein 
we performed divine service every Sunday, and Father Gabriel and 
I, who preached alternately, took care to take such texts as were 
suitable to our present circumstances and fit to inspire us with 
courage, concord and brotherly love. * * * The fort was at 
last perfected, and called Fort Miamis." 

In the year 1711 the missionary Chardon, who was said to be 
very zealous and apt in the acquisition of languages, had a station 
on the St. Joseph about 60 miles above the mouth. Charlevoix, 
another distinguished missionary from France, visited a post on 
this river in 1721. In a letter dated at the place, Aug. 16, he says: 
" There is a commandant here, with a small garrison. His house, 
which is but a very sorry one^ is called the fort, from its being sur- 
rounded with an indifierent palisado, which is pretty near the case 
in all the rest. We have here two villages of Indians, one of the 
Miamis and the other of the Pottawatomies, both of them mostly 
Christians; but as they have been for along time without any pas- 
tors, the missionary who has been lately sent to them will have no 
small difficulty in bringing them back to the exercise of their re- 
ligion." He speaks also of the main commodity for which the lut 
dians would part with their goods, namely, spirituous liquors, 
which they drink and keep drunk upon as long as a supply lasted. 



v^ 













^ 



INDIANS ATTACKING FEONTIEKSMEN. 



VT 



, 4^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



45 



More than a century and a half has now passed since Charlevoix 
penned the above, without any change whatever in this trait of In- 
dian character. 

In 1Y65 the Miami nation, or confederacy, was composed of four 
tribes, whose total number of warriors was estimated at only 1,050 
men. Of these about 250 were Twightwees, or Miamis proper, 
300 Weas, or Ouiatenons,300 Piankeshaws and 200 Shockeys; and 
at this time the principal villages of the Twightwees were situated 
about the head of the Maumee river at and near the place where 
Fort Wayne now is. The larger Wea villages were near the banks 
of the Wabash river, in the vicinity of the Post Ouiatenon ; and 
the Shockeys and Piankeshaws dwelt on the banks of the Vermil- 
lion and on the borders of the Wabash between Yincennes and 
Ouiatenon. Branches of the Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Delaware and 
Kickapoo tribes were permitted at different times to enter within 
the boundaries of the Miamis and reside for a while. 

The wars in which France and England were engaged, from 1688 
to 1697, retarded the growth of the colonies of those nations in 
North America, and the efforts made by France to connect Canada 
and the Gulf of Mexico by a chain of trading posts and colonies 
naturally excited the jealousy of England and gradually laid the 
foundation for a struggle at arms. After several stations were estab- 
lished elsewhere in the West, trading posts were started at the 
Miami villages, which stood at the head of the Maumee, at the Wea 
villages about Ouiatenon on the Wabash, and at the Piankeshaw vil- 
lages about the present sight of Yincennes. It is probable that before 
the close of the year 1Y19, temporary trading posts were erected at the 
sites of Fort Wayne, Ouiatenon and Yincennes. These points were 
probably often visited by French fur traders prior to 1700. In the 
meanwhile the English people in this country commenced also to 
establish military posts west of the Alleghanies, and thus matters 
went on until they naturally culminated in a general war, which, 
being waged by the French and Indians combined on one side, was 
called " the French and Indian war." This war was terminated in 
1763 by a treaty at Paris, by which France ceded to Great Britain 
all of North America east of the Mississippi except New Orleans 
and the island on which it is situated; and indeed, France had the 
preceding autumn, by a secret convention, ceded to Spain all the 
country west of that river. 



■Tt. 



JFT 



\ 



46 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



PONTIAC'S WAR, 



In 1Y62, after Canada and its dependencies had been surrendered 
to the English, Pontiac and his partisans secretly organized a pow- 
erful confederacy in order to crush at one blow all English power 
in the West. This great scheme was skillfully projected and cau- 
tiously matured. 

The principal act in the programme was to gain admittance into 
the fort at Detroit, on pretense of a friendly visit, with short- 
ened muskets concealed under their blankets, and on a given signal 
suddenly break forth upon the garrison; but an inadvertent remark 
of an Indian woman led to a discovery of the plot, which was con- 
sequently averted. Pontiac and his warriors afterward made many 
attacks upon the English, some of which were successful, but the 
Indians were finally defeated in the general war. 

BRITISH POLICY. 

In 1765 the total number of French families within the limits of 
the Northwestern Territory did not probably exceed 600. These 
were in settlements about Detroit, along the river Wabash and the 
neighborhood of Fort Chartres on the Mississippi. Of these fami- 
lies, about 80 or 90 resided at Post Yincennes, 14 at Fort Ouiate- 
non, on the Wabash, and nine or ten at the confluence of the St. 
Mary and St. Joseph rivers. 

The colonial policy of'the British government opposed any meas- 
ures which might strengthen settlements in the interior of this 
country, lest they become self-supporting and independent of the 
mother country; hence the early and rapid settlement of the North- 
western territory was still further retarded by the short-sighted 
selfishness of England. That fatal policy consisted mainly in hold- 
ing the land in the hands of the government and not allowing it to 
be subdivided and sold to settlers. But in spite of all her efforts 
in this direction, she constantly made just such efforts as provoked 
the American people to rebel, and to rebel successfully, which was 
within 15 years after the perfect close of the French and Indian 
war. 

AMERICAN POLICY. 

Thomas Jefferson, the shrewd statesman and wise Governor of 
Yirginia, saw from the first that actual occupation of Western lands 
was the only way to keep them out of the hands of foreigners and 



4 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 47 

Indians. Therefore, directly after the conquest of Yincennes by 
Clark, be engaged a scientific corps to proceed under an escort to 
the Mississippi, and ascertain by celestial observations the point 
on that river intersected by latitude 36° 30', the southern limit of 
the State, and to measure its distance to the Ohio. To Gen. Clark 
was entrusted the conduct of the military operations in that quar- 
ter. He was instructed to select a strong position near that point 
and establish there a fort and garrison ; thence to extend his conquests 
northward to the lakes, erecting forts at different points, which 
might serve as monuments of actual possession, besides affording 
protection to that portion of the country. Fort "Jefferson" was 
erected and garrisoned on the Mississippi a few miles above the 
southern limit. 

The result of these operations was the addition, to the chartered 
limits of Virginia, of that immense region known as the " North- 
western Territory." The simple fact that such and such forts were 
established by the Americans in this vast region convinced the Brit- 
ish Commissioners that we had entitled ourselves to the land. But 
where are those " monuments " of our power now? 

INDIAN SAVAGERY. 

As a striking example of the inhuman treatment which the early 
Indians were capable of giving white people, we quote the follow 
ing blood-curdling story from Mr. Cox' " Recollections of the 
Wabash Yalley": 

On the 11th of February, 1781, a wagoner named Irvin Hinton 
was sent from the block-house at Louisville, Ky., to Harrodsburg 
for a load of provisions for the fort. Two young men, Richard 
Rue and George Holraan, aged respectively 19 and 16 years, were 
sent as guards to protect the wagon from the depredations of any 
hostile Indians who might be lurking in the cane-brakes or ravines 
through which they must pass. Soon after their start a severe 
snow-storm set in which lasted until afternoon. Lest the melting 
snow might dampen the powder in their rifles, the guards fired 
them off, intending to reload them as soon as the storm ceased. 
Hinton drove the horses while Rue walked a few rods ahead and 
Holman about the same distance behind. As they ascended a hill 
about eight miles from Louisville Hinton heard some one say "VVlioa 
to the horses. Supposing that something was wrong about the 
wagon, he stopped and asked Holman why he had called him to 
halt. Holman said that he had not spoken; Rue also denied it, 






\ 



48 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

but said that he had heard the voice distinctly. At this time a voice 
cried out, " I will solve the mystery for you; it was Simon Girty that 
cried Whoa, and he meant what he said," — at the same time emerg- 
ing from a sink-hole a few rods from the roadside, followed by 13 
Indians, who immediately surrounded the three Kentuckians and 
demanded them to surrender or die instantly. The little party, 
making a virtue of necessity, surrendered to this renegade white 
man and his Indian allies. 

Being so near two forts, Girty made all possible speed in making 
fast his prisoners, selecting the lines and other parts of the harness, 
he prepared for an immediate flight across the Ohio. The panta- 
loons of the prisoners were cut off about four inches above the 
knees, and thus they started through the deep snow as fast as the 
horses could trot, leaving the wagon, containing a few empty bar- 
rels, standing in the road. They continued their march for sev- 
eral cold days, without fire at night, until they reached Wa-puc-ca- 
nat-ta, where they compelled their prisoners to run the gauntlet as 
they entered the village. Hinton first ran the gauntlet and reached 
the council-house after receiving several severe blows upon the head 
and shoulders. Rue next ran between the lines, pursued by an 
Indian with an uplifted tomahawk. He far outstripped his pursuer 
and dodged most of the blows aimed at him. Holman complaining 
that it was too severe a test for a worn-out stripling like himself, 
was allowed to run between two lines of squaws and boy s, and was 
followed by an Indian with a long switch. 

The first council of the Indians did not dispose of these young 
men; they were waiting for the presence of other chiefs and war- 
riors. Hinton escaped, but on the afternoon of the second day he 
was re-captured. Now the Indians were glad that they had an 
occasion to indulge in the infernal joy of burning him at once. 
Soon after their supper, which they shared with their victim, they 
drove the stake into the ground, piled up the fagots in a circle 
around it, stripped and blackened the prisoner, tied him to the 
stake, and applied the torch. It was a slow fire. The war-whoop 
then thrilled through the dark surrounding forest like the chorus 
of a band of infernal spirits escaped from pandemonium, and the 
scalp dance was struck up by those demons in human shape, who 
for hours encircled their victim, brandishing their tomahawks and 
war clubs, and venting their execrations upon the helpless sufferer, 
who died about midnight from the effects of the slow heat. As 
soon as he fell upon the ground, the Indian who first discovered 



-v 



Au. 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 49* 

him in the woods that evening sprang in, sunk his tomahawk into 
his skull above the ear, and with his knife stripped off the scalp, 
which he bore back with him to the town as a trophy, and which 
was tauntingly thrust into the faces of Rue and Holman, with the 
question, " Can you smell the fire on the scalp of your red-headed 
friend? We cooked him and left him for the wolves to make a 
breakfast upon; that is the way we serve runaway prisoners." 

After a march of three days more, the prisoners, Rue and Hol- 
man, had to run the gauntlets again, and barely got through with 
their lives. It was decided that they should both be burned at the 
stake that night, though this decision was far from being unani- 
mous. The necessary preparations were made, dry sticks and 
brush were gathered and piled around two stakes, the faces 
and hands of the doomed men were blackened in the customary 
manner, and as the evening approached the poor wretches sat look- 
ing upon the setting sun for the last time. An unusual excitement 
was manifest in a number of chiefs who still lingered about the 
council-house. At a pause in the contention, a noble-looking In- 
dian approached the prisoners, and after speaking a few words to 
the guards, took Holman by the hand, lifted him to his feet, cut the 
cords that bound him to his fellow prisoners, removed the black from 
his face and hands, put his hand kindly upon his head and said: " I 
adopt you as my son, to till the place of the one I have lately buried ; 
you are now a kinsman of Logan, the white man's friend, as he has 
been called, but who has lately proven himself to be a terrible 
avenger of the wrongs inflicted upon him by the bloody Cresap and 
his men." With evident reluctance, Girt}' interpreted this to Hol- 
man, who was thus unexpectedly freed. 

But the preparations for the burning of Rue went on. Holman 
and Rue embraced each other most affectionately, with a sorrow too 
deep for description. Rue was then tied to one of the stakes; but 
the general contention among the Indians had not ceased. Just as 
the lighted fagots were about to be applied to the dry brush piled 
around the devoted youth, a tall, active young Shawnee, a son of 
the victim's captor, sprang into the ring, and cutting the cords 
which bound him to the stake, led him out amidst the deafening 
plaudits of a part of the crowd and the execrations of the rest. Re- 
gardless of threats, he caused water to be brought and the black to 
be washed from the face and hands of the prisoner, whose clothes 
were then returned to him, when the young brave said: " I take 
this young man to be my brother, in the place of one I lately lost;, 






Q_ 



£1^ 



50 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



I loved that brother well; I will love this one, too; my old mother 
■will be glad when I tell her that I have brought her a son, in place 
of the dear departed one. We want no more victims. The burning 
of Ked-head [Hinton] ought to satisfy us. These innocent young 
men do not merit such cruel fate; I would rather die myself than 
see this adopted brother burned at the stake." 

A loud shout of approbation showed that the young Shawnee had 
triumphed, though dissension was manifest among the various 
tribes afterward. Some of them abandoned their trip to Detroit, 
others returded to Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta, a few turned toward the Mis- 
sissinewa and the Wabash towns, while a portion continued to De- 
troit. Ilolman was taken back to Wa-puc-ca-nat ta, where he re- 
mained most of the time of his captivity. Rue was taken first to 
the Mississinewa, then to the Wabash towns. Two years of his 
eventful captivity were spent in the region of the Wabash and Illi- 
nois rivers, but the last few months at Detroit; was in captivity 
altogether about three years and a half. 

Rue effected his escape in the following manner: During one of 
the drunken revels of the Indians near Detroit one of them lost a 
purse of $90; various tribes were suspected of feloniously keeping 
the treasure, and much ugly speculation was indulged in as to who 
was the thief. At length a prophet of a tribe that was not suspected 
was called to divine the mystery. He spread sand over a green 
deer-skin, watched it awhile and performed various manipulations, 
and professed to see that the money had been stolen and carried 
away by a tribe entirely different from any that had been 
suspicioned; but he was shrewd enough not to announce who the 
thief was or the tribe he belonged to, lest a war might arise. His 
decision quieted the belligerent uprisings threatened by the excited 
Indians. 

Rue and two other prisoners saw this display of the prophet's 
skill and concluded to interrogate him soon concerning their fami- 
lies at home. The opportunity occurred in a few days, and the In- 
dian seer actually astonished Rue with the accuracy with which he 
described his family, and added, "You all intend to make your 
escape, and you will effect it soon. Ton will meet with many trials 
and hardships in passingover so wild a district of country, inhabited 
by so many hostile nations of Indians. You will almost starve to 
death; but about the time you have given up all hope of finding 
game to sustain you in your famished condition, succor will come 
when you least expect it. The first game you will succeed in taking 



/O 



is 



^ 



HISTORY OF INDIAJSTA. 51 

will be a male of some kind; after that you will have plenty of 
game and return home in safety." 

The prophet kept this matter a secret for the prisoners, and the 
latter in a few days set off upon their terrible journey, and had 
just such experience as the Indian prophet had foretold; they 
arrived home with their lives, but were pretty well worn out with the 
exposures and privations of a three weeks' journey. 

On the return of Holman's party of Indians to Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta, 
much dissatisfaction existed in regard to the manner of his release 
from the sentence of condemnation pronounced against him by the 
council. Many were in favor of recalling the council and trying 
him again, and this was finally agreed to. The young man was 
again put upon trial for his life, with a strong probability of his 
being condemned to the stake. Both parties worked hard for vic- 
tory in the final vote, which eventually proved to give a majority of 
one for the prisoner's acquittal. 

"While with the Indians, Holman saw them burn at the stake a 
Kentuckian named Richard Hogeland, who had been taken prisoner 
at the defeat of Ool. Crawford. They commenced burning him at 
nine o'clock at night, and continued roasting him until. ten o'clock 
the next day, before he expired. During his excruciating tortures he 
begged for some of them to end his life and sufferings with a gun 
or tomahawk. Finally his cruel tormentors promised they would, 
and cut several deep gashes in his flesh with their tomahawks, and 
shoveled up hot ashes and embers and threw them into the gaping 
wounds. When he was dead they stripped off his scalp, cut him 
to pieces and burnt him to ashes, which they scattered through the 
town to expel the evil spirits from it. 

After a captivity of about three years and a half, Holman saw an 
opportunity of going on a mission for the destitute Indians, namely, 
of going to Harrodsburg, Ky., where he had a rich uncle, from 
whom they could get what supplies they wanted. They let him go 
with a guard, but on arriving at Louisville, where Gen. Clark was 
in command, he was ransomed, and he reached home only three 
days after the arrival of Rue. Both these men lived to a good old 
age, terminating their lives at their home about two miles south of 
Richmond, Ind. 



V 



•V 



1^ 



EXPEDITIONS OF COL. GEOKGE ROGEKS CLARK. 

In the summer of 1778, Col. George Rogers Clark, a native of 
Albemarle county, Ya., led a memorable expedition against the 
ancient French settlements about Kaskaskia and Post Vincennes. 
With respect to the magnitude of its design, the valor and perse- 
verance with which it was carried on, and the memorable results 
which were produced by it, this expedition stands without a parallel 
in the early annals of the valley of the Mississippi. That portion 
of the West called Kentucky was occupied by Henderson & Co., 
who pretended to own the land and who held it at a high price. 
Col. Clark wished to test the validity of their claim and adjust the 
government of the country so as to encourage immigration. He 
accordingly called a meeting of the citizens at Harrodstown, to 
assemble June 6, 1776, and consider the claims of the company and 
consult with reference to the interest of the country. He did not 
at first publish the exact aim of this movement, lest parties would 
be formed in advance and block the enterprise; also, if the object 
of the meeting were not announced beforehand, the curiosity of the 
people to know what was to be proposed would bring out a much 
greater attendance. 

The meeting was held on the day appointed, and delegates were 
elected to treat with the government of Virginia, to see whether 
it would be best to become a county in that State and be protected 
by it, etc. Various delays on account of the remoteness of the 
white settlers from the older communities of Virginia and the hos- 
tility of Indians in every direction, prevented a consummation of 
this object until some time in 1778. The government of Virginia 
was friendly to Clark's enterprise to a certain extent, but claimed 
that they had not authority to do much more than to lend a little 
assistance for which payment should be made at some future time, 
as it was not certain whether Kentucky would become a part of Vir- 
ginia or not. Gov. Henry and a few gentlemen were individually 
so hearty in favor of Clark's benevolent undertaking that they 
assisted him all they could. Accordingly Mr. Clark organized his 
expedition, keeping every particular secret lest powerful parties 
would form in the West against him. He took in stores at Pitts- 

(52) 



® 



■V 




■77= 



)V" 



•^ 



hU 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 55 

burg and "Wheeling, proceeded down the Ohio to the " Falls," 
where he took possession of an island of a about seven acres, and 
divided it among a small number of families, for whose protection 
he constructed some light fortifications. At this time Post Yin- 
cennes comprised about 400 militia, and it was a daring undertak- 
ing for Col. Clark, with his small force, to go up against it and Kas- 
kaskia, as he had planned. Indeed, some of his men, on hearing of 
his plan, deserted him. He conducted himself so as to gain the 
sympathy of the French, and through them also that of the 
Indians to some extent, as both these people were very bitter 
against the British, who had possession of the Lake Region. 

From the nature of the situation Clark concluded it was best to 
take Kaskaskia first. The fact that the people regarded him as a 
savage rebel, he regarded as really a good thing in his favor; for 
after the first victory he would show them so much unexpected 
lenity that they would rally to his standard. In this policy he was 
indeed successful. He arrested a few men and put them in irons. 
The priest of the village, accompanied by five or six aged citizens, 
waited on Clark and said that the inhabitants expected to be separ- 
ated, perhaps never to meet again, and they begged to be permitted 
to assemble in their church to take leave of each other. Clark 
mildly replied that he had nothing against their religion, that they 
might continue to assemble in their church, but not venture out of 
town, etc. Thus, by what has since been termed the "Rarey" 
method of taming horses, Clark showed them he had power over 
them but designed them no harm, and they readily took the oath 
of allegiance to Virginia. 

After Clark's arrival at Kaskaskia it was difficult to induce the 
French settlers to accept the "Continental paper" introduced by 
him and his troops. Nor until Col. Yigo arrived there and guar- 
anteed its redemption would they receive it. Peltries and piastres 
formed the only currency, and Yigo found great difficulty in ex- 
plaining Clark's financial arrangements. "Their commandants 
never made money," was the reply to Yigo's explanation of the 
policy of the old Dominion. But notwithstanding the guarantees, 
the Continental paper fell very low in the market. Yigo had a 
trading establishment at Kaskaskia, where he sold cofffee at one 
dollar a pound, and all the other necessaries of life at an equally 
reasonable price. The unsophisticated Frenchmen were generally 
asked in what kind of money they would pay their little bills. 



a 



56 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



"Douleur," was the general reply; and as an authority on the sub 
ject says, "It took about twenty Continental dollars to purchase a 
silver dollar's worth of coffee; and as the French word "douleur" sig- 
nifies grief or pain, perhaps no word either in the French or Eng- 
lish languages expressed the idea more correctly than the douleur 
for a Continental dollar. At any rate it was truly douleur to the 
Colonel, for he never received a single dollar in exchange for the 
large amount taken from him in order to sustain Clark's credit. 

Now, the post at Vincennes, defended by Fort Sackville, came 
next. The priest just mentioned, Mr. Gibault, was really friendly 
to "the American interest;" he had spiritual charge of the church 
at Yincennes, and he with several others were deputed to assemble 
the people there and authorize them to garrison their own fort like 
a free and independent people, etc. This plan had its desired effect, 
and the people took the oath of allegiance to the State of Virginia 
and became citizens of the United States. Their style of language 
and conduct changed to a better hue, and they surprised the numer- 
ous Indians in the vicinity by displaying anew flag and informing 
them that their old father, the King of France, was come to life 
again, and was mad at them for fighting the English; and they ad- 
vised them to make peace with the Americans as soon as they 
could, otherwise they might expect to make the land very bloody, 
etc. The Indians concluded they would have to fall in line, and 
they offered no resistance. Capt. Leonard Helm, an American, 
was left'in charge of this post, and Clark began to turn his atten- 
tion to other points. But before leaving this section of the coun- 
try he made treaties of peace with the Indians; this he did, how- 
ever, by a different method from what had always before been 
followed. By indirect methods he caused them to come to him, 
instead of going to them. He was convinced that inviting them to 
treaties was considered by them in a different manner from what 
the whites expected, and imputed them to fear, and that giving 
them great presents confirmed it. He accordingly established 
treaties with the Piankeshaws, Ouiatenons, Kickapoos, Illinois, 
Kaskaskias, Peorias and branches of some other tribes that inhab- 
ited the country between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi. 
Upon this the General Assembly of the State of Virginia declared 
all the citizens settled west of the Ohio organized into a county of 
that State, to be known as " Illinois " county ; but before the pro- 
visions of the law could be carried into effect, Henry Hamilton, the 
British Lieutenant-Governor of Detroit, collected an army of about 



^ 



w 

%" 



(9 



HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 



67 



30 reofulars, 50 French volunteers and 400 Indians, went down and 
re-took the post Yincennes in December, 1778. No attempt was 
made by the population to defend the town. Capt. Helm and a 
man named Henry were the only Americans at the fort, the only 
members of the garrison. Capt. Helm was taken pi'isoner and a 
number of the French inhabitants disarmed. 

Col. Clark, hearing of the situation, determined to re-capture the 
place. He accordingly gathered together what force he could in 
this distant land, 170 men, and on the 5th of February, started from 
Kaskaskia and crossed the river of that name. The weather was 
very wet, and the low lands were pretty well covered with water. 
The march was difficult, and the Colonel bad to workhard to keep 
his men in spirits. He suffered them to shootgame whenever they 
wished and eat it like Indian war-dancers, each company by turns 
inviting the others to their feasts, which was the case every night. 
Clark waded through water as much as any of them, and thus stimu- 
lated the men by his example. They reached the Little Wabash 
on the 13th, after suffering many and great hardships. Here a camp 
was formed, and without waiting to discuss plans for crossing the 
river, Clark ordered the men to construct a vessel, and pretended 
that crossing the stream would be only a piece of amusement, al- 
though inwardly he held a different opinion. 

The second day afterward a reconnoitering party was sent across 
the river, who returned and made an encouraging report, A scaf- 
folding was built on the opposite shore, upon which the baggage 
was placed as it was tediously ferried over, and the new camping 
ground was a nice half acre of dry land. There were many amuse- 
ments, indeed, in getting across the river, which put all the men in 
high spirits. The succeeding two or three days they had to march 
through a great deal of water, having on the night of the 17th to 
encamp in the water, near the Big Wabash. 

At daybreak on the 18th they heard the signal gun at Yincennes, 
and at once commenced their march. Reaching the Wabash about 
two o'clock, they constructed rafts to cross the river on a boat-steal- 
ing expedition, but labored all day and night to no purpose. On 
the 19th they began to make a canoe, in which a second attempt to 
steal boats was made, but this expedition returned, reporting that 
there were two "large fires" within a mile of them. Clark sent a 
canoe down the river to meet the vessel that was supposed to be on 
her way up with the supplies, with orders to hasten forward day and 
night. This was their last hope, as their provisions were entirely 



^ 



aN : ° > V-, 

—^—— 1 fi^ 

58 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

gone, and starvation seemed to be hovering about them. The next 
day they commenced to make more canoes, when about noon the 
sentinel on the river brought a boat with five Frenchmen from the 
fort. From this party they learned that they were not as yet dis- 
covered. All the army crossed the river in two canoes the next 
day, and as Clark had determined to reach the town that night, he 
ordered his men to move forward. They plunged into the water 
sometimes to the neck, for over three miles. 

Without food, benumbed with cold, up to their waists in water, 
covered with broken ice, the men at one time mutinied and refused 
to march. All the persuasions of Clark had no eifect upon the 
half-starved and half-frozen soldiers. In one company was a small 
drummer boy, and also a sergeant who stood six feet two inches in 
socks, and stout and athletic. He was devoted to Clark. The Gen- 
eral mounted the little drummer on the shoulders of tlie stalwart 
sergeant and ordered him to plunge into the water, half-frozen as it 
was. He did so, the little boy beating the charge from his lofty 
perch, while Clark, sword in hand, followed them, giving the com- 
mand as he threw aside the floating ice, "Forward." Elated and 
amused with the scene, the men promptly obeyed, holding their 
rifles above their heads, and in spite of all the obstacles they reached 
the high land in perfect safety. But for this and the ensuing days 
of this campaign we quote from Clark's account: 

" This last day's march through the water was far superior to any- 
thing the Frenchmen had any idea of. They were backward in 
speaking; said that the nearest land to us was a small league, a 
sugar camp on the bank of the river. A canoe was sent off and re- 
turned without finding that we could pass. I went in her myself 
and sounded the water and found it as deep as to my neck. I returned 
with a design to have the men transported on board the canoes to 
the sugar camp, which I knew would expend the whole day and en- 
suing night, as the vessels would pass slowly through the bushes. 
The loss of so much time to men half starved was a matter of con- 
sequence. I would have given now a great deal for a day's provis- 
ion, or for one of our horses. I returned but slowly to the troops, 
giving myself time to think. On our arrival all ran to hear what 
was the report; every eye was fixed on me; I unfortunately spoke 
in a serious manner to one of the officers. The whole were alarmed 
without knowing what I said. I viewed their confusion for about 
one minute; I whispered to those near me to do as I did, immedi- 
ately put some water in my hand, poured on powder, blackened my 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 59 

face, gave the war-whoop, and marched into the water without say- 
ing a word. The party gazed and fell in, one after another without 
saying a word, like a flock of sheep. I ordered those near me to 
begin a favorite song of theirs; it soon passed through the line, and 
the whole went on cheerfully. 

" I now intended to have them transported across the deepest 
part of the water ; but when about waist-deep, one of the men in- 
formed me that he thought he felt a path ; we examined and found 
it so, and concluded that it kept on the highest ground, which it did, 
and by taking pains to follow it, we got to the sugar camp with no 
difficulty, where there was about half an acre of dry ground, — at 

least ground not under water, and there we took up our lodging. 
* -St * * * * 

" The night had been colder than any we had had, and the ice in 
the morning was one-half or three-quarters of an inch thick in still 
water; the morning was the finest. A little after sunrise I lectured 
the whole; what I said to them I forget, but I concluded by in- 
forming them that passing the plain then in full view, and 
reaching the opposite woods would put an end to their fatigue; 
that in a few hours they would have a sight of their long wished-for 
object; and immediately stepped into the water without waiting 
for any reply. A huzza took place. As we generally marched 
through the water in a line, before the third man entered, I called to 
Major Bowman, ordering him to fall in the rear of the 25 men, and 
put to death any man who refused to march. This met with a cry 
of approbation, and on we went. Getting about the middle of the 
plain, the water about mid-deep, I found myself sensibly failing; 
and as there were no trees nor bushes for the men to support them- 
selves by, I feared that many of the weak would be drowned. I or- 
dered the canoes to make the land, discharge their loading, and play 
backward and forward with all diligence and pick up the men ; and 
to encourage the party, sent some of the strongest men forward, 
with orders when they got to a certain distance, to pass the word 
back that the water was getting shallow, and when getting near the 
woods, to cry out land. This stratagem had its desired effect; the 
men exerted themselves almost beyond their abilities, the weak 
holding by the stronger. The water, however, did not become 
shallower, but continued deepening. Getting to the woods where 
the men expected land, the water was up to my shoulders; but 
gaining the woods was of great consequence; all the low men and 
weakly hung to the trees and floated on the old logs until they were 



^ 



^ 



x»- 



60 HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 

taken off by the canoes; the strong and tall got ashore and built 
tires. Many would reach the shore and fall with their bodies half 
in the water, not being able to support themselves without it. 

"This was a dry and delightful spot of ground of about ten acres. 
Fortunately, ^.s if designed by Providence, a canoe of Indian squaws 
and children was coming up to town, and took through this part of 
the plain as a nigh way; it was discovered by our canoe-men as they 
were out after the other men. They gave chase and took the Indian 
canoe, on board of which was nearly half a quarter of buffalo, some 
corn, tallow, kettles, etc. This was an invaluable prize. Broth was 
immediately made and served out, especially to the weakly; nearly 
all of us got a little; but a great many gave their part to the 
weakly, saying something cheering to their comrades. By the 
afternoon, this refreshment and fine weather had greatly invigor- 
ated the whole party. 

" Crossing a narrow and deep lake in the canoes, and marching 
some distance, we came to a copse of timber called ' Warrior's 
Island.' We were now in full view of the fort and town; it was 
about two miles distant, with not a shrub intervening. Every man 
now feasted his eyes and forgot that he had suffered anything, say- 
ing that all which had passed was owing to good policy, and noth- 
ing but what a man could bear, and that a soldier had no right to 
think, passing from one extreme to the other, — which is common in 
such cases. And now stratagem was necessary. The plain between 
us and the town was not a perfect level ; the sunken grounds were 
covered with water full of ducks. We observed several men within 
a half a mile of us shooting ducks, and sent out some of our active 
young Frenchmen to take one of these men prisoners without 
alarming the rest, which they did. The information we got from 
this person was similar to that which we got from those taken on the 
river, except that of the British having that evening completed the 
wall of the fort, and that there were a great many Indians in town. 

"Our situation was now critical. JSTo possibility of retreat in 
case of defeat, and in full view of a town containing at this time 
more than 600 men, troops, inhabitants and Indians. The crew of the 
galley, though not 60 men, would have been now a re-enforcement 
of immense magnitude to our little army, if I may so call it, but 
we would not think of them. We were now in the situation that I 
had labored to get ourselves in. The idea of being made prisoner 
was foreign to almost every man, as they expected nothing but tor- 
ture from the savages if they fell into their hands. Our fate was 



V 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 61 

now to be determined, probably in a few hours; we knew that 
nothing but the most daring conduct would insure success; 1 knew 
also that a number of the inhabitants wished us well. This was a 
favorable circumstance; and as there was but little prooability of our 
remaining until dark undiscovered, I determined to begin opera- 
tions immediately, and therefore wrote the following placard to the 
inhabitants: 

To the Inhabitants of Post Yincennes: 

Gentlemen: — Being now within two miles of your village with 
my army, determined to take your fort this night, and not being 
willing to surprise you, I take this method to request such of you 
as are true citizens and willing to enjoy the liberty I bring you, to 
remain still in your houses; and those, if any there be, that are 
friends to the king, will instantly repair to the fort and join the 
hair-buyer general and fight like men ; and if any such as do not go 
to the fort shall be discovered afterward, they may depend on 
severe punishment. On the contrary, those who are true friends 
to liberty may depend on being well treated; and I once more 
request them to keep out of the streets; for everyone I find in 
arms on my arrival I shall treat as an enemy. 

[Signed] G. R. Clark. 

" I had various ideas on the results of this letter. I knew it 
could do us no damage, but that it would cause the lukewarm to 
be decided, and encourage our friends and astonish our enemies. 
We anxiously viewed this messenger until he entered the town, and 
in a few minutes we discovered by our glasses some stir in every 
street we could penetrate, and great numbers running or riding out 
into the commons, we supposed to view us, which was the case. 
But what surprised us was that nothing had yet happened that had 
the appearance of the garrison being alarmed, — neither gun nor 
drum. We began to suppose that the information we got from our 
prisoners was false, and that the enemy had already knew of us and 
were prepared. A little before sunset we displayed ourselves in 
full view of the town,— crowds gazing at us. We were plunging 
ourselves into certain destruction or success ; there was no midway 
thought of. We had but little to say to our men, except inculcat- 
ing an idea of the necessity of obedience, etc. We moved on 
slowly in full view of the town; but as it was a point of some con- 
sequence to us to make ourselves appear formidable, we, in leaving 
the covert we were in, marched and counter- marched in such a 
manner that we appeared numerous. Our colors were displayed to 
the best advantage; and as the low plain we marched through was 



Si 



-— 9\ 



62 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

not a perfect level, but had frequent risings in it, of 7 or 8 
higher than the common level, which was covered with water; and 
as these risings generally run in an oblique direction to the town, 
we took the advantage of one of them, marching through the water 
by it, which completely prevented our being numbered. We gained 
the heights back of the town. As there were as yet no hostile 
appeai'ance, we were impatient to have the cause unriddled. Lieut. 
Bayley was ordered with 14 men to march and fire on the fort; 
the main body moved in a different direction and took possession 
of the strongest part of the town." 

Clark then sent a written order to Hamilton commanding 
him to surrender immediately or he would be treated as a 
murderer; Hamilton replied that he and his garrison were not 
disposed to be awed into any action unworthy of British sub- 
jects. After one hour more of fighting, Hamilton proposed a 
truce of three days for conference, on condition that each side 
cease all defensive work; Clark rejoined that he would "not 
agree to any terms other than Mr, Hamilton surrendering himself 
and garrison prisoners at discretion," and added that if he, Hamil- 
ton, wished to talk with him he could meet him immediately at the 
church with Capt. Helm. In less than an hour Clark dictated the 
terms of surrender, Feb, 24, 1779. Hamilton agreed to the total 
surrender because, as he there claimed in writing, he was too far 
from aid from his own government, and because of the " unanimity" 
of his officers in the surrender, and his "confidence in a generous 
enemy." 

"Of this expedition, of its results, of its importance, of the merits of 
those engaged in it, of their bravery, their skill, of their prudence, of 
their success, a volume would not more than suffice for the details. 
Suffice it to say that in my opinion, and I have accurately and criti- 
cally weighed and examined all the results produced by the con- 
tests in which we were engaged during the Revolutionary war, 
that for bravery, for hardships endured, for skill and consummate 
tact and prudence on the part of the commander, obedience, dis- 
cipline and love of country on the part of his followers, for the 
immense benefits acquired, and signal advantages obtained by it 
for the whole union, it was second to no enterprise undertaken dur- 
ing that struggle. I might add, second to no undertaking in an- 
cient or modern warfare. The whole credit of this conquest be. 
longs to two men; Gen. George Rogers Clark and Col. Francis 
Vigo. And when we consider that by it the whole territory now 



■i' 



jjg 



^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA, 63 

covered by the three great states of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan 
waa added to the union, and so admitted to be by the British commis- 
sioners at the preliminaries to the treaty of peace in 1783; (and but 
for this very conquest, the boundaries of our territories west would 
have been the Ohio instead of the Mississippi, and so acknowledged 
by both our coipmissioners and the British at that conference;) a 
territory embracing upward of 2,000,000 people, the human mind 
is lost in the contemplation of its effects; and we can but wonder 
that a force of 170 men, the whole number of Clark's troops, 
should by this single action have produced such important results." 
[John Law. 

The next day Clark sent a detachment of 60 men up the river 
Wabash to intercept some boats which were laden with provisions 
and goods from Detroit. This force was placed under command of 
Capt. Helm, Major Bosseron and Major Legras, and they proceeded 
up the river, in three armed boats, about 120 miles, when the 
British boats, about seven in number, were surprised and captured 
without firing a gun. These boats, which had on board about 
$50,000 worth of goods and provisions, were manned by about 
40 men, among whom was Philip Dejean, a magistrate of Detroit. 
The provisions were taken for the public, and distributed among 
the soldiery. 

Having organized a military government at Vincennes and 
appointed Capt. Helm commandant of the town. Col. Clark return- 
ed in the vessel to Kaskaskia, where he was joined by reinforce- 
ments from Kentucky under Capt. George. Meanwhile, a party of 
traders who were going to the falls, were killed and plundered by 
the Delawares of "White River; the news of this disaster having 
reached Clark, he sent a dispatch to Capt. Helm ordering him to 
make war on the Delawares and use every means in his power to 
destroy them; to show no mercy to the men, but to save the 
women and children. This order was executed without delay. 
Their camps were attacked in every quarter where they could be 
found. Many fell, and others were carried to Post Yincennes and 
put to death. The surviving Delawares at once pleaded for mercy 
and appeared anxious to make some atonement for their bad con- 
duct. To these overtures Capt. Helm replied that Col. Clark, the 
" Big Knife," had ordered the war, and that he had no power to lay 
down the hatchet, but that he would suspend hostilities until a 
messenger could be sent to Kaskaskia. This was done, and the 
crafty Colonel, well understanding the Indian character, sent a 



K^ 



A^, 



64 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

message to the Delawares, telling them that he would not accept 
their friendship or treat with them for peace; but that if thev 
could get some of the neighboring tribes to become responsible for 
their future conduct, he would discontinue the war and spare their 
lives; otherwise thej must all perish. 

Accordingly a council was called of all the Indians in the neigh- 
borhood, and Clark's answer was read to the assembly. After due 
deliberation the Piankeshaws took on themselves to answer for the 
future good conduct of the Delawares, and the " Grand Door " in a 
long speech denounced their base conduct. This ended the war 
with the Delawares and secured the respect of the neighboring 
tribes 

Clark's attention was next turned to the British post at Detroit, 
but being unable to obtain sufficient troops he abandoned the en- 
terprise. 

CLABK's ingenious ruse against the INDIANS. 

Tradition says that when Clark captured Hamilton and his gar- 
rison at Fort Sackville, he took possession of the fort and kept the 
British flag flying, dressed his sentinels with the uniform of the 
British soldiery, and let everything about the premises remain as 
they were, so that when the Indians sympathizing with the British 
arrived they would walk right into the citadel, into the jaws of 
death. His success was perfect. Sullen and silent, with the scalp- 
lock of his victims hanging at his girdle, and in full expectation of 
his reward from Hamilton, the unwary savage, unconscious of 
danger and wholly ignorant of the change that had just beeneflected 
in his absence, passed the supposed British sentry at the gate of the 
fort unmolested and unchallenged; but as soon as in, a volley from 
the rifles of a platoon of Clark's men, drawn up and awaiting his 
coming, pierced their hearts and sent the unconscious savage, reek- 
ing with murder, to that tribunal to which he had so frequently, 
by order of the hair-buyer general, sent his American captives, 
from the infant in the cradle to the grandfather of the family, tot- 
tering with age and infirmity. It was a just retribution, and few 
men but Clark would have planned such a ruse or carried it out 
successfully. It is reported that fiftj'- Indians met this fate within 
the fort; and probably Hamilton, a prisoner there, witnessed it all. 

SUBSEQUENT CAREER OF HAMILTON. 

Henry Hamilton, who had acted as Lieutenant and Governor of 
the British possessions under Sir George Carleton, was sent for- 



^^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 65 

ward, with two other prisoners of war, Dejeaii and LaMothe, to 
Williamsburg, Ya., early in June following, 1779. Proclamations, 
in his own handwriting, were found, in which he had offered a 
specific sum for every American scalp brought into the camp, either 
by his own troops or his allies, the Indians; and from this he was 
denominated the "hair-buyer General." This and much other tes- 
timony of living witnesses at the time, all showed what a savage he 
was. Thomas Jefferson, then Governor of Virginia, being made 
aware of the inhumanity of this wretch, concluded to resort to a 
little retaliation by way of closer confinement. Accordingly he 
ordered that these three prisoners be put in irons, confined in a 
dungeon, deprived of the use of pen, ink and paper, and be ex- 
cluded from all conversation except with their keeper. Major 
General Phillips, a British officer out on parole in the vicinity of 
Charlottesville, where the prisoners now were, in closer confine- 
ment, remonstrated, and President Washington, while approving 
of Jefferson's course, requested a mitigation of the severe order, 
lest the British be goaded to desperate measures. 

Soon afterward Hamilton was released on parole, and he subse- 
quently appeared in Canada, still acting as if he had jurisdiction 
in the United States. 

GIBAULT . 

The faithful, self-sacrificing and patriotic services of Father 
Pierre Gibault in behalf of the Americans require a special notice 
of him in this connection. He was the parish priest at Vincennes, 
as well as at Kaskaskia. He was, at an early period, a Jesuit mis- 
sionary to the Illinois. Had it not been for the infiiience of this man, 
Clark could not have obtained the influence of the citizens at either 
place. He gave all his property, to the value of 1,500 Spanish 
milled dollars, to the support of Col. Clark's troops, and never re- 
ceived a single dollar in return. So far as the records inform us, 
he was given 1,500 Continental paper dollars, which proved in the 
end entirely valueless. He modestly petitioned from the Govern- 
ment a small allowance of land at Cahokia, but we find no account 
of his ever receiving it. He was dependent upon the public in his 
older days, and in 1790 Winthrop Sargent "conceded" to him a lot 
of about "14 toises, one side to Mr. Millet, another to Mr. Vaudrey, 
and to two streets," — a vague description of land. 



(f^ — "^ "■"• & \ 






66 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 
VIGO. 



r 



Col. Francis Yigo was born in Mondovi, in the kingdom of Sar- 
dinia, in 1747. He left his parents and guardians at a very early 
age, and enlisted in a Spanish regiment as a soldier. The regiment 
was ordered to Havana, and a detachment of it subsequently to 
New Orleans, then a Spanish post; Col. Vigo accompanied this de- 
tachment. But he left the army and engaged in trading with the 
Indians on the Arkansas and its tributaries. Next he settled at St. 
Louis, also a Spanish post, where he became closely connected, both 
in friendship and business, with the Governor of Upper Louisiana, 
then residing at the same place. This friendship he enjoyed, though 
he could only write his name; and we have many circumstantial 
evidences that he was a man of high intelligence, honor, purity of 
heart, and ability. Here he was living when Clark captured Kas- 
kaskia, and was extensively engaged in trading up the Missouri. 

A Spaniard by birth and allegiance, he was under no obligation 
to assist the Americans. Spain was at peace with Great Britain, 
and any interference by her citizens was a breach of neutrality, and 
subjected an individual, especially one of the high character and 
standing of Col. Vigo, to all the contumely, loss and vengeance 
which British power could inflict. But Col. Vigo did not falter. 
With an innate love of liberty, an attachment to Republican prin- 
ciples, and an ardent sympathy for an oppressed people struggling 
for their rights, he overlooked all personal consequences, and as 
soon as he learned of Clark's arrival at Kaskaskia, he crossed the 
line and went to Clark and tendered him his means and influence, 
both of which were joyfully accepted. 

Knowing Col. Vigo's influence with the ancient inhabitants of 
the country, and desirous of obtaining some information from 
Vincennes, from which he had not heard for several months, Col. 
Clark proposed to him that he might go to that place and learn the 
actual state of affairs. Vigo went without hesitation, but on the 
Embarrass river he was seized by a party of Indians, plundered of 
all he possessed, and brought a prisoner before Hamilton, then in pos- 
session of the post, which he had a short time previously captured, 
holding Capt. Helm a prisoner of war. Being a Spanish subject, 
and .consequently a non-combatant, Gov. Hamilton, although he 
strongly suspected the motives of the visit, dared not confine him, 
but admitted him to parole, on the single condition that he 
should daily report himself at the fort. But Hamilton was embar- 



c 



^ 



IS 



HISTORr OF INDIANA. 67 

rassed by his detention, being besieged by the inhabitants of the 
town, who loved Yigo and threatened to withdraw their support 
from the garrison if he would not release him. Father Gibault was 
the chief pleader for Yigo's release. Hamilton finally yielded, on con- 
dition that he, Vigo, would do no injury to the British interests on 
his way to St. Louis. He went to St. Louis, sure enough, doing no 
injury to British interests, but immediately returned to Kaskaskia 
and reported to Clark in detail all he had learned at Vincennes, 
without which knowledge Clark would have been unable to ac- 
complish his famous expedition to that post with final triumph. 
The redemption of this country from the British is due as much, 
probably, to Col. Vigo as Col. Clark. 

GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST. 

Col. John Todd, Lieutenant for the county of Illinois, in the 
spring of 17T9 visited the old settlements at Vincennes and Kas- 
kaskia, and organized temporary civil governments in nearly all the 
settlements west of the Ohio. Previous to this, however, Clark 
had established a military government at Kaskaskia and Vincennes, 
appointed commandants in both places and taken up his headquar- 
ters at the falls of the Ohio, where he could watch the operations 
of the enemy and save the frontier settlements from the depreda- 
tions of Indian warfare. On reaching the settlements, Col. Todd 
issued a proclamation regulating the settlement of unoccupied 
lands and requiring the presentation of all claims to the lands set- 
tled, as the number of adventurers who would shortly overrun the 
country would be serious. He also organized a Court of civil and 
criminal jurisdiction at Vincennes, in the month of June, 1779. 
This Court was composed of several magistrates and presided over 
by Col. J. M. P. Legras, who had been appointed commandant at 
Vincennes. Acting from the precedents established bj'- the early 
French commandants in the West, this Court began to grant tracts 
of land to the French and American inhabitants; and to the year 
1783, it had granted to difierent parties about 26,000 acres of land; 
22,000 more was granted in this manner by 1787, when the practice 
was prohibited by Gen. Harmer. These tracts varied in size from 
a house lot to 500 acres. Besides this loose business, the Court 
entered into a stupendous speculation, one not altogether creditable 
to its honor and dignity. The commandant and the magistrates 
under him suddenly adopted the opinion that they were invested 



o V 



■vK 



>^ 



68 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



with the authority to dispose of the whole of that large region 
which in 1842 liad been granted by the Piankeshaws to the French 
inhabitants of Yincennes. Accordingly a very convenient arrange- 
ment was entered into by which the whole tract of country men- 
tioned was to be divided between the members of the honorable 
Court. A record was made to that effect, and in order to gloss over 
the steal, each member took pains to be absent from Court on the 
day that the order was made in his favor. 

In the fall of 1780 La Balme, a Frenchman, made an attempt to 
capture the British garrison of Detroit by leading an expedition 
against it from Kaskaskia. At the head of 30 men he marched to 
Vincennes, where his force was slightly increased. From this 
place he proceeded to the British trading post at the head of the 
Maumee, where Fort Wayne now stands, plundered the British 
traders and Indians and then retired. While encamped on the 
bank of a small stream on his retreat, he was attacked by a band 
of Miamis, a number of his men were killed, and his expedition 
against Detroit was ruined. 

In this manner border war continued between Americans and 
their enemies, with varying victory, until 1783, when the treaty of 
Paris was concluded, resulting in the establishment of the inde- 
pendence of the United States. Up to this time the territory now 
included in Indiana belonged by conquest to the State of Yirginia; 
but in January, 1783, the General Assembly of that State resolved 
to cede to the Congress of the United States all the territory north- 
west of the Ohio. The conditions offered by Yirginia were 
accepted by Congress Dec. 20, that year, and early in 1784 the 
transfer was completed. In 1783 Virginia had platted the town of 
Clarksville, at the falls of the Ohio. The deed of cession provided 
that the territory should be laid out into States, containing a suita- 
ble extent of territory not less than 100 nor more than 150 miles 
square, or as near thereto as circumstances would permit; and that 
the States so formed shall be distinct Republican States and 
admitted members of the Federal Union, having the same rights of 
sovereignty, freedom and independence as the other States. The 
other conditions of the deed were as follows: That the necessary 
and reasonable expenses incurred by Yirginia in subduing any 
British posts, or in maintaining forts and garrisons within and for 
the defense, or in acquiring any part of the territory so ceded or 
relinquished, shall be fully reimbursed by the United States; that 
the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kas- 






^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 69 

kaskia, Post Yincennes and the neighboring villages who have pro- 
fessed themselves citizens of Virginia, shall have their titles and 
possessions confirmed to them, and be protected in the enjoyment 
of their rights and privileges; that a quantity not exceeding 150,- 
000 acres of land, promised by Yirginia, shall be allowed and 
granted to the then Colonel, now General, George Rogers Clark, 
and to the officers and soldiers of his regiment, who marched with 
him when the posts and of Kaskaskia and Yincennes were reduced, 
and to the officers and soldiers that have been since incorporated 
into the said regiment, to be laid oft' in one tract, the length of 
which not to exceed double the breadth, in such a place on the 
northwest side of the Ohio as a majority of the officers shall 
choose, and to be afterward divided among the officers and soldiers 
in due proportion according to the laws of Yirginia; that in case 
the quantity of good lands on the southeast side of the Ohio, upon 
the waters of Cumberland river, and between Green river and Ten. 
nessee river, which have been reserved by law for the Yirginia 
troops upon Continental establishment, should, from the North 
Carolina line, bearing in further upon the Cumberland lands than 
was expected, prove insufficient for their legal bounties, the defi- 
ciency shall be made up to the said troops in good lands to be laid 
off between the rivers Scioto and Little Miami, on the northwest 
side of the river Ohio, in such proportions as have been engaged 
to them by the laws of Yirginia; that all the lands within the ter- 
ritory so ceded to the United States, and not reserved for or appro- 
priated to any of the before-mentioned purposes, or disposed of in 
bounties to the officers and soldiers of the American army, shall be 
considered as a common fund for the use and benefit of such of the 
United States as have become, or shall become, members of the 
confederation or federal alliance of the said States, Yirginia included, 
according to their usual respective proportions in the general 
charge and expenditure, and shall be faithfully and honafide dis- 
posed of for that purpose and for no other use or purpose whatever. 
After the above deed of cession had been accepted by Congress, 
in the spring of 1784, the matter of the future government of the 
territory was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Jeffer- 
son of Yirginia, Chase of Maryland and Howell of Rhode Island, 
which committee reported an ordinance for its government, provid- 
ing, among other things, that slavery should not exist in said terri- 
tory after 1800, except as punishment of criminals; but this article 
of the ordinance was rejected, and an ordinance for the temporary 



;~ 



^1 



70 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

government of the county was adopted. In 1785 laws were passed 
by Congress for the disposition of lands in the territory and pro- 
hibiting the settlement of unappropriated lands by reckless specu- 
lators. But human passion is ever strong enough to evade the law 
to some extent, and large associations, representing considerable 
means, were formed for the purpose of monopolizing the land busi- 
ness. Millions of acres were sold at one time by Congress to asso- 
ciations on the installment plan, and so far as the Indian titles 
could be extinguished, the work of settling and improving the 
lands was pushed rapidly forward. 

ORDINANCE OF 1787. 

This ordinance has a marvelous and interesting history. Con- 
siderable controversy has been indulged in as to who is entitled to 
the credit for framing it. This belongs, undoubtedly, to Nathan 
Dane; and to Rufus King and Timothy Pickering belong the 
credit for suggesting the proviso contained in it against slavery, 
and also for aids to religion and knowledge, and for assuring for- 
ever the common use, without charge, of the great national high- 
ways of the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and their tributaries to 
all the citizens of the United States. To Thomas Jeflferson is also 
due much credit, as some features of this ordinance were embraced 
in his ordinance of ITSi. But the part taken by each in the long, 
laborious and eventful struggle which had so glorious a consum- 
mation in the ordinance, consecrating forever, by one imprescript- 
ible and unchangeable monument, the very heart of our country to 
Freedom, Knowledge, and Union, will forever honor the names of 
those illustrious statesmen. 

Mr. Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government 
for the Northwestern territory. He was an emancipationist and 
favored the exclusion of slavery from the territory, but the South 
voted him down every time he proposed a measure of this nature. 
In 1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti- 
slavery clause was pending. This concession to the South was 
expected to carry it. Congress was in session in New York. On 
July 5, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New 
York to lobby on the Northwestern territory. Everything seemed 
to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state of the public 
credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his mission, 
his personal character, all combined to complete one of those sudden 



-cipv 



(9 



>^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 71 

and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that once in five or 
ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the breath of the 
Almighty. 

Cutler was a graduate of Yale. He had studied and taken de- 
grees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. 
He had published a scientific examination of the plants of New 
England. As a scientist in America his name stood second only to 
that of Franklin. He was a courtly gentleman of the old style, a 
man of commanding presence and of inviting face. The Southern 
members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North. 
He came representing a Massachusetts company that desired to 
purchase a tract of land, now included in Ohio, for the purpose of 
planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was 
worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This company had collected 
enough to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in 
Kew York made Dr. Cutler their agent, which enabled him to 
represent a demand for 5,500,000 acres. As this would reduce the 
national debt, and Jefferson's policy was to provide for the public 
credit, it presented a good opportunity to do something. 

Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was 
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the North- 
western region. This fired the zeal of Yirginia. The South caught 
the inspiration, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The entire South ral. 
lied around him. Massachusetts could not vote against him, be- 
cause many of the constuitents of her members were interested 
personally in the Western speculation. Thus Cutler, making 
friends in the South, and doubtless using all the arts of the lobby, 
was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convic- 
tions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents 
of wise statesmanship that has ever adorned any human law book. 
He borrowed from Jefierson the term "Articles of Compact," which, 
preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred char- 
acter. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massa- 
chusetts, adopted three years before. Its most prominent points 
were: 

1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 

2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a semi- 
nary and every section numbered 16 in each township; that is, one 
thirty-sixth of all the land for public schools. 

3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or 
the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. 



15 I— 






72 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " re- 
ligion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good govern- 
ment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of edu- 
cation shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself 
on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified dec- 
laration that it was that or nothing, — that unless they could make 
the land desirable they did not want it, — he took his horse and buggy 
and started for the constitutional convention at Philadelphia. On 
July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unani- 
mously adopted. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Michigan and Wisconsin, a vast empire, were consecrated to free 
dom, intelligence, and morality. Thus the great heart of the nation 
was prepared to save the union of States, for it was tliis act that was 
the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon 
the South saw their great blunder and tried to have the compact 
repealed. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee, of which 
John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance 
was a compact and opposed repeal. Thus it stood, a rock in the 
way of the on-rushing sea of slavery. 

The " Northwestern Territory " included of course what is now 
the State of Indiana; and Oct 5, 1787, Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair 
was elected by Congress Governor of this territory. Upon 
commencing the duties of his office he was instructed to ascertain 
the real temper of the Indians and do all in his power to remove 
the causes for controversy between them and the United States, 
and to effect the extinguishment of Indian titles to all the land 
possible. The Governor took up quarters in the new settlement of 
Marietta, Ohio, where he immediately began the organization of 
the government of the territory. The first session of the General 
Court of the new territory was held at that place in 1788, the 
Judges being Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Varnum and John C. 
Symmes, but under the ordinance Gov. St. Clair was President of 
the Court. After the first session, and after the necessary laws for 
government were adopted, Gov. St. Clair, accompanied by the 
Judges, visited Kaskaskia for the purpose of organizing a civil gov- 
ernment there. Full instructions had been sent to Maj. Hamtramck, 
commandant at Yincennes, to ascertain the exact feeling and temper 
of the Indian tribes of the Wabash. These instructions were ac- 
companied by speeches to each of the tribes. A Frenchman named 
Antoine Gamelin was dispatched with these messages April 5, 1790, 
who visited nearly all the tribes on the Wabash, St, Joseph and St. 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



73 



L 



Si 



Mary's rivers, but was coldly received; most of the chiefs being 
dissatisfied with the policy of the Americans toward them, and 
prejudiced through English misrepresentation. Full accounts of 
his adventures among the tribes reached Gov. St. Clair at Kaskas- 
kia in June, 1790. Being satisfied that there was no prospect of 
effecting a general peace with the Indians of Indiana, he resolved 
to visit Gen. Harmar at his headquarters at Fort Washington and 
consult with him on the means of carrying an expedition against 
the hostile Indians; but before leaving he intrusted Winthrop 
Sargent, the Secretary of the Territory, with the execution of the 
resolutions of Congress regarding the lands and settlers on the 
"Wabash. He directed that officer to proceed to Vincennes, lay 
out a county there, establish the militia and appoint the necessary 
civil and military officers. Accordingly Mr. Sargent went to Yin- 
cennes and organized Camp Knox, appointed the officers, and noti- 
fied the inhabitants to present their claims to lands. In establish- 
ing these claims the settlers found great difficulty, and concerning 
this matter the Secretary in his report to the President wrote as 
follows : 

" Although the lands and lots which were awarded to the inhabi- 
tants appeared from very good oral testimony to belong to those 
persons to whom they were awarded, either by original grants, pur- 
chase or inheritance, yet there was scarcely one case in twenty 
where the title was complete, owing to the desultory manner in 
which public business had been transacted and some other unfor- 
tunate causes. The original concessions by the French and British 
commandants were generally made upon a small scrap of paper, 
which it has been customary to lodge in the notary's office, who 
has seldom kept any book of record, but committed the most im- 
portant land concerns to loose sheets, which in process of time 
have come into possession of persons that have fraudulently de- 
stroyed them; or, unacquainted with their consequence, innocently 
lost or trifled them away. By French usage they are considered 
family inheritances, and often descend to women and children. In 
one instance, and during the government of St. Ange here, a royal 
notary ran off with all the public papers in his possession, as by a 
certificate produced to me. And I am very sorry further to observe 
that in the office of Mr. Le Grand, which continued from 1777 to 
1787, and where should have been the vouchers for important land 
transactions, the records have been so falsified, and there is such 
gross fraud and forgery, as to invalidate all evidence and informa- 
tion which I might have otherwise acquired from his papers." 



"71" 



\ 



\ 



^ 



74 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Mr. Sargent says there were about 150 French families at Yin- 
cennes in 1790. The heads of all these families had been at some 
time vested with certain titles to a portion of the soil ; and while 
the Secretary was bnsy in straightening out these claims, he re- 
ceived a petition signed by 80 Americans, asking for the confirma- 
tion of grants of land ceded by the Court organized by Col. John 
Todd under the authority of Virginia. With reference to this 
cause, Congress, March 3, 1791, empowered the Territorial Governor, 
in cases where land had been actually improved and cultivated 
under a supposed grant for the same, to confirm to the persons wlio 
made such improvements the lands supposed to have been granted, 
not, however, exceeding the quantity of 400 acres to any one per- 
son. 

LIQUOR AND GAMING LAWS. 

The General Court in the summer of 1790, Acting Governor 
Sargent presiding, passed the following laws with reference to 
vending liquor among the Indians and others, and with reference 
to games of chance: 

1. An act to prohibit the giving or selling intoxicating liquors 
to Indians residing in or coming into the Territory of the United 
States northwest of the river Ohio, and for preventing foreigners 
from trading with Indians therein. 

2. An act prohibiting the sale of spirituous or other intoxicat- 
ing liquors to soldiers in the service of the United States, being 
within ten miles of any military post in the territory; and to pre- 
vent the selling or pawning of arms, ammunition, clothing or 
accoutrements. 

3. An act prohibiting every species of gaming for money or 
property, and for making void contracts and payments made in 
consequence thereof, and for restraining the disorderly practice 
of discharging arms at certain hours and places. 

Winthrop Sargent's administration was highly eulogized by the 
citizens at Yincennes, in a testimonial drawn up and signed by a 
committee of ofiicers. He had conducted the investigation and 
settlement of land claims to the entire satisfaction of the residents, 
had upheld the principles of free government in keeping with the 
animus of the American Eevolution, and had established in good 
order the machinery of a good and wise government. In the same 
address Major Hamtramck also received a fair share of praise for 
his judicious management of afiairs. 



) ""V ' 



^ 



MILITARY HISTORY 1790-1800. 

EXPEDITIONS OF HARMA.R, SCOTT AND WILKINSON. 

Gov. St. Clair, on his arrival at Fort Washington from Kas- 
kaskia, had a long conversation with Gen. Harmar, and concluded 
to send a powerful force to chastise the savages about the head- 
waters of the Wabash. He had been empowered by the President 
to call on V^irginia for 1,000 troops and on Pennsylvania for 500, 
and he immediately availed himself of tiiis resource, ordering 300 
of the Yirginia militia to muster at Fort Steuben and march with 
the garrison of that fort to Vincennes, and join Maj. Hamtramck, 
who had orders to call for aid from the militia of Yincennes, march 
up the Wabash, and attack any of the Indian villages which he 
might think he could overcome. The remaining 1,200 of the mi- 
litia were ordered to rendezvous at Fort Washington, and to join 
the regular troops at that post under command of Gen. Harmar. 
At this time the United States troops in the West were estimated 
by Gen. Harmar at 400 effective men. These, with the militia, 
gave him a force of 1,450 men. With this army Gen. Harmar 
marched from Fort Washington Sept. 30, and arrived at the Mau- 
mee Oct. 17. They commenced the work of punishing the Indians, 
but were not very successful. The savages, it is true, received a 
severe scourging, but the militia behaved so badly as to be of little 
or no service. A detachment of 340 militia and 60 regulars, under 
the command of Col. Hardin, were sorely defeated on the Maumee 
Oct. 22. The next day the army took up the line of march for 
Fort Washington, which place they reached Nov. 4, having lost in 
the expedition 183 killed and 31 wounded; the Indians lost about 
as many. During the progress of this expedition Maj. Hamtramck 
marched up the Wabash from Yincennes, as far as the Yermillion 
river, and destroyed several deserted villages, but without finding 
an enemy to oppose him. 

Although the savages seem to have been severely punished by 
these expeditions, yet they refused to sue for peace, and continued 
their hostilities. Thereupon the inhabitants of the frontier settle- 
ments of Yirginia took alarm, and the delegates of Ohio, Monon- 

(75) 



t^ 



. •M » — *^ ^ 

■76 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

gahela, Harrison, Randolph, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Mont- 
gomery counties sent a joint memorial to the Governor of Vir- 
ginia, saying that the defenseless condition of the counties, form- 
ing a line of nearly 400 miles along the Ohio river, exposed to the 
hostile invasion of their Indian enemies, destitute of every kind of 
support, was truly alarming; for, notwithstanding all the regula- 
tions of the General Government in that country, they have reason 
to lament that they have been up to that time ineffectual for their 
protection; nor indeed could it be otherwise, for the garrisons kept 
by the Continental troops on the Ohio river, if of any use at all, 
must protect only the Kentucky settlements, as they immediately 
covered that country. They further stated in their memorial: "We 
beg leave to observe that we have reason to fear that the conse- 
quences of the defeat of our army by the Indians in the late expe- 
dition will be severely felt on our frontiers, as there is no doubt 
that the Indians will, in their turn, being flushed with victory, in- 
vade our settlements and exercise all their horrid murder upon the 
inhabitants thereof whenever the weather will permit them to 
travel. Then is it not better to support us where we are, be the ex- 
pense what it may, than to oblige such a number of your brave 
citizens, who have so long supported, and still continue to support, 
a dangerous frontier (although thousands of their relatives in the 
flesh have in the prosecution thereof fallen a sacrifice to savage in- 
ventions) to quit the country, after all they have done and sufiered, 
when you know that a frontier must be supported somewhere?" 

This memorial caused the Legislature of Virginia to authorize 
the Governor of that State to make any defensive operations neces- 
sary for the temporary defense of the frontiers, until the general 
Government could adopt and carry out measures to suppress the 
hostile Indians. The Governor at once called upon the military 
commanding officers in the western counties of Virginia to raise by 
the first of March, 1791, several small companies of rangers for this 
purpose. At the same time Charles Scott was appointed Brigadier- 
General of the Kentucky militia, with authority to raise 226 vol- 
unteers, to protect the most exposed portions of that district. A 
full report of the proceedings of the Virginia Legislature being 
transmitted to Congress, that body constituted a local Board of 
War for the district of Kentucky, consisting of five men. March 9, 
1791, Gen. Henry Knox, Secretary of War, sent a letter of instruc- 
tions to Gen. Scott, recommending an expedition of mounted men 
not exceeding 750, against the Wea towns on the Wabash. With 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 77 

this force Gen. Scott accordingly crossed the Ohio, May 23, 1791, 
and reached the Wabash in about ten days. Many of the Indians, 
having discovered his approach, fled, but he succeeded in destroy- 
'inar all the villaijes around Oaiatenon, together with several Kick- 
apoo towns, killing 32 warriors and taking 58 prisoners. He 
released a few of the most infirm prisoners, giving them a " talk," 
which they carried to the towns farther up the Wabash, and which 
the wretched condition of his horses prevented him from reaching. 

March 3, 1791, Congress provided for raising and equipping a 
regiment for the protection of the frontiers, and Gov. St. Clair was 
invested with the chief command of about 3,000 troops, to be raised 
and employed against the hostile Indians in the territory over 
which his jurisdiction extended. He was instructed by the Secre- 
tary of War to march to the Miami village and establish a strong 
and permanent military post there; also such posts elsewhere along 
the Ohio as would be in communication with Fort Washington. 
The post at Miami village was intended to keep the savages in that 
vicinity in check, and was ordered to be strong enough in its gar- 
rison to afford a detachment of 500 or 600 men in case of emer- 
gency, either to chastise any of the Wabash or other hostile Indians 
or capture convoys of the enemy's provisions. The Secretary of 
War also urged Gov. St. Clair to establish that post as the first and 
most important part of the campaign. In case of a previous 
treaty the Indians were to be conciliated upon this point if possible; 
and he presumed good arguments might be offered to induce their 
acquiescence. Said he: " Having commenced your march upon the 
main expedition, and the Indians continuing hostile, you will use 
every possible exertion to make them feel the effects of your superi- 
ority; and, after having arrived at the Miami village and put your 
works in a defensible state, you will seek the enemy with the whole 
of your remaining force, and endeavor by all possible means to 
strike them with great severity. -h- * * -h- 

In order to avoid future wars, it might be proper to make the Wa- 
bash and thence over to the Maumee, and down the same to its 
mouth, at Lake Erie, the boundary between the people of the 
United States and the Indians (excepting so far as the same should 
relate to the Wyandots and Delawares), on the supposition of their 
continuing faithful to the treaties; but if they should join in the 
war against the United States, and your array be victorious, the 
said tribes ought to be removed without the boundary mentioned." 

Previous to marching a strong force to the Miami town. Gov. St. 






\ 



78 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Clair, June 25, 1791, authorized Gen Wilkinson to conduct a second 
expedition, not exceeding 500 mounted men, against the Indian 
villages on the Wabash. Accordingly Gen. Wilkinson mustered 
his forces and was ready July 20, to march with 525 mounted vol- 
unteers, well armed, and provided with 30 days' provisions, and 
with this force he reached the Ke-na-pa-com-a-qua village on the 
north bank of Eel river about six miles above its mouth, Aug. 7, 
where he killed six warriors and took 34 prisoners. This town, 
wliich was scattered along the river for three miles, was totally de- 
stroyed. Wilkinson encamped on the ruins of the town that night, 
and the next day he conimenced his march for the Kickapoo town 
on the prairie, which he was unable to reach owing to the impassa- 
ble condition of the route which he adopted and the failing condi- 
tion of his horses. He reported the estimated results of the expe- 
dition as follows: "I have destroyed the chief town of the Ouiate- 
non nation, and have made prisoners of the sons and sisters of the 
king. I have burned a respectable Kickapoo village, and cut down 
at least 400 acres of corn, chiefly in the milk." 

EXPEDITIONS OF ST. CLAIR AND WAYNE. 

The Indians were greatly damaged by the expeditions of Harmar, 
Scott and Wilkinson, but were far from being subdued. They 
regarded the policy of the United States as calculated to extermi- 
nate them from the land; and, goaded on by the English of Detroit, 
enemies of the Americans, they were excited to desperation. At 
tliis time the British Government still supported garrisons at 
Niagara, Detroit and Michilimackinac, although it was declared by 
the second article of the definitive treaty of peace of 1783, that 
the king of Great Britain would, " with all convenient speed, and 
without causing any destruction or carrying away any negroes or 
property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his forces, 
garrisons and fleets from the United States, and from every post, 
place and harbor within the same." That treaty also provided that 
the creditors on either side should meet with no lawful impedi- 
ments to the recovery of the full value, in sterling money, of all 
bona fide debts previously contracted. The British Government 
claimed that the United States had broken faith in this particular 
understanding of the treaty, and in consequence refused to with- 
draw its forces from the territory. The British garrisons in the 
Lake Region were a source of much annoyance to the Americans, 
as they afforded succor to hostile Indians, encouraging them to 



V 



(» 



HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 79 

make raids among the Americans. This state of affairs in the 
Territory Northwest of the Ohio continued from the commence- 
ment of the Revolutionary war to 1796, when under a second 
treaty all British soldiers were withdrawn from the country. 

In September, 1791, St. Clair moved from Fort Washington 
with about 2,000 men, and November 3, the main army, consisting 
of about 1,400 effective troops, moved forward to the head- waters 
of the Wabash, where Fort Recovery was afterward erected, and 
here the army encamped. About 1,200 Indians were secreted a few 
miles distant, awaiting a favorable opportunity to begin an attack, 
which they improved on the morning of Nov. 4, about half an hour 
before sunrise. The attack was first made upon the militia, which 
immediately gave way. St. Clair was defeated and he returned to 
Fort Washington with a broken and dispirited army, having lost 
39 officers killed, and 539 men killed and missing; 22 officers and 
232 men were wounded. Several pieces of artillery, and all the 
baggage, ammunition and provisions were left on the field of bat- 
tle and fell into the hands of the victorious Indians. The stores 
and other public property lost in the action were valued at $32,800. 
There were also 100 or more American women with the army of 
the whites, very few of whom escaped the cruel carnage of the sav- 
age Indians. The latter, characteristic of their brutal nature, 
proceeded in the flush of victory to perpetrate the most horrible 
acts of cruelty and brutality upon the bodies of the living and the 
dead Americans who fell into their hands. Believino; that the 
whites had made war for many years merely to acquire land, the 
Indians crammed clay and sand into the eyes and down the throats 
of the dj'ing and the dead! 



GEN. Wayne's gee at victory. 



Although no particular blame was attached to Gov. St. Clair for 
the loss in this expedition, yet he resigned the office of Major-Gen- 
erai, and was succeeded by Anthony Wayne, a distinguished 
officer of the Revolutionary war. Early in 1792 provisions were 
made by the general Government for re-organizing the army, so 
that it should consist of an efficient degree of strength. Wayne 
arrived at Pittsburg in June, where the army was to rendezvous. 
Here he continued actively engaged in organizing and training his 
forces until October, 1793, when with an army of about 3,600 men 
he moved westward to Fort Washington. 

While Wayne was preparing for an offensive campaign, every 






^ 



80 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



possible means was employed to induce the hostile tribes of the 
Northwest to enter into a general treaty of peace with the Ameri- 
can Grovernment; speeches were sent among them, and agents to 
make treaties were also sent, but little was accomplished. Major 
Hamtramck, who atill remained at Vincennes, succeeded in con- 
cluding a general peace with the Wabash and Illinois Indians; but 
the tribes more immediately under the influence of the British 
refused to hear the sentiments of friendship that were sent among 
them, and tomahawked several of the messengers. Their courage 
had been aroused by St. Clair's defeat, as well as by the unsuccess- 
ful expeditions which had preceded it, and they now felt quite pre- 
pared to meet a superior force under Gen. Wayne. The Indians 
insisted on the Ohio river as the boundary line between their lands 
and the lands of the United States, and felt certain that they could 
maintain that boundary. 

Maj. Gen. Scott, with about 1,600 mounted volunteers from 
Kentucky, joined the regular troops under Gen. Wayne July 26, 
1794, and on the 28th the united forces began their march for the 
Indian towns on the Maumee river. Arriving at the mouth of 
the Auglaize, they erected Fort Defiance, and Aug. 15 the army 
advanced toward the British fort at the foot of the rapids of the 
Maumee, where, on the 20th, almost within reach of the British, 
the American array gained a decisive victory over the combined 
forces of the hostile Indians and a considerable number of the 
Detroit militia. The number of the enemy was estimated at 2,000, 
against about 900 American troops actually engaged. This horde 
of savages, as soon as the action began, abandoned themselves to 
flight and dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving Wayne's vic- 
torious army in full and quiet possession of the field. The Ameri- 
cans lost 33 killed and 100 wounded; loss of the enemy more than 
double this number. 

The army remained three days and nights on the banks of the 
Maumee, in front of the field of battle, during which time all the 
houses and cornfields were consumed and destroyed for a considera- 
ble distance both above and below Fort Miami, as well as within 
pistol shot of the British garrison, who were compelled to remain 
idle spectators to this general devastation and conflagration, among 
which were the houses, stores and property of Col. McKee, the 
British Indian agent and " principal stimulator of the war then 
existino- between the United States and savages." On the return 
march to Fort Defiance the villages and cornfields for about 50 



V 



:^.! 



^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



81 



miles on each side of the Maumee were destroyed, as well as those 
for a considerable distance around that post, 

Sept. 14, 1794, the army under Gen. Wayne commenced its 
march toward the deserted Miami villages at the confluence of St. 
Joseph's and St. Mary's rivers, arriving Oct. 17, and on the follow- 
ing day the site of Fort Wayne was selected. The fort was com- 
pleted Xov. 2'2, and garrisoned by a strong detachment of infantry 
and artillery, under the command of Col. John F. Hamtramck, who 
gave to the new fort the name of Fort Wayne. In 1814 a new fort 
was built on the site of this structure. The Kentucky volunteers 
returned to Fort Washington and were mustered out of service. 
Gen. Wayne, with the Federal troops, marched to Greenville and 
took up his headquarters during the winter. Here, in August, 
1795, after several months of active negotiation, this gallant officer 
succeeded in concluding a general treaty of peace with all the hos- 
tile tribes of the Northwestern Territory. This treaty opened the 
way for the flood of immigration for many years, and ultimately 
made the States and territories now constituting the mighty North- 
west. 

Up to the organization of the Indiana Territory there is but little 
history to record aside from those events connected with military 
afiairs. In July, 1796, as before stated, after a treaty was con- 
cluded between the United States and Spain, the British garrisons, 
with their arms, artillery and stores, were withdrawn from the 
posts within the boundaries of the United States northwest of the 
Ohio river, and a detachment of American troops, consisting of 65 
men, under the command of Capt. Moses Porter, took possession 
of the evacuated post of Detroit in the same month. 

In the latter part of 1796 Winthrop Sargent went to Detroit and 
organized the county of Wayne, forming a part of the Indiana 
Territory until its division in 1805, when the Territory of Michigan 
was organized. 



aPV 



\U — ^ - — -^ I -^ , 



& 



TERRITORIAL HISTORY. 

ORGANIZATION OF INDIANA TERRITORY. 

On the final success of American arms and diplomacy in 1796, 
the principal town within the Territory, now the State, of Indiana 
was Yincennes, which at this time comprised about 50 houses, all 
presenting a thrifty and tidy appearance. Each house was sur- 
rounded by a garden fenced with poles, and peach and apple-trees 
grew in most of the enclosures. Garden vegetables of all kinds 
were cultivated with success, and corn, tobacco, wheat, barley and 
cotton grew in the fields around the village in abundance. During 
the last few years of the 18th century the condition of society at 
Vincennes improved wonderfully. 

Besides Yincennes there was a small settlement near where the 
town of Lawrenceburg now stands, in Dearborn county, and in the 
course of that year a small settlement was formed at " Armstrong's 
Station," on the Ohio, within the present limits of Clark county. 
There were of course several other smaller settlements and trading 
posts in the present limits of Indiana, and the number of civilized 
inhabitants comprised within the territory was estimated at 4,875. 

The Territory of Indiana was organized by Act of Congress May 
7, 1800, the material parts of the ordinance of 1787 remaining in 
force; and the inhabitants were invested with all the rights, privi- 
leges and advantages granted and secured to the people by that 
ordinance. The seat of government was fixed at Yincennes. May 
13, 1800, Wm. Henry Harrison, a native of Yirginia, was appoint- 
ed Governor of this new territory, and on the next day John Gib- 
son, a native of Pennsylvania and a distinguished Western pioneer, 
(to whom the Indian chief Logan delivered his celebrated speech in 
1774), was appointed Secretary of the Territory. Soon afterward 
Wm. Clark, Henry Yanderburgh and John Grifiin were appointed 
territorial Judges. 

Secretary Gibson arrived at Yincennes in July, and commenced, 
in the absence of Gov. Harrison, the administration of government. 
Gov. Harrison did not arrive until Jan. 10, 1801, when he imme- 
diately called together the Judges of the Territory, who proceeded 

(82) 



\Q_ 



10 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 83 

to pass such laws as they deemed necessary for the present govern- 
ment of the Territory. This session began March 3, 1801. 

From this time to 1810 the principal subjects which attracted the 
attention of the people of Indiana were land speculations, the 
adjustment of land titles, the question of negro slavery, the purchase 
of Indian lands by treaties, the organization of Territorial legis- 
latures, the extension of the right of suffrage, the division of 
Indiana Territory, the movements of Aaron Burr, and the hostile 
views and proceedings of the Shawanee chief, Tecumseh, and his 
brother, the Prophet. 

Up to this time the sixth article of the celebrated ordinance of 
1787, prohibiting slavery in the Northwestern Territory, had been 
somewhat neglected in the execution of the law, and many French 
settlers still held slaves in a manner. In some instances, according 
to rules prescribed by Territorial legislation, slaves agreed by 
indentures to remain in servitude under their masters for a certain 
number of years; but many slaves, with whom no such contracts 
were made, were removed from the Indiana Territory either to the 
west of the Mississippi or to some of the slaveholding States. 
Gov. Harrison convoked a session of delegates of the Territory, 
elected by a popular vote, who petitioned Congress to declare the 
sixth article of the ordinance of 1787, prohibiting slavery, suspend- 
ed; but Congress never consented to grant that petition, and many 
other petitions of a similar import. Soon afterward some of the 
citizens began to take colored persons out of the Territory for the 
purpose of selling them, and Gov. Harrison, by a proclamation 
April 6, 1804, forbade it, and called upon the authorities of the 
Territory to assist him in preventing such removal of persons 
of color. 

During the year 1804 all the country west of the Mississippi and 
north of 33** was attached to Indiana Territory by Congress, but in 
a few months was again detached and organized into a separate ter- 
ritory . 

When it appeared from the result of a popular vote in the Terri- 
tory that a majority of 138 freeliolders were in favor of organizing 
a General Assembly, Gov. Harrison, Sept. 11, 1804, issued a procla- 
mation declaring that the Territory had passed into the second grade 
of government, as contemplated by the ordinance of 1787, and 
fixed Thursday, Jan. 3, 1805, as the time for holding an election in 
the several counties of the Territory,to choose members of a House 
of Representatives, who should meet at Yincennes Feb. 1 and 






V 



jVj« — fy- 

84 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

adopt measures for the orgaaization of a Territorial Council. These 
delegates were elected, and met according to the proclamation, and 
selected ten men from whom the President of the United States, 
Mr. Jefferson, should appoint five to be and constitute the Legisla- 
tive Council of the Territory, but he declining, requested Mr. Har- 
rison to make the selection, which was accordingly done. Before 
the first session of this Council, however, was held, Michigan Ter- 
ritory was set off, its south line being one drawn from the southern 
end of Lake Michigan directly east to Lake Erie. 

FIBST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE. 

The first General Assembly, or Legislature, of Indiana Territory 
met at Vincennes July 29, 1805, in pursuance of a gubernatorial 
proclamation. The members of the House of Representatives were 
Jesse B. Thomas, of Dearborn county; Davis Floyd, of Clark county; 
Benjamin Parke and John Johnson, of Knox county; Shadrach 
Bond and "William Biggs, of St. Clair county, and George Fisher, 
of Randolph county, July 30 the Governor delivered his first mes- 
sage to "the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of 
the Indiana Territory." Benjamin Parke' was the first delegate 
elected to Congress. He had emigrated from New Jersey to In- 
diana in 1801. 

THE "western sun" 

was the first newspaper published in the Indiana Territory, now 
comprising the four great States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and 
"Wisconsin, and the second in all that country once known as the 
"Northwestern Territory." It was commenced at Yincennes in 
1803, by Elihu Stout, of Kentucky, and first called the Indiana 
Gazette, and July, 4, 1804, was changed to the Westerri Sun. Mr. 
Stout continued the paper until 1845, amid many discouragements, 
when he was appointed postmaster at the place, and he sold out 
the office. 

INDIANA IN 1810. 

The events which we have just been describing really constitute 
the initiatory steps to the great military campaign of Gen. Harrison 
which ended in the "battle of Tippecanoe;" but before proceeding 
to an account of that brilliant affair, let us take a glance at the re- 
sources and strength of Indiana Territory at this time, 1810: 

Total population, 24,520 ; 33 grist mills; 14 saw mills; 3 horse 
mills; 18 tanneries; 28 distilleries; 3 powder mills; 1,256 looms ^ 

^ d — 

VI (5 eK 



< * — 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



85 



1,350 spinning wheels; value of manufactures — woolen, cotton 
hempen and flaxen cloths, $159,062; of cotton and wool spun in 
mills, $150,000; of nails, 30,000 pounds, $4,000; of leather tanned, 
$9,300; of distillery products, 35,950 gallons, $16,230; of gun- 
powder, 3,600 pounds, $1,800; of wine from grapes, 96 barrels, 
$6,000, and 5 0,000 pounds of maple sugar. 

During the year 1810 a Board of Commissioners was established 
to straighten out the confused condition into which the land-title 
controversy had been carried by the various and conflicting admin- 
istrations that had previously exercised jurisdiction in this regard. 
This work was attended with much labor on the part of the Commis- 
sioners and great dissatisfaction on the part of a few designing specu- 
lators, who thought no extreme of perjury too hazardous in their 
mad attempts to obtain lands fraudulently. In closing their report 
the Commissioners used the following expressive language: " We 
close this melancholy picture of human depravity by rendering our 
devout acknowledgment that, in the awful alternative in which we 
have been placed, of either admitting perjured testimony in sup- 
port of the claims before us, or having it turned against our char- 
acters and lives, it has as yet pleased that divine providence which 
rules over the afiairs of men, to preserve us, both from legal mur- 
der and private assassination." 

The question of dividing the Territory of Indiana was agitated 
from 1806 to 1809, when Congress erected the Territory of Illinois, 
to comprise all that part of Indiana Territory lying west of the 
Wabash river and a direct line drawn from that river and Post 
Yincennes due north to the territorial line between the United 
States and Caaada. This occasioned some confusion in the govern- 
ment of Indiana, but in due time the new elections were confirmed, 
and the new territory started off on a journey of prosperity which 
this section of the United States has ever since enjoyed. 

From the first settlement of Vincennes for nearly half a century 
there occurred nothing of importance to relate, at least so far as 
the records inform us. The place was too isolated to grow very 
fast, and we suppose there was a succession of priests and com- 
mandants, who governed the little world around them with almost 
infinite power and authority, from whose decisions there was no 
appeal, if indeed any was ever desired. The character of society 
in such a place would of course grow gradually different from the 
parent society, assimilating more or less with that of neighboring 
tribes. The whites lived in peace with the Indians, each under- 



■7< 



C" 



86 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Standing the other's peculiarities, which remained fixed long 
enough for both parties to study out and understand them. The 
government was a mixture of the military and the civil. There 
was little to incite to enterprise. Speculations in money and prop- 
erty, and their counterpart, beggary, were both unknown; the nec- 
essaries of life were easily procured, and beyond these there were 
but few wants to be supplied; hospitality was exercised by all, as 
there were no taverns; there seemed to be no use for law, judges 
or prisons; each district had its commandant, and the proceedings 
of a trial were singular. The complaining party obtained a notifi- 
cation from the commandant to his adversary, accompanied by a 
command to render justice. If this had no effect he was notified 
to appear before the commandant on a particular day and answer; 
and if the last notice was neglected, a sergeant and file of men 
were sent to bring him, — no sheriff and no costs. The convicted 
party would be fined and kept in prison until he rendered justice 
according to the decree; when extremely refractory the cat-o'-nine- 
tails brought him to a sense of justice. In such a state of society 
there was no demand for learning and science. Few could read, 
and still fewer write. Their disposition was nearly always to deal 
honestly, at least simply. Peltries were their standard of value. 
A brotherly love generally prevailed. But they were devoid of 
public spirit, enterprise or ingenuity. 




"^ rv 






GOV. HARRISON AND THE INDIANS. 

Immediately after the organization of Indiana Territory Governor 
Harrison's attention was directed, bj necessity as well as by in- 
structions from Congress, to settling affairs with those Indians who 
still held claims to lands. He entered into several treaties, by 
which at the close of 1805 the United States Government had ob- 
tained about 46,000 square miles of territory, including all the 
lands lying on the borders of the Ohio river between the mouth of 
the Wabash river and the State of Ohio. 

The levying of a tax, especially a poll tax, by the General Assem- 
bly, created considerable dissatisfaction among many of the inhabit- 
ants. At a meeting held Sunday, August 16, 1807, a number of 
Frenchmen resolved to " withdraw their confidence and support 
forever from those men who advocated or in any manner promoted 
the second grade of government." 

In 1807 the territorial statutes were revised and under the new 
code, treason, murder, arson and horse-stealing were each punish- 
able by death. The crime of manslaughter was punishable by the 
common law. Burglary and robbery were punishable by whip- 
ping, fine and in some cases by imprisonment not exceeding forty 
years. Hog stealing was punishable by fine and whipping. Bigamy 
was punishable by fine, whipping and disfranchisement, etc. 

In 1804 Congress established three land offices for the sale of 
lands in Indiana territory; one was located at Detroit, one at Yin- 
cennes and one at Kaskaskia. In 1807 a fourth one was opened at 
Jefferson ville, Clark county; this town was first laid out in 1802, 
agreeably to plans suggested by Mr. Jefferson then President of 
the United States. 

Governor Harrison, according to his message to the Legislature 
in 1806, seemed to think that the peace then existing between the 
whites and the Indians was permanent; but in the same document 
he referred to a matter that might be a source of trouble, which in- 
deed it proved to be, namely, the execution of white laws among 
the Indians — laws to which the latter had not been a party in their 
enactment. The trouble was aggravated by the partiality with 
which the laws seem always to have been executed; the Indian 

(87) 






\ 



88 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



was nearly always the sufferer. Ail along from 180.5 to 1810 the 
Indians complained bitterly against the encroachments of the white 
people upon the lands that belonged to them. The invasion of their 
hunting grounds and the unjustifiable killing of many of their peo- 
ple were the sources of their discontent. An old chief, in laying 
the trouble of his people before Governor Harrison, said : " You 
call us children ; why do you not make us as happy as our fathers, 
the French, did? They never took from us our lands; indeed, they 
were common between us. They planted where they pleased, and 
they cut wood where they pleased; and so did we; but now if a 
poor Indian attempts to take a little bark from a tree to cover him 
from the rain, up comes a white man and threatens to shoot him, 
claiming the tree as his own." 

The Indian truly had grounds for his complaint, and the state of 
feeling existing among the tribes at this time was well calculated 
to develop a patriotic leader who should carry them all forward to 
victory at arms, if certain concessions were not made to them by the 
whites. But this golden opportunity was seized by an unworthy 
warrior. A brother of Tecumseh, a "prophet" named Law-le-was-i- 
kaw, but who assumed the name of Pems-quat-a-wah (Open Door), 
was the crafty Shawanee warrior who was enabled to work upon 
both the superstitions and the rational judgment of his fellow In- 
dians. He was a good orator, somewhat peculiar in his appearance 
and well calculated to win the attention and respect of the savages. 
He began by denouncing witchcraft, the use of intoxicating liquors, 
the custom of Indian women marrying white men, the dress of the 
whites and the practice of selling Indian lands to the United States. 
He also told the Indians that the commands of the Great Spirit re- 
quired them to punish with death those who practiced the arts of 
witchcraft and magic; that the Great Spirit had given him power 
to find out and expose such persons; that he had power to cure all 
diseases, to confound his enemies and to stay the arm of death in 
sickness and on the battle-field. His harangues aroused among 
some bands of Indians a high degree of superstitious excitement. 
An old Delaware chief named Ta-te-bock-o-she, through whose in- 
fluence a treaty had been made with the Delawares in 1804, was 
accused of witchcraft, tried, condemned and tomahawked, and 
his body consumed by fire. The old chief's wife, nephew 
("Billy Patterson ") and an aged Indian named Joshua were next 
accused of witchcraft and condemned to death. The two men were 
burned at the stake, but the wife of Ta-te-bock-o-she was saved from 



-^ 



'^ 




THE SHAWNEE PKOPHET. 



\ 



L 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 91 

death by her brother, who suddenly approached her, took her by the 
hand, and, without meeting any opposition from the Indians present, 
led her out of the council- house. He then immediately returned and 
checked the growing influence of the Prophet by exclaiming in a 
strong, earnest voice, " The Evil Spirit has come among us and we 
are killing each other." — {^Dillon's History of Indiana. 

When Gov. Harrison was made acquainted with these events he 
sent a special messenger to the Indians, strongly entreating them to 
renounce the Prophet and his works. This really destroyed to som'e 
extent the Prophet's influence; but in the spring of 1808, having 
aroused nearly all the tribes of the Lake Region, the Prophet with 
a large number of followers settled near the mouth of the Tippe- 
canoe river, at a place which afterward had the name of "Prophet's- 
Town." Taking advantage of his brother's influence, Tecumseh 
actively engaged himself in forming the various tribes into a con- 
federacy. He announced publicly to all the Indians that the 
treaties by which the United States had acquired lands northwest 
of the Ohio were not made in fairness, and should be considered 
void. He also said that no single tribe was invested with power to 
sell lands without the consent of all the other tribes, and that he 
and his brother, the Prophet, would oppose and resist all future 
attempts which the white people might make to extend their set- 
tlements in the lands that belonged to the Indians. 

Early in 1808, Gov. Harrison sent a speech to the Shawanees, 
in which was this sentence: " My children, this business must be 
stopped ; I will no longer suffer it. You have called a number of 
men from the most distant tribes to listen to a fool, who speaks 
not the words of the Great Spirit but those of the devil and the 
British agents. My children, your conduct has much alarmed the 
white settlers near you. They desire that you will send away those 
people; and if they wish to have the impostor with them they can 
carry him along with them. Let him go to the lakes; he can hear 
the British more distinctly." This message wounded the pride of 
the Prophet, and he prevailed on the messenger to inform Gov. 
Harrison that he was not in league with the British, but was speak- 
ing truly the words of the Great Spirit. 

In the latter part of the summer of 1808, the Prophet spent sev- 
eral weeks at Vincennes, for the purpose of holding interviews 
with Gov. Harrison. At one time he told the Governor that he 
was a Christian and endeavored to persuade his people also to 
become Christians, abandon the use of liquor, be united in broth- 



\ 



^ 



k 



J- 



92 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

erly love, etc., making Mr. Harrison believe at least, that he was 
honest; but before long it was demonstrated that the "Prophet" 
was designing, cunning and unreliable; that both he and Tecumseh 
were enemies of the United States, and friends of the English; and 
that in case of a war between the Americans and English, they 
would join the latter. The next year the Prophet again visited 
Vincennes, with assurances that he was not in sympathy with the 
English, but the Governor was not disposed to believe him; and in 
a letter to the Secretary of War, in July, 1809, he said that he 
regarded the bands of Indians at Prophet's Town as a combination 
which had been produced by British intrigue and influence, in antic- 
ipation of a war between them and the United States. 

In direct opposition to Tecumseh and the prophet and in spite 
of all these difficulties, Gov. Harrison continued the work of extin- 
guishing Indian titles to lands, with very good success. By the 
close of 1809, the total amount of land ceded to the United States, 
under treaties which had been effected by Mr. Harrison, exceeded 
30,000,000 a -res. 

From 1805 to 1807, the movements of Aaron Burr in the Ohio 
valley created considerable excitement in Indiana, It seemed that 
he intended to collect a force of men, invade Mexico and found a 
republic there, comprising all the country west of the Alleghany 
mountains. He gathered, however, but a few men, started south, 
and was soon arrested by the Federal authorities. But before his 
arrest he had abandoned his expedition and his followers had 
dispersed, 

Harrison's campaign. 

While the Indians were combining to prevent any further trans- 
fer of land to the whites, the British were using the advantage as a 
groundwork for a successful war upon the Americans. In the 
spring of 1810 the followers of the Prophet refused to receive their 
annuity of salt, and the officials who offered it were denounced as 
"American dogs," and otherwise treated in a disrespectful manner. 
Gov. Harrison, in July, attempted to gain the friendship of the 
Prophet by sending him a letter,offering to treat with him person- 
ally in the matter of his grievances, or to furnish means to send 
him, with three of his principal chiefs, to the President at Wash- 
ington; but the messenger was coldly received, and they returned 
word that they would visit Vincennes in a few days and interview 
the Governor. Accordingly, Aug. 12, 1810, the Shawanee chief 
with 70 of his principal warriors, marched up to the door of the 






J ® 



•vj< 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



93 



Governor's house, and from that day until the 22d held daily inter- 
views with His Excellency. In all of his speeches Tecuinseh was 
haughty, and sometimes arrogant. On the 20th he delivered that 
celebrated speech in which he gave the Governor the alternative of 
returning their lands or meeting them in battle. 

While the Governor was replying to this speech Tecumseh inter- 
rupted him with an angry exclamation, declaring that the United 
States, through Gov. Harrison, had "cheated and imposed on the 
Indians." When Tecumseh first rose, a number of his party also 
sprung to their feet, armed with clubs, tomahawks and spears, and 
made some threatening demonstrations. The Governor's guards, 
who stood a little way off, were marched up in haste, and the In- 
dians, awed by the presence of this small armed force, abandoned 
w^hat seemed to be an intention to make an open attack on the Gov- 
ernor and his attendants. As soon as Tecumseh's remarks were 
interpreted, the Governor reproached him for his conduct, and com- 
manded him to depart instantly to his camp. 

On the following day Tecumseh repented of his rash act and re- 
quested the Governor to grant him another interview, and pro- 
tested against any intention of offense. The Governor consented, 
and the council was re-opened on the 21st, when the Shawanee 
chief addressed him in a respectful and dignified manner, but re- 
mained immovable in his policy. The Governor then requested 
Tecumseh to state plainly whether or not the surveyors who might 
be sent to survey the lands purchased at the treaty of Fort Wayne 
in 1809, would be molested by Indians. Tecumseh replied: 
"Brother, when you speak of annuities to me, I look at the land 
and pity the women and children. I am authorized to say that they 
will not receive them. Brother, we want to save that piece of land. 
We do not wish you to take it. It is small enough for our purpose. 
If you do take it, you must blame yourself as the cause of the 
trouble between us and the tribes who sold it to you. I want the 
present boundary line to continue. Should you cross it, I assure 
you it will be productive of bad consequences." 

The next day the Governor, attended only by his interpreter, 
visited the camp of the great Shawanee, and in the course of along 
interview told him that the President of the United States would 
not acknowledge his claims. "Well," replied the brave warrior, 
"as the great chief is to determine the matter, I hope the Great 
Spirit will put sense enough into his head to induce him to direct 
you to give up this land. It is true, he is so far off he will not be 



?rr- 



\ 



^k. 



94 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

injured by the war. He may sit still in bis town and drink his 
wine, while you and I will have to fight it out." 

In his message to the new territorial Legislature in 1810 Gov. 
Harrison called attention to the dangerous views held by Tecumseh 
and the Prophet, to the pernicious influence of alien enemies 
among the Indians, to the unsettled condition of the Indian trade 
and to the policy of extinguishing Indian titles to lands. The 
eastern settlements were separated from the western by a consider- 
able extent of Indian lands, and the most fertile tracts within the 
territory were still in the hands of the Indians. Almost entirely 
divested of the game from which they had drawn their subsistence, 
it had become of little use to them; and it was the intention of 
-the Government to substitute for the precarious and scanty sup- 
plies of the chase the more certain and plentiful support of agri- 
culture and stock-raising. The old habit of the Indians to hunt 
so long as a deer could be found was so inveterate that they would 
not break it and resort to intelligent agriculture unless they were 
compelled to, and to this they would not be compelled unless they 
were confined to a limited extent of territory. The earnest lan- 
guage of the Governor's appeal was like this: "Are then those 
extinguishments of native title which are at once so beneficial to 
the Indian and the territory of the United States, to be suspended on 
account of the intrigues of a few individuals? Is one of the fair- 
est portions of the globe to remain in a state of nature, the haunt 
of a few wretched savages, when it seems destined by the Creator 
to give support to a large population, and to be the seat of civili- 
zation, of science and true religion?" 

In the same message the Governor also urged the establishment 
of a system of popular education. 

Among the acts passed hy this session of the Legislature, one 
authorized the President and Directors of the Yincennes Public 
Library to raise $1,000 by lottery. Also, a petition was sent to 
Congress for a permanent seat of government for the Territory, and 
commissioners were appointed to select the site. 

With the beginning of the year 1811 the British agent for 
Indian affairs adopted measures calculated to secure the support of 
the savao^es in the war which at this time seemed almost inevitable. 
Meanwhile Gov. Harrison did all in his power to destroy the influ- 
ence of Tecumseh and his brother and break up the Indian confed- 
eracy which was oeing organized in the interests of Great Britain. 
Pioneer settlers and the Indians naturally grew more and more 

.♦ ^' — 

^ <s ^ ^ SI'S- 



A 



<2_ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



95 



aggressive and intolerant, committing depredations and murders, 
until the Governor felt compelled to send the following speech^ 
substantially, to the two leaders of the Indian tribes: "This is the 
third year that all the white people in this country have been 
alarmed at your proceedings; you threaten us with war; you invite 
all the tribes north and west of you to join against us, while your 
warriors who have lately been here deny this. The tribes on the 
Mississippi have sent me word that you intended to murder me 
and then commence a war upon my people, and your seizing the salt 
I recently sent up the Wabash is also sufficient evidence of such 
intentions on your part. My warriors are preparing themselves, 
not to strike you, but to defend themselves and their women and 
children. You shall not surprise us, as you expect to do. Your 
intended act is a rash one: consider well of it. What can induce 
you to undertake such a thing when there is so little prospect of 
success'^ Do you really think that the handful of men you have 
about you are able to contend with the seventeen 'fires?' or even 
that the whole of the tribes united could contend against the Ken- 
tucky 'fire' alone? I am myself of the Long 'Knife fire.' As soon 
as they hear my voice you will see them pouring forth their swarms 
of hunting-shirt men as numerous as the musquitoes on the shores 
of the Wabash. Take care of their stings. It is not our wish to 
hurt you; if we did, we certainly have power to do it. 

" You have also insulted the Government of the United States, 
by seizing the salt that was intended for other tribes. Satisfaction 
must be given for that also. You talk of coming to see me, attend- 
ed by all of your young men; but this must not be. If your inten- 
tions are good, you have no need to bring but a few of your young 
men with you. I must be plain with you. I will not suff'er you 
to come into our settlements with such a force. My advice is that 
you visit the President of the United States and lay your griev- 
ances before him. 

" With respect to the lands that were purchased last fall I can 
enter into no negotiations with you; the affair is with the Presi- 
dent. If you wish to go and see him, I will supply you with the 
means. 

" The person who delivers this is one of my war officers, and is a 
man in whom I have entire confidence; whatever he says to you, 
although it may not be contained in this paper, you may believe 
comes from me. My friend Tecumseh, the bearer is a good man 
and a brave warrior; I hope you will treat him well. You ar? 






V 



^ 



96 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

yourself a warrior, and all such should have esteem for each other." 

The bearer of this speech was politely received by Tecumseh, 
who replied to the Governor briefly that he should visit Yincennes 
in a few days. Accordingly he arrived July 27, 1811, bringing 
with him a considerable force of Indians, which created much 
alarm among the inhabitants. In view of an emergency Gov. 
Harrison reviewed his militia — about 750 armed men — and station- 
ed two companies and a detachment of dragoons on the borders of 
the town. At this interview Tecumseh held forth that he intended 
no war against the United States; that he would send messengers 
among the Indians to prevent murders and depredations on the 
white settlements; that the Indians, as well as the whites, who had 
committed murders, ought to be forgiven; that he had set the white 
people an example of forgiveness, which tliey ought to follow; 
that it was his wish to establish a union among all the Indian 
tribes; that the northern tribes were united; that he was going to 
visit the southern Indians, and then return to the Prophet's town. 
He said also that he would visit the President the next spring and 
settle all difficulties with him, and that he hoped no attempts would 
be made to make settlements on the lands which had been sold to 
the United States, at the treaty of Fort "Wayne, because the Indians 
wanted to keep those grounds for hunting. 

Tecumseh then, with about 20 of his followers, left for the South, 
to induce the tribes in that direction to join his confederacy. 

By the way, a lawsuit was instituted by Gov. Harrison against a 
certain Wm. Mcintosh, for asserting that the plaintiff had cheated 
the Indians out of their lands, and that by so doing he had made 
them enemies to the United States. The defendant was a wealthy 
Scotch resident of Yincennes, well educated, and a man of influence 
among the people opposed to Gov. Harrison's land policy. The 
jury rendered a verdict in favor of Harrison, assessing the damages 
at $4,000. In execution of the decree of Court a large quantity of 
the defendant's land was sold in the absence of Gov. Harrison; 
but some time afterward Harrison caused about two-thirds of the 
land to be restored to Mr. Mcintosh, and the remainder was given 
to some orphan children. 

Harrison's first movement was to erect a new fort on the Wabash 
river and to break up the assemblage of hostile Indians at the 
Prophet's town. For this purpose he ordered Col. Boyd's regiment 
of infantry to move from the falls of Ohio to Yincennes. "When 
the military expedition organized by Gov, Harrison was nearly 






•*y 



-^l>^^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 97 

ready to march to the Prophet's town,several Indian chiefs arrived 
at Vincennes Sept. 25, 1811, and declared that the Indians 
would comply with the demands of the Governor and disperse; but 
this did not check the military proceedings. The army under com- 
mand of Harrison moved from Vincennes Sept. 26, and Oct. 3, en- 
countering no opposition from the enemy, encamped at the place 
where Fort Harrison was afterward built, and near where the city 
of Terre Haute now stands. On the night of the 11th a few hos- 
tile Indians approached the encampment and wounded one of the 
sentinels, which caused considerable excitement. The army was 
immediately drawn up in line of battle, and small detachments 
were sent in all directions; but the enemy could not be found. 
Then the Governor sent a message to Prophet's Town, requiring 
the Shawanees, Winnebagoes, Pottawatomies and Kickapoos at 
that place to return to their respective tribes; he also required the 
Prophet to restore all the stolen horses in his ]iossession, or to give 
satisfactory proof that such persons were not there, nor had lately 
been, under his control. To this message the Governor received 
no answer, unless that answer was delivered in the battle of Tip- 
pecanoe. 

The new fort on the Wabash was finished Oct. 28, and at the re- 
quest of all the subordinate officers it was called "Fort Harrison," 
near what is now Terre Haute. This fort was garrisoned with a 
small number of men under Lieutenant-Colonel Miller. On the 
29th the remainder of the army, consisting of 910 men, moved 
toward the Prophet's town; about 270 of the troops were mounted. 
The regular troops, 250 in number, were under the command of 
Col. Boyd, With this array the Governor marched to withm a 
half mile of the Prophet's town, when a conference was opened 
with a distinguished chief, in high esteem with the Prophet, and 
he informed Harrison that the Indians were much surprised at the 
approach of the army, and had already dispatched a message to 
him by another route. Harrison replied that he would not attack 
them until he had satisfied himself that they would not comply 
with his demands; that he would continue his encampment on the 
Wabash, and on the following morning would have an interview 
with the prophet. Harrison then resumed his march, and, after 
some difficulty, selected a place to encamp — a spot not very desir- 
able. It was a piece of dry oak land rising about ten feet above 
the marshy prairie in front toward the Indian town, and nearly 
twice that height above a similar prairie in the rear, through which 

"?i(9 — - "^ «>Fr 



-V e «^ i^ > 

'•"^ If, * 

98 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and near this bank ran a small stream clothed with willow and 
brush wood. Toward the left flank this highland widened consid- 
erably, but became gradually narrower in the opposite direction, 
and at the distance of 150 yards terminated in an abrupt point. 
The two columns of infantry occupied the front and rear of this 
ground, about 150 yards from each other on the left, and a little 
more than half that distance on the right, flank. One flank was 
filled by two companies of mounted riflemen, 120 men, under com- 
mand of Major-General Wells, of the Kentucky militia, and one 
by Spencer's company of mounted riflemen, numbering 80 men. 
The front line was composed of one battalion of United States in- 
fantry, under command of Major Floyd, flanked on the right by 
two companies of militia, and on the left by one company. The 
rear line was composed of a battalion of United States troops, 
under command of Capt. Bean, acting as Major, and four companies 
of militia infantry under Lieutenant-Colonel Decker. The regular 
troops of this line joined the mounted riflemen under Gen. Wells, 
on the left flank, and Col. Decker's battalion formed an angle with 
Spencer's company on the left. Two troops of dragoons, about 60 
men in all, were encamped in the rear of the left flank, and Capt. 
Parke's troop, which was larger than the other two, in rear of 
the right line. For a night attack the order of encampment was 
the order of battle, and each man slept opposite his post in the 
line. In the formation of the troops single flle was adopted, in 
order to get as great an extension of the lines as possible. 

BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE. 

No attack was made by the enemy until about 4 o'clock on the 
morning of Nov. 7, just after the Governor had arisen. The 
attack was made on the left flank. Only a single gun was tired by the 
sentinels or by the guard in that direction, which made no resist- 
ance, abandoning their posts and fleeing into camp; and the first 
notice which the troops of that line had of the danger was the yell 
of the savages within a short distance of them. But the men 
were courageous and preserved good discipline. Such of them as 
were awake, or easily awakened, seized arms and took their stations; 
others, who were more tardy, had to contend with the enemy in 
the doors of their tents. The storm first fell upon Capt. Barton's 
company of the Fourth United States Regiment, and Capt. Geiger's 
company of mounted riflemen, which formed the left angle of the 
rear line. The fire from the Indians was exceedingly severe, and 

" -A 9 — ^ *,, « "''' » ^• 



\ 



H* 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 99 

men in these companies suffered considerably before relief could be 
brought to them. Some few Indians passed into the encampment 
near the angle, and one or two penetrated to some distance before 
they were killed. All the companies formed for action before they 
were fired on. The morning was dark and cloudy, and the fires of 
the Americans afforded only a partial light, which gave greater 
advantage to the enemy than to the troops, and they were there- 
fore extinguished. 

As soon as the Governor could mount his horse he rode to the 
angle which was attacked, where he found that Barton's company had 
suffered severely, and the left of Geiger's entirely broken. He 
immediately ordered Cook's and Wentworth's companies to march 
up to the center of the rear line, where were stationed a small com- 
pany of U. S. riflemen and the companies of Bean, Snelling and 
Prescott. As the General rode up he found Maj, Daviess forming 
the dragoons in the rear of these companies, and having ascertained 
that the heaviest fire proceeded from some trees 15 or 20 paces in 
front of these companies, he directed the Major to dislodge them 
with a part of the dragoons; but unfortunately the Major's gal- 
lantry caused him to undertake the execution of the order with a 
smaller force than was required, which enabled the enemy to avoid 
him in front and attack his flanks. He was mortally wounded and 
his men driven back. Capt. Snelling, however, with his company 
immediately dislodged those Indians. Capt. Spencer and his Ist 
and 2nd Lieutenants were killed, and Capt. Warwick mortally 
wounded. The soldiery remained brave. Spencer had too much 
ground originally, and Harrison re-enforced him with a company 
of riflemen which had been driven from their position on the left 
flank. 

Gen. Harrison's aim was to keep the lines entire, to prevent the 
enemy from breaking into the camp until daylight, which would 
enable him to make a general and effectual charge. With this view 
he had re-enforced every part of the line that had suffered much, 
and with the approach of morning he withdrew several companies 
from the front and rear lines and re-enforced the right and left 
flanks, foreseeing that at these points the enemy would make their 
last effort. Maj. Wells, who had commanded the left flank, charged 
upon the enemy and drove them at the point of the bayonet into 
the marsh, where they could not be followed. Meanwhile Capt. 
Cook and Lieut. Larrabee marched their companies to the right 
flank and formed under fire of the enemy, and being there joined 

^ lofC. — - 



— J9^ 



->• 



100 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

by the riflemen of that flank, charged upon the enemy, killing a 
number and putting the rest to a precipitate flight. 

Thus ended the famous battle of Tippecanoe, victoriously to the 
whites and honorably to Gen. Harrison. 

In this battle Mr. Harrison had about 700 efficient men, while 
the Indians had probably more than that. The loss of the Ameri- 
cans was 37 killed and 25 mortally wounded, and 126 wounded; the 
Indians lost 38 killed on the field of battle, and the number of the 
wounded was never known. Among the whites killed were Daviess, 
Spencer, Owen, Warwick, Randolph, Bean and White. Standing on. 
an eminence near by, the Prophet encouraged his warriors to battle 
by singing a favorite war-song. He told them that they would gain 
an easy victory, and that the bullets of their enemies would be made 
harmless by the Great Spirit. Being informed duringthe engagement 
that some of the Indians were killed, he said that his warriors must 
fight on and they would soon be victorious. Immediately after 
their defeat the surviving Indians lost faith in their great (?) Proph- 
et, returned to their respective tribes, and thus the confederacy 
was destroyed. The Prophet, with a very few followers, then took 
up his residence among a small band of Wyandots encamped on 
Wild-Cat creek. His famous town, with all its possessions, was 
destroyed the next day, Nov. 8. 

On the 18th the American army returned to Vincennes, where 
most of the troops were discharged. The Territorial Legislature, 
being in session, adopted resolutions complimentary to Gov, Harri- 
son and the officers and men under him, and made preparations for 
a reception and celebration. 

Capt. Logan, the eloquent Shawanee chief who assisted our 
forces so materially, died in the latter part of November, 1812, 
from the effects of a wound received in a skirmish with a recon- 
noitering party of hostile Indians accompanied by a white man in 
the British service, Nov. 22. In that skirmish the white man was 
killed, and Winamac, a Pottawatomie chief of some distinction, 
fell by the rifle of Logan. The latter was mortally wounded, when 
he retreated with two warriors of his tribe, Capt. Johnny and 
Bright-Horn, to the camp of Gen. Winchester, where he soon after- 
ward died. He was buried with the honors of war. 



■^ (S ^~ ^* Q V 



■>♦- 



^ 



WAK OF 1812 WITH GREAT BEITAIN. 

The victory recently gained by the Americans at the battle of 
Tippecanoe insured perfect peace for a time, bat only a short time 
as the more extensive schemes of the British had so far ripened as 
to compel the United States again to declare war against them. 
Tecumseh had fled to Maiden, Canada, where, counseled by the 
English, he continued to excite the tribes against the Americans. 
As soon as this war with Great Britain was declared (June 18, 
1812), the Indians, as was expected, commenced again to commit 
depredations. During the summer of 1812 several points along 
the Lake Region succumbed to theBritish, as Detroit, under Gen. 
Hull, Fort Dearborn (now Chicago), commanded by Capt. Heald 
under Gen. Hull, the post at Mackinac, etc. 

In the early part of September, 1812, parties of hostile Indians 
began to assemble in considerable numbers in the vicinity of Forts 
Wayne and Harrison, with a view to reducing them. Capt. Rhea, 
at this time, had command of Fort Wayne, but his drinking pro- 
pensities rather disq^ualified him for emergencies. For two weeks 
the fort was in great jeopardy. An express had been sent to Gen. 
Harrison for reinforcements, but many days passed without any 
tidings of expected assistance. At length, one day, Maj. Wm. 
Oliver and four friendly Indians arrived at the fort on horseback. 
One of the Indians was the celebrated Logan. They had come in 
defiance of " 500 Indians," had "broken their ranks" and reached 
the fort in safety. Oliver reported that Harrison was aware of the 
situation and was raising men for a re-enforcement. Ohio was also 
raising volunteers; 800 were then assembled at St. Mary's, Ohio, 
60 miles south of Fort Wayne, and would march to the relief of 
the fort in three or four days, or as soon as they were joined by re- 
enforcements from Kentucky. 

Oliver prepared a letter, announcing to Gen. Harrison his safe ar- 
rival at the besieged fort, and giving an account of its beleaguered 
situation, which he dispatched by his friendly Shawanees, while he 
concluded to take his chances at the fort. Brave Logan and his 
companions started with the message, but had scarcely left the fort 
when they were discovered and pursued by the hostile Indians, yet 
passing the Indian lines in safety, they were soon out of reach. 
The Indians now began a furious attack upon the fort; but the little 
garrison, with Oliver to cheer them on, bravely met the assault, re- 
pelling the attack day after day, until the army approached to their 

relief. During this siege the commanding officer, whose habits of 
" Z tion : 



^" 



1 fi) 

102 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

intemperance rendered him unfit for the command, was confined in 
the " black hole," while the junior officer assumed charge. This 
course was approved by the General, on his arrival, but Capt. Rhea 
received very little censure, probably on account of his valuable ser- 
vices in the Revolutionary war. 

Sept. 6, 1812, Harrison moved forward with his army to the re- 
lief of Fort "Wayne; the next day he reached a point within three 
miles of St. Mary's river; the next day he reached the river and 
was joined at evening by 200 mounted volunteers, under Col. Rich- 
ard M. Johnson; the next day at "Shane's Crossing" on the St. 
Mary's they were joined by 800 men from Ohio, under Cols. Adams 
and Hawkins. At this place Chief Logan and four other Indians 
offered their services as spies to Gen. Harrison, and were accepted. 
Logan was immediately disguised and sent forward. Passing 

through the lines of the hostile Indian8,he ascertained their number 
to be about 1,500, and entering the fort, he encouraged the solaiers 
to hold out, as relief was at hand. Gen. Harrison's force at this 
time was about 3,500. 

After an early breakfast Friday morning they were under march- 
ing orders; it had rained and the guns were damp; they were dis- 
charged and reloaded ; but that day only one Indian was encount- 
ered ; preparations were made at night for an expected attack by 
the Indians, but no attack came; the next day, Sept. 10, they ex- 
pected to fight their way to Fort Wayne, but in that they were hap- 
pily disappointed; and "At the first grey of the morning," as Bryce 
eloquently observes, "the distant halloos of the disappointed sav- 
ages revealed to the anxious inmates of the fort the glorious news 
of the approach of the army. Great clouds of dust could be seen 
from the fort, rolling up in the distance, as the valiant soldiery 
under Gen. Harrison moved forward to the rescue of the garrison 
and the brave boys of Kentucky and Ohio." 

This siege of Fort Wayne of course occasioned great loss to the 
few settlers who had gathered around the fort. At the time of its 
commencement quite a little village had clustered around the mili- 
tary works, but during the siege most of their improvements and 
crops were destroyed by the savages. Every building out of the reach 
of the guns of the fort was leveled to the ground, and thus the in- 
fant settlement was destroyed. 

During this siege the garrison lost but three men, while the 
Indians lost 25. Gen. Harrison had all the Indian villages for 25 
miles around destroyed. Fort Wayne was nothing but a military 
post until about 1819. 



Q) 



IS 



^1 



HISTOKT OF INDIANA. 



103 







Simultaneously with the attack on Fort Wayne the Indians also 
besieged Fort Harrison, which was commanded by Zachary Taylor. 
The Indians commenced firing upon the fort about 11 o'clock one 
night, when the garrison was in a rather poor plight for receiving 
them. The enemy succeeded in firing one of the block-houses, 
which contained whisky, and the whites had great difficulty in pre- 
venting the burning of all the barracks. The word " fire " seemed 
to have thrown all the men into confusion; soldiers' and citizens' 
wives, who had taken shelter within the fort, were crying; Indians 
were yelling; many of the garrison were sick and unable to be on 
duty; the men despaired and gave themselves up as lost; two of 
the strongest and apparently most reliable men jumped the pickets 
in the very midst of the emergency, etc., so that Capt. Taylor was 
at his wit's end what to do; but he gave directions as to the many 
details, rallied the men by a new scheme, and after about seven 
hours succeeded in saving themselves. The Indians drove up the 
horses belonging to the citizens, and as they could not catch th-^ra 
very readily, shot the whole of them in the sight of their owners, 
and also killed a number of the hogs belonging to the whites. 
They drove ofi^ all of the cattle, 65 in number, as well as the public 
oxen. 

Among many other depredations committed by the savages dur- 
ing this period, was the massacre of the Pigeon Roost settlement, 
consisting of one man, five women and 16 children ; a few escaped. 
An unsuccessful effort was made to capture these Indians, but 
when the news of this massacre and the attack on Fort Harrison 
reached Yincennes, about 1,200 men, under the command of Col. 
Wm. Russell, of the 7th U. S. Infantry, marched forth for the re- 
lief of the fort and to punish the Indians. On reaching the fort 
the Indians had retired from the vicinity; but on the 15th of Sep- 
tember a small detachment composed of 11 men, under Lieut. Rich- 
ardson, and acting as escort of provisions sent from Vincennes to 
Fort Harrison, was attacked by a party of Indians within the pres- 
ent limits of Sullivan county. It was reported that seven of these 
men were killed and one wounded. The provisions of course fell 
into the hands of the Indians. 

EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS. 

By the middle of August, through the disgraceful surrender of 
Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and the evacuation of Fort Dearborn and 
massacre of its garrison, the British and Indians were in possession 
of the whole Northwest. The savages, emboldened by their buc- 



'7\ 



S" 






di. 



104 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



cesses, penetrated deeper into the settlements, committing great 
depredations. The activity and success of the enemy aroused the 
people to a realization of the great danger their homes and families 
M^ere in. Gov. Edwards collected a force of 350 men at Camp 
Russell, and Capt. Hussell came from Vincennes with about 50 more. 
Being officered and equipped, they proceeded about the middle of 
October on horseback, carrying with them 20 day's rations, to 
Peoria. Capt. Craig was sent with two boats up the Illinois, with 
provisions and tools to build a fort. The little army proceeded to 
Peoria Lake, where was located a Pottawatomie village. They 
arrived late at night, within a few miles of the village, without 
their presence being known to the Indians. Four men were sent 
out that night to reconnoiter the position of the village. The four 
brave men who volunteered for this perilous service were Thomas 
Carlin (afterward Governor), and Robert, Stephen and Davis White- 
side. They proceeded to the village, and explored it and the ap- 
proaches to it thoroughly, without starting an Indian or provoking 
the bark of a dog. The low lands between the Indian village and 
the troops were covered with a rank growth of tall grass, so high 
and dense as to readily conceal an Indian on horseback, until within 
a few feet of him. The ground had become still more yielding by 
recent rains, rendering it almost impassable by mounted men. To 
prevent detection the soldiers had camped without lighting the 
usual camp-fires. The men lay down in their cold and cheerless 
camp, with many misgivings. They well remembered how the 
skulking savages fell upon Harrison's men at Tippecanoe during 
the night. To add to their fears, a gun in the hands of a soldier 
was carelessly discharged, raising great consternation in the camp. 
Through a dense fog which prevailed the following morning, the 
army took up its line of march for the Indian town, Capt. Judy 
with his corps of spies in advance. In the tall grass they came up 
with an Indian and his squaw, both mounted. The Indian wanted 
to surrender, but Judy observed that he " did not leave home to take 
prisoners," and instantly shot one of them. "With the blood 
streaming from his mouth and nose, and in his agony " singing the 
death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally 
wounded a Mr. Wright, and in a few minutes expired! Many guns 
were immediately discharged at the other Indian, not then known 
to be a squaw, all of which missed her. Badly scared, and her hus- 
band killed by her side, the agonizing wails of the squaw were 
heart-rending. She was taken prisoner, and afterward restored 
to her nation. 



-^' 



\ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 105 

On nearing the town a general charge was made, the Indians 
fleeing to the interior wilderness. Some of their warriors made a 
stand, when a sharp engagement occurred, but the Indians were 
routed. In their flight they left behind all their winter's store of 
provisions, which was taken, and their town burned. Some Indian 
children were found who had been left in the hurried flight, also 
some disabled adults, one of whom was in a starving condition, and 
with a voracious appetite partook of the bread given him. He is 
said to have been killed by a cowardly trooper straggling behind, 
after the main army had resumed its retrograde march, who wanted 
to be able to boast that he had killed an Indian. 

September 19, 1812, Gen. Harrison was put in command of the 
Northwestern army, then estimated at 10,000 men, with these 
orders: "Having provided for the protection of the western front- 
ier, you will retake Detroit; and, with a view to the conquest of 
upper Canada, you will penetrate that country as far as the force 
under your command will in your judgment justify." 

Although surrounded by many difficulties, the General began 
immediately to execute these instructions. In calling for volun- 
teers from Kentucky, however, more men ofiered than could be 
received. At this time there were about 2,000 mounted volunteers 
at Yincennes, under the command of Gen, Samuel Hopkins, of the 
Revolutionary war, who was under instructions to operate against 
the enemy along the Wabash and Illinois rivers. Accordingly, 
early in October, Gen. Hopkins moved from Vincennes towards the 
Kickapoo villages in the Illinois territory, with about 2,000 troops; 
but after four or five days' march the men and officers raised a 
mutiny which gradually succeeded in carrying all back to Vin- 
cennes. The cause of their discontent is not apparent. 

About the same time Col. Russell, with two small companies of 
U. S. rangers, commanded by Capts. Perry and Modrell, marched 
from the neighborhood of Vincennes to unite with a small force of 
mounted militia under the command of Gov. Edwards, of Illinois, 
and afterward to march with the united troops from Cahokia 
toward Lake Peoria, for the purpose of co-operating with Gen. 
Hopkins against the Indian towns in that vicinity; but not find- 
ing the latter on the ground, was compelled to retire. 

Immediately after the discharge of the mutinous volunteers, 
Gen. Hopkins began to organize another force, mainly of infantry, 
to reduce the Indians up the Wabash as far as the Prophet's town. 
These troops consisted of three regiments of Kentucky militia, 



& 



\ 



^ 



^ 



106 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

commanded by Cols. Barbour, Miller and Wilcox; a small company 
of regulars commanded by Capt. Zacliary Taylor; a company of 
rangers commanded by Capt. Beckes; and a company of scouts or 
spies under the command of Capt. Washburn. The main body of 
this army arrived at Fort Harrison Nov. 5; on the 11th it pro- 
ceeded up the east side of the Wabash into the heart of the Indian 
country, but found the villages generally deserted. Winter set- 
ting in severely, and the troops poorly clad, they had to return to 
Yincennes as rapidly as possible. With one exception the men 
behaved nobly, and did much damage to the enemy. That 
exception was the precipitate chase after an Indian by a detach- 
ment of men somewhat in liquor, until they found themselves sur- 
rounded by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and they had to 
retreat in disorder. 

At the close of this campaign Gen. Hopkins resigned his 
command. 

In the fall of 1812 Gen. Harrison assigned to Lieut. Col. John 
B, Campbell, of the 19th U. S. Inf., the duty of destroying the 
Miami villages on the Mississinewa river, with a detachment of 
about 600 men. Nov. 25, Lieut. Col. Campbell marched from 
Franklinton, according to orders, toward the scene of action, cau- 
tiously avoiding falling in with the Delawares, who had been ordered 
by Gen. Harrison to retire to the Shawanee establishment on the 
Auglaize river, and arriving on the Mississinewa Dec. 17, when 
they discovered an Indian town inhabited by Delawares and 
Miamis This and three other villages wer.e destroyed. Soon 
after this, the supplies growing short and the troops in a suffering 
condition, Campbell began to consider the propriety of returning 
to Ohio; but just as he was calling together his officers early one 
morning to deliberate on the proposition, an army of Indians 
rushed upon them with fury. The engagement lasted an hour, 
with a loss of eight killed and 42 wounded, besides about 150 horses 
killed. The whites, however, succeeded in defending themselves 
and taking a number of Indians prisoners, who proved to be Mun- 
sies, of Silver Heel's band. Campbell, hearing that a large force 
of Indians were assembled at Mississinewa village, under Tecum- 
seh, determined to return to Greenville. The privations of his 
troops and the severity of the cold compelled him to send to that 
place for re-enforcements and supplies. Seventeen of the men had 
to be carried on litters. They were met by the re-enforcement 
about 40 miles from Greenville. 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 107 

Lieut. Col. Campbell sent two messages to the Delawares, who 
lived on White river and who had been previously directed and 
requested to abandon their towns on that river and remove into 
Ohio. In these messages he expressed his regret at unfortunately 
killing some of their men, and urged them to move to the Shaw- 
anee settlement on the Auglaize river. He assured them that their 
people, in his power, would be compensated by the Government 
for their losses, if not found to be hostile; and the friends of those 
killed satisfied by presents, if such satisfaction would be received. 
This advice was heeded by the main body of the Delawares and a 
few Miamis. The Shawanee Prophet, and some of the principal 
chiefs of the Miamis, retired from the country of the Wabash, and, 
with their destitute and suffering bands, moved to Detroit, where 
they were received as the friends and allies of Great Britain. 

On the approach of Gen. Harrison with his army in September, 
1813, the British evacuated Detroit, and the Ottawas, Chippewas, 
Pottawatomies, Miamis and Kickapoos sued for peace with the 
United States, which was granted temporarily by Brig. Gen. Mc- 
Arthur, on condition of their becoming allies of the United States 
in case of war. 

In June, 1813, an expedition composed of 137 men, under com- 
mand of Col. Joseph Bartholomew, moved from Yalonia toward 
the Delaware towns on the west fork of White river, to surprise 
and punish some hostile Indians who were supposed to be lurking 
about those villages. Most of these places they found deserted; 
some of them burnt. They had been but temporarily occupied for 
the purpose of collecting and carrying away corn. Col. Bartholo- 
mew's forces succeeded in killing one or two Indians and destroy- 
ing considerable corn, and they returned to Valonia on the 21st of 
this month. 

July 1, 1813, Col. William Russell, of the 7tb U. S., organized 
a force of 573 effective men at Valonia and marched to the Indian 
villages about the month of the Mississinewa. His experience was 
much like that of Col. Bartholomew, who had just preceded him. 
He had rainy weather, suffered many losses, found tlie villages de- 
serted, destroyed stores of corn, etc. The Colonel reported that he 
went to every place where he expected to find the enemy, but they 
nearly always seemed to have fled the country. The march from 
Valonia to the mouth of the Mississinewa and return was about 
250 miles. 

Several smaller expeditions helped to "checker" the surrounding 






Tv*- 



, ■^'k 



108 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



country, and find that the Indians were very careful to keep them- 
selves out of sight, and thus closed this series of campaigns. 

CLOSE OF THE AVAR. 

The war with England closed on the 24th of December, 1814, 
when a treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. The 9th article of 
the treaty required the United States to put an end to hostilities 
with all tribes or nations of Indians with whom they had been at 
war; to restore to such tribes or nations respectively all the rights 
and possessions to which they were entitled in 1811, before the 
war, on condition that suph Indians should agree to desist from all 
hostilities against the United States. But in February, just before 
the treaty was sanctioned by our Government, there were signs of 
Indians accumulating arms and ammunition, and a cautionary 
order was therefore issued to have all the white forces in readiness 
for an attack by the Indians; but the attack was not made. During 
the ensuing summer and fall the United States Government ac- 
quainted the Indians with the provisions of the treaty, and entered 
into subordinate treaties of peace with the principal tribes. 

Just before the treaty of Spring Wells (near Detroit) was signed, 
the Shawanee Prophet retired to Canada, but declaring his resolu- 
tion to abide by any treaty which the chiefs might sign. Some 
time afterward he returned to the Shawanee settlement in Ohio, and 
lastly to the west of the Mississippi, where he died, in 1834. The 
British Government allowed him a pension from 1813 until his 
death. His brother Tecumseh was killed at the battle of the 
Thames, Oct. 5, 1813, by a Mr, Wheatty, as we are positively in- 
formed by Mr. A. J. James, now a resident of La Harpe township, 
Hancock county. III., whose father-in-law, John Pigman, of Co- 
shocton county, Ohio, was an eye witness. Gen. Johnson has gener- 
ally had the credit of killing Tecumseh. 






-TSPV 



.^ 



k^ 



TECUMSEH. 

If one should inquire who has been the greatest Indian, the most 
noted, the " principal Indian " in North America since its discov- 
ery by Columbus, we would be obliged to answer, Tecumseh. For 
all those qualities which elevate a man far above his race; for talent, 
tact, skill and bravery as a warrior; for high-minded, honorable and 
chivalrous bearing as a man; in a word, for all those elements of 
greatness which place him a long way above his fellows in savage 
life, the name and fame of Tecnmseh will go down to posterity in 
the West as one of the most celebrated of the aborigines of this 
continent, — as one who had no equal among the tribes that dwelt 
in the country drained by the Mississippi, Born to command him- 
self, he used all the appliances that would stimulate the courage 
and nerve the valor of his followers. Always in the front rank of 
battle, his followers blindly followed his lead, and as his war-cry 
rang clear above the din and noise of the battle-field, the Shawnee 
warriors, as they rushed on to victory or the grave, rallied around 
him, foemen worthy of the steel of the most gallant commander 
that ever entered the lists in defense of his altar or his home. 

The tribe to which Tecumseh, or Tecumtha, as some write it, be- 
longed, was the Shawnee, or Shawanee. The tradition of the nation, 
held that they originally came from the Gulf of Mexico; that they 
wended their way up the Mississippi and the Ohio, and settled at 
or near the present site of Shawneetown, 111., whence they removed 
to the upper Wabash. In the latter place, at any rate, they were 
found early in the 18th century, and were known as the " bravest 
of the brave." This tribe has uniformly been the bitter enemy of 
the white man, and in every contest with our people has exhibited 
a degree of skill and strategy that should characterize the most 
dangerous foe. 

Tecumseh's notoriety and that of his brother, the Prophet, mutu- 
ally served to establish and strengtiien each other. While the 
Prophet had unlimited power, spiritual and temporal, he distributed 
his greatness in all the departments of Indian life with a kind of 
fanaticism that magnetically aroused the religious and superstitious 

passions, not only of his own followers, but also of all the tribes in 
^ (111) 



\ 



112 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



this part of the country; but Tecuraseh concentrated his greatness 
upon the more practical and business affairs of military conquest. 
It is doubted whether he was really a sincere believer in the preten- 
sions of his fanatic brother; if he did not believe in the pretentious 
feature of them he had the shrewdness to keep his unbelief to him- 
self, knowin^^ that religious fanaticism was one of the strongest im- 
pulses to reckless bravery. 

During his sojourn in the Northwestern Territory, it was Tecum- 
seh's uppermost desire of life to confederate all the Indian tribes of 
the countrv together against the whites, to maintain their choice 
hunting-grounds. All his public policy converged toward this sin- 
gle end. In his vast scheme he comprised even all the Indians in 
the Gulf country, — all in America west of the Alleghany moun- 
tains. He held, as a subordinate principle, that the Great Spirit 
had given the Indian race all these hunting-grounds to keep in 
common, and that no Indian or tribe could cede any portion of the 
land to the vt^hites without the consent of all the tribes. Hence, in 
all his councils with the whites he ever maintained that the treaties 
were null and void. 

When he met Harrison at Yincennes in council the last time, 
and, as he was invited by that General to take a seat with him on 
the platform, he hesitated; Harrison insisted, saying that it was the 
"wish of their Great Father, the President of the United States, 
that he should do so." The chief paused a moment, raised his tall 
and commanding form to its greatest height, surveyed the troops 
and crowd around him, fixed his keen eyes upon Gov. Harrison, 
and then turning them to the sky above, and pointing toward 
heaven with his sinewy arm in a manner indicative of supreme 
contempt for the paternity assigned him, said in clarion tones: " My 
father? The sun is my father, the earth is my mother, and on her 
bosom I will recline." He then stretched himself, with his war- 
riors, on the green sward. The effect was electrical, and for some 
moments there was perfect silence. 

The Governor, then, through an interpreter, told him that he un- 
derstood he had some complaints to make and redress to ask, etc., 
and that he wished to investigate the matter and make restitution 
wherever it might be decided it should be done. As soon as the 
Governor was through with this introductory speech, the stately 
warrior arose, tall, athletic, manly, dignified and graceful, and with 
a voice at first low, but distinct and musical, commenced a reply. 
As he warmed up with his subject his clear tones might be heard, 



J 



V 



\ 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



iia 



as if '' trumpet-tongued," to the utmost limits of the assembly. 
The most perfect silence prevailed, except when his warriors gave 
their guttural assent to some eloquent recital of the red man's 
wrong and the white man's injustice. Tecumseh recited the wrongs 
which his race had suffered from che ti.ne of the massacre of the 
Moravian Indians to the present; said he did not know how he 
could ever again be the friend of the white man; that the Great 
Spirit had given to the Indian all the land from the Miami to the 
Mississippi, and from the lakes to the Ohio, as a common property 
to all the tribes in these borders, and that the land could not and 
should not be sold without the consent of all; that all the tribes on 
the continent formed but one nation; that if the United States 
would not give up the lands they had bought of the Miamis and 
the other tribes, those united with him were determined to annihi- 
late those tribes; that they were determined to have no more chiefs, 
but in future to be governed by their warriors; that unless the 
whites ceased their encroachments upon Indian lands, the fate of 
the Indians was sealed; they had been driven from the banks of 
the Delaware across the Alleghanies, and their possessions on the 
Wabash and the Illinois were now to be taken from them; that in 
a few years they would not have ground enough to bury their war- 
riors on this side of the "Father of Waters;" that all would perish, 
all their possessions taken from thera by fraud or force, unless they 
stopped the progress of the white man westward; that it must be 
a war of races in which one or the other must perish; that their 
tribes had been driven toward the setting sun like a galloping 
horse (ne-kat a-kush-e ka-top-o-lin-to). 

The Shawnee language, in which this most eminent Indian states- 
man spoke, excelled all other aboriginal tongues in its musical ar- 
ticulation; and the effect of Tecumseh's oratory on this occasion 
can be more easily imagined than described. Gov. Harrison, 
although as brave a soldier and General as any American, was over- 
come by this speech. He well knew Tecumseh's power and influ- 
ence among all the tribes, knew his bravery, courage and determi- 
nation, and knew that he meant what he said. When Tecumseh 
was done speaking there was a stillness throughout the assembly 
which was really painful ; not a whisper was heard, and all eyes were 
turned from the speaker toward Gov. Harrison, who after a few 
moments came to himself, and recollecting many of the absurd 
statements of the great Indian orator, began a reply which was 
more logical, if not so eloquent. The Shawnees were attentive un- 



FT 



1A 



114 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

til Harrison's interpreter began to translate his speech to the Mia- 
mis and Pottawatomies, when Tecuniseh and his warriors sprang 
to their feet, brandishing their war-clubs and tomahawks. "Tell 
him," said Tecumseh, addressing the interpreter in Shawnee, " he 
lies." The interpreter undertook to convey this message to the 
Governor in smoother language, but Tecumseh noticed the effort 
and remonstrated, " No, no; tell him belies." The warriors began 
to grow more excited, when Secretary Gibson ordered the Ameri- 
can troops in arms to advance. This allayed the rising storm, and 
as soon as Tecuraseh's " He lies " was literally interpreted to the 
Governor, the latter told Tecumseh through the interpreter to tell 
Tecumseh he would hold no further council with him. 

Thus the assembly was broken up, and one can hardly imagine a 
more exciting scene. It would constitute the finest subject for a 
historical painting to adorn the rotunda of the capitol. The next 
day Tecumseh requested another interview with the Governor, 
which was granted on condition that he should make an apology to 
the Governor for his language the day before. This he made 
through the interpreter. Measures for defense and protection were 
taken, however, lest there should be another outbreak. Two com- 
panies of militia were ordered from the country, and the one in 
town added to them, while the Governor and his friends went into 
council fully armed and prepared for any contingency. On this oc- 
casion the conduct of Tecumseh was entirely difierent from that of 
the day before. Firm and intrepid, showing not the slightest fear 
or alarm, surrounded with a military force four times his own, he 
preserved the utmost composure and equanimity. No one would 
have supposed that he could have been the principal actor in the 
thrilling scene of the previous day. He claimed that half the 
Americans were in sympathy with him. He also said that whites 
had informed him that Gov. Harrison had purchased land from the 
Indians without any authority from the Government; that he, 
Harrison, had but two years more to remain in office, and that if 
he, Tecumseh, could prevail upon the Indians who sold the lands 
not to receive their annuities for that time, and the present Gover- 
nor displaced by a good man as his successor, the latter would re- 
store to the Indians all the lands purchased from them. 

The Wyandots, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Ottawasand the Win- 
nebagoes, through their respective spokesmen, declared their 
adherence to the great Shawnee warrior and statesman. Gov. Harri- 
son then told them that he would send Tecuraseh's speech to thePresi- 









-feV 



Si 



' Vl 



HISTORYOF INDIANA. 115 

dent of the United States and return the answer to the Indians as soon 
as it was received. Tecumseh then declared that he and his allies were 
determined that the old boundary line should continue; and that 
if the whites crossed it, it would be at their peril. Gov. Harrison re- 
plied that he would be equally plain with him and state that the 
President would never allow that the lands on the Wabash were the 
property of any other tribes than those who had occupied them 
since the white people first came to America; and as the title to 
the lands lately purchased was derived from those tribes by a fair 
purchase, he might rest assured that the right of the United States 
would be supported by the sword. " So be it," was the stern and 
haughty reply of the Shawnee chieftan, as he and his braves took 
leave of the Governor and wended their way in Indian file to their 
camping ground. 

Thus ended the last conference on earth between the chivalrous 
Tecumseh and the hero of the battle of Tippecanoe. The bones of 
the first lie bleaching on the battle-field of the Thames, and those 
of the last in a mausoleum on the banks of the Ohio; each strug- 
gled for the mastery of his race, apd each no doubt was equaUy 
honest and patriotic in his purposes. The weak yielded to the 
strong, the defenseless to the powerful, and the hunting-ground of 
the Shawnee is all occupied by his enemy, 

Tecumseh, with four of his braves, immediately embarked in a 
birch canoe, descended the Wabash, and went on to the South to 
unite the tribes of that country in a general system of self-defense 
against the encroachment of the whites. His emblem was a dis- 
jointed snake, with the motto, "Join or die!" In union alone was 
strength. 

Before Tecumseh left the Prophet's town at the mouth of the 
Tippecanoe river, on his excursion to the South, he had a definite 
understanding with his brother and the chieftains of the other tribes 
in the Wabash country, that they should preserve perfect peace 
with the whites until his arrangements were completed for a con- 
federacy of the tribes on both sides of the Ohio and on the Missis- 
sippi river; but it seems that while he was in the South enijagQd 
in his work of uniting the tribes of that country some of the North- 
ern tribes showed signs of fight and precipitated Harrison into that 
campaign which ended in the battle of Tippecanoe and the total 
route of the Indians. Tecumseh, on his return from the South, 
learning what had happened, was overcome with chagrin, disappoint- 
ment and anger, and accused his brother of duplicity and cov/ard- 






•vK 



J. 

j 

116 HISTORY OF INDIANA. | P • 

ice; indeed, it is said that he never forgave him to the day of his 
death. A short time afterv^ard, on the breaking out of the war of 
Great Britain, he joined Proctor, at Maiden, with a party of his 
warriors, and finally suffered the fate mentioned on page 108. 

CIVIL MATTERS lS12-'5. 

Owing to the absence of Gov. Harrison on military duty, John 
Gibson, the Secretary of the Territory, acted in the administration 
of civil affairs. In his message to the Legislature convening on the 
1st of February, 1813, he said, substantially: 

" Did I possess the abilities of Cicero or Demosthenes, I could 
not portray in more glowing colors our foreign and domestic politi- 
cal situation than it is already experienced within our own breasts. 
The United States have been compelled, by frequent acts of injus- 
tice, to declare war against England. For a detail of the causes of 
this war I would refer to the message of President Madison; it 
does honor to his head and heart. Although not an admirer of 
war, I am glad to see our little but inimitable navy riding triumph- 
ant on the seas, but chagrined to find that our armies by land are 
so little successful. The spirit of '76 appears to have fled from our 
continent, or, if not fled, is at least asleep, for it appears not to 
pervade our armies generally. At your last assemblage our politi- 
cal horizon seemed clear, and our infant Territory bid fair for rapid 
and rising grandeur; but, alas, the scene has changed; and whether 
this change, as respects our Territory, has been owing to an over 
anxiety in us to extend our dominions, or to a wish for retaliation 
by our foes, or to a foreign influence, I shall not say. The Indians, 
our former neighbors and friends, have become our most inveterate 
foes. Our former frontiers are now our wilds, and our inner settle- 
ments have become frontiers. Some of our best citizens, and old 
men worn down with age, and helpless women and innocent 
babes, have fallen victims to savage cruelty, I have done my duty 
as well as I can, and hope that the interposition of Providence will 
protect us." 

The many complaints made about the Territorial Government 
Mr. Gibson said, were caused more by default of officers than of the 
law. Said he: " It is an old and, I believe, correct adage, that 
' good officers make good soldiers.' This evil having taken root, I do 
not know how it can be eradicated ; but it may be remedied. In 
place of men searching after and accepting commissions before they 

Vis -^ -aV 



\ 

m 



iu 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 117 

are even tolerably qualified, thereby subjecting themselves to ridi- 
cule and their country to ruin, barely for the name of the thing, I 
think may be remedied by a previous examination." 

Durino" this session of the Legislature the seat of the Territorial 
Government was declared to be at Corydon, and immediately acting 
Governor Gibson prorogued the Legislature to meet at that place, 
the first Monday of December, 1813. During this year the Terri- 
tory was almost defenseless; Indian outrages were of common 
occurrence, but no general outbreak was made. The militia-men 
were armed with rifles and long knives, and many of the rangers 
carried tomahawks. 

In 1813 Thomas Posey, who was at that time a Senator in Con- 
gress from Tennessee, and who had been oflacer of the army of the 
Revolution, was appointed Governor of Indiana Territory, to suc- 
ceed Gen. Harrison. He arrived in Yincennes and entered upon 
the discharge of his duties May 25, 1813. During this year several 
expeditions against the Indian settlements were set on foot. 

In his first message to the Legislature the following December, 
at Corydon, Gov. Posey said: " The present crisis is awful, and big 
with firreat events. Our land and nation is involved in the common 
calamity of war; ,but we are under the protecting care of the benefi- 
cent Being,who has on a former occasion brought us safely through 
an arduous struggle and placed us on a foundation of independence, 
freedom and happiness. He will not suffer to be taken from us 
what He, in His great wisdom has thought proper to confer and 
bless us with, if we make a wise and virtuous use of His good 
gifts. •» * * Although our afiairs, at the commencement of 
the war, wore a gloomy aspect, they have brightened, and promise 
a certainty of success, if properly directed and conducted, of which 
I have no doubt, as the President and heads of departments of the 
general Government are men of undoubted patriotism, talents and 
experience, and who have grown old in the service of their country. 
* * * It must be obvious to every thinking man that we were 
forced into the war. Every measure consistent with honor, both 
before and since the declaration of war, has tried to be on amicable 
terms with our enemy, * * * You who reside in various parts 
of the Territory have it in your power to understand what will tend 
to its local and general advantage. The judiciary system would 
require a revisal and amendment. The militia law is very defective 
and requires your immediate attention. It is necessary to have 



"*^s ^ ^^ &^- 



c 



\ 



lis HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

good roads and highways in as many directions through the Terri- 
tory as the circumstances and situation of the inhabitants will 
admit; it would contribute very much to promote the settlement 
and improvement of the Territory. Attention to education is highly 
necessary. There is an appropriation made by Congress, in lands, 
for the purpose of establishing public schools. It comes now with- 
in your province to carry into operation the design of the appro- 
priation." 

This Legislature passed several very necessary laws for the wel- 
fare of the settlements, and the following year, as Gen. Harrison 
was generally successful in his military campaigns in the ISTorth- 
west, the settlements in Indiana began to increase and improve. 
The fear of danger from Indians had in a great measure subsided, 
and the tide of immigration began again to flow. In January, 
1814, about a thousand Miamis assembled at Fort Wayne for the 
purpose of obtaining food to prevent starvation. They met with 
ample hospitality, and their example was speedily followed by 
others. These, with other acts of kindness, won the lasting friend- 
ship of the Indians, many of whom had fought in the interests of 
Great Britain. General treaties between the United States and the 
Northwestern tribes were subsequently concluded, and the way 
was fully opened for the improvement and settlement of the lands. 

POPULATION IN 1815. 

The population of the Territory of Indiana, as given in tlie 
official returns to the Legislature of 1815, was as follows, by 
counties: 

COUNTIES. White males of 21 and over. TOTAL. 

Wayne... 1,225 0,407 

Franklin 1,430 7,370 

Dearborn 903 4,424 

Switzerland 377 1,833 

Jefferson--- 874 4,370 

Clark 1,387 7,150 

Washington 1,420 7,317 

Harrison 1,05G 6,975 

Knox 1,391 .. 8,068 

Gibson 1,100 5,3i0 

Posey 320 1,6 19 

Warrick 280 , 1,415 

Perry 350 1,730 



Grand Totals 13,112, 63,897 

GENERAL VIEW, 

The well-known ordinance of 1787 conferred many " rights and 
privileges " upon the inhabitants of the Northwestern Territory, and 



-^ 

^ (s ^ ^^ a V 

T 






IL 

p 



HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 119 

consequently upon the people of Indiana Territory, but after all it 
came far short of conferring as many privileges as are enjoyed at 
the present day by our Territories. They did not have a full form 
of Republican government. A freehold estate in 500 acres of land 
was one of the necessary qualifications of each member of the legis- 
lative council of the Territory; every member of the Territorial House 
of Representatives was required to hold, in his own right, 200 acres 
of land; and the privilege of voting for members of the House 
of Representatives was restricted to those inhabitants who, in addi- 
tion to other qualifications, owned severally at least 50 acres of 
land. The Governor of the the Territory was invested with the 
power of appointing officers of the Territorial militia, Judges of the 
inferior Courts, Clerks of the Courts, Justices of the Peace, Sheriff's, 
Coroners, County Treasurers and County Surveyors. He was also 
authorized to divide the Territory into districts; to apportion 
among the several counties the members of the House of Represent- 
atives; to prevent the passage of any Territorial law; and to con- 
vene and dissolve the General Assembly whenever he thought best. 
None of the Governors, however, ever exercised these extraordinary 
powers arbitrarily. Nevertheless, the people were constantly agi- 
tating the question of extending the right of suffrage. Five years 
after the organization of the Territory, the Legislative Council, in 
reply to the Governor's Message, said: "Although we are not as 
completely independent in our legislative capacity as we would 
wish to be, yet we are sensible that we must wait with patience for 
that period of time when our population will burst the trammels 
of a Territorial government, and we shall assume the character more 
consonant to Republicanism, * * * The confidence which our 
fellow citizens have uniformly had in your administration has been 
such that they have hitherto had no reason to be jealous of the un- 
limited power which you possess over our legislative proceedings. 
"We, however, cannot help regretting that such powers have 
been lodged in the hands of any one, especially when it is recol- 
lected to what dangerous lengths the exercise of those powers may 
be extended." 

After repeated petitions the people of Indiana were empowered 
by Congress to elect the members of the Legislative Council by popu- 
lar vote. This act was passed in 1809, and defined what was known 
as the property qualification of voters. These qualifications were 
abolished by Congress in 1811, which extended the right of voting 
for members of the General Assembly and for a Territorial delegate 



7f 



\ 



<a_ 



it> 



120 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

to Congress to every free white male person who had attained the 
age of twenty -one years, and who, having paid a county or Terri- 
torial tax, was a resident of the Territory and had resided in it for 
a year. In 1814 the voting qualification in Indiana was defined by 
Congress, " to every free white male person having a freehold in 
the Territory, and being a resident of the same." The House of 
Representatives was authorized by Congress to lay off the Territory 
into five districts, in each of which the qualified voters were era- 
powered to elect a member of the Legislative Council. The division 
was made, one to two counties in each district. 

At the session in August, 1814, the Territory was also divided 
into three judicial circuits, and provisions were made for holding 
courts in the same. The Governor was empowered to appoint a 
presiding Judge in each circuit, and two Associate Judges of the 
circuit court in each county. Their compensation was fixed at 
$700 per annum. 

The same year the General Assembly granted charters to two 
banking institutions, the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Madi- 
son and the Bank of Yincennes. The first was authorized to raise 
a capital of $750,000, and the other $500,000. On the organization 
of the State these banks were merged into the State Bank and its 
branches. 

Here we close the history of the Territory of Indiana. 




-r 



<3_ 



ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE. 

The last regular session of the Territorial Legislature was held at 
Corydon, convening in December, 1815. The message of Governor 
Posey congratulated the people of the Territory upon the general 
success of the settlements and the great increase of immigration, 
recommended light taxes and a careful attention to the promotion 
of education and the improvement of the State roads and highways. 
He also recommended a revision of the territorial laws and an 
amendment of the militia system. Several laws were passed pre- 
paratory to a State Government, and December 14, 1815, a me- 
morial to Congress was adopted praying for the authority to adopt 
a constitution and State Government. Mr. Jennings,the Territorial 
delegate, laid this memorial before Congress on the 28th, and April 
19, 1816, the President approved the bill creating the State of In- 
diana. Accordingly, May 30 following, a general election was held 
for a constitutional convention, which met at Corydon June 10 to 
29, Johathan Jennings presiding and Wm. Hendricks acting as 
Secretary. 

"The convention that formed the first constitution of the State 
of Indiana was composed mainly of clear-minded, unpretending 
men of common sense, whose patriotism was unquestionable and 
whose morals were fair. Their familiarity with the theories of the 
Declaration of American Independence, their Territorial experience 
under the provisions of the ordinance of 1787, and their knowledge of 
the principles of the constitution of the United States were sufficient, 
when combined, to lighten materially their labors in the great work 
of forming a constitution for a new State. With such landmarks 
in view, the labors of similar conventions in other States and Ter- 
ritories have been rendered comparatively light. In the clearness 
and conciseness of its style, in the comprehensive and just pro- 
visions which it made for the maintainance of civil and religious 
liberty, in its mandates, which were designed to protect the rights 
of the people collectively and individually, and to provide for the 
public welfare, the constitution that was formed for Indiana in 1816 
was not inferior to any of the State constitutions which were in ex- 
istence at that time." — Dillon'' s History of Indiana. 

(121) 



V 



— 1 /O 

122 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The first State election took place on the first Monday of August, 
1816, and Jonathan Jennings was elected Governor, and Christo- 
pher Harrison, Lieut. Governor. Wm. Hendricks was elected to 
represent the new State in the House of Representatives of the 
United States. 

The first General Assembly elected under the new constitution 
began its session at Corydon, Nov. 4, 1816. John Paul was called 
to the chair of the Senate protem., and Isaac Blackford was elected 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Among other things in the new Governor's message were the 
following remarks: "The result of your deliberation will be con- 
sidered as indicative of its future character as well as of the future 
happiness and prosperity of its citizens. In the commencement 
of the State government the shackles of the colonial should be for- 
gotten in our exertions to prove, by happy experience, that a uni- 
form adherence to the first principles of our Government and a 
virtuous exercise of its powers will best secure efificiency to its 
measures and stability" to its character. Without a frequent recur- 
rence to those principles, the administration of the Government 
will imperceptibly become more and more arduous, until the sim- 
plicity of our Republican institutions may eventually be lost in 
dangerous expedients and political design. Under every free gov- 
ernment the happiness of the citizens must be identified with their 
morals; and while a constitutional exercise of their rights shall 
continue to have its due weight in discharge of the duties required 
of the constituted authorities of the State, too much attention can- 
not be bestowed to the encouragement and promotion of every 
moral virtue, and to the enactment of laws calculated to restrain 
the vicious, and prescribe punishment for every crime commensu- 
rate with its enormity. In measuring, however, to each crime its 
adequate punishment, it will be well to recollect that the certainty 
of punishment has generally the surest eflPect to prevent crime; 
while punishments unnecessarily severe too often produce the ac- 
quittal of the guilty and disappoint one of the greatest objects of 
legislation and good government -5^ * * The dissemination of 
useful knowledge will be indispensably necessary as a support to 
morals and as a restraint to vice; and on this subject it will only 
be necessary to direct your attention to the plan of education as 
prescribed by the constitution. * * * I recommend to your 
consideration the propriety of providing by law, to prevent more 
eflectually any unlawful attempts to seize and carry into bondage 



^ <5 . ^^ 5> 



« 

K^ 



k^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



125 



persons of color legally entitled to their freedom; and at the same 
time, as far as practicable, to prevent those who rightfully owe ser- 
vice to the citizens of any other State or Territory from seeking 
within the limits of this State a refuge from the possession of their 
lawful owners. Such a measure will tend to secure those who are 
free from any unlawful attempts (to enslave them) and secures the 
rights of the citizens of the other States and Territories as far as 
ought reasonably to be expected." 

This session of the Legislature elected James Noble and Waller 
Taylor to the Senate of the United States; Robert A. New was 
elected Secretary of State; W. H. Lilley, Auditor of State; and 
Daniel C. Lane, Treasurer of State. The session adjourned Janu- 
ary 3, 1817. 

As the history of the State of Indiana from this time forward is 
best given by topics, we will proceed to give them in the chronolog- 
ical order of their origin. 

The happy close of the war with Great Britain in 1814 was fol- 
lowed by a great rush of immigrants to the great Territory of the 
Northwest, including the new States, all now recently cleared of 
the enemy; and by 1820 the State of Indiana had more than 
doubled her population, having at this time 147,178, and by 1825 
nearly doubled this again, that is to say, a round quarter of a mil- 
lion, — a growth more rapid probably than that of any other section 
in this country since the days of Columbus. 

The period 1825-'30 was a prosperous time for the young State. 
Immigration continued to be rapid, the crops were generally good 
and the hopes of the people raised higher than they had ever been 
before. Accompanying this immigration, however, were paupers 
and indolent people, who threatened to be so numerous as to 
become a serious burden. On this subject Governor Ray called for 
legislative action, but the Legislature scarcely knew what to do 
and they deferred action. 



<s "^ 






Ja^ 



BLACK HAWK WAR 

In 1830 tliere still lingered within the bounds of the State two 
tribes of Indians, whose growing indolence, intemperate habits, 
dependence upon their neighbors for the bread of life, diminished 
prospects of living by the chase, continued perpetration of murders 
and other outrages of dangerous precedent, primitive igno- 
rance and unrestrained exhibitions of savage customs before the 
children of the settlers, combined to make them subjects for a more 
rigid government. The removal of the Indians west of the Missis- 
sippi was a melancholy but necessary duty. The time having 
arrived for the emigration of the Pottawatomies, according to the 
stipulations contained in their treaty with the United States, they 
evinced that reluctance common among aboriginal tribes on leav- 
ing the homes of their childhood and the graves of their ancestors. 
Love of country is a principle planted in the bosoms of all man- 
kind. The Laplander and the Esquimaux of the frozen north, 
who feed on seals, moose and the meat of the polar bear, would not 
exchange their country for the sunny clime of "Araby the blest." 
Color and shades of complexion have nothing to do with the 
heart's best, warmest emotions. Then we should not wonder that the 
Pottawatomie, on leaving his home on the Wabash, felt as sad as 
-^schines did when ostracised from his native land, laved by the 
waters of the classic Scamander; and the noble and eloquent Nas- 
waw-kay, on leaving the encampment on Crooked creek, felt his 
banishment as keenly as Cicero when thrust from the bosom of his 
beloved Rome, for which he had spent the best efforts of his life, 
and for which he died. 

On Sunday morning, May 18, 1832, the people on the west side 

of the Wabash were thrown into a state of great consternation, on 

account of a report that a large body of hostile Indians had 

approached within 15 miles of Lafayette and killed two men. The 

alarm soon spread throughout Tippecanoe, Warren, Vermillion, 

Fountain, Montgomery, and adjoining counties. Several brave 

commandants of companies on the west side of the Wabash in 

Tippecanoe county, raised troops to go and meet the enemy, and 

dispatched an express to Gen. Walker with a request that he should 

(126) 



f 



si I ~ — ' — : — ■ — '—^ 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 127 

make a call upon the militia of the county to equip themselves 
instantly and march to the aid of their bleeding countrymen. 
Thereupon Geu. Walker, Col. Davis, Lieut-Col. Jenners, Capt. 
Brown, of the artillery, and various other gallant spirits mounted 
their war steeds and proceeded to the army, and thence upon a 
scout to the Grand Prairie to discover, if possible, the number, 
intention and situation of the Indians. Over 300 old men, women 
and children flocked precipitately to Lafayette and the surrounding 
country east of the Wabash. A remarkable event occurred in this 
stampede, as follows: 

A man, wife and seven children resided on the edge of the 
Grand Prairie, west of Lafayette, in a locality considered particu- 
larly dangerous. On hearing of this alarm he made hurried 
preparations to fly with his family to Lafayette for safety, Imao-. 
ine his surprise and chagrin when his wife told him she would not 
go one step; that she did not believe in being scared at trifles, and 
in her opinion there was not an Indian within 100 miles of them. 
Importunity proved unavailing, and the disconsolate and frightened 
husband and father took all the children except the youngest, bade 
his wife and babe a long and solemn farewell, never expecting to 
see them again, unless perhaps he might find their mangled re- 
mains, minus their scalps. On arriving at Lafayette, his acquaint- 
ances rallied and berated him for abandoning his wife and child in 
that way, but he met their jibes with a stoical indifference, avowing 
that he should not be held responsible for their obstinacy. 

As the shades of the first evening drew on, the wife felt lonely; 
and the chirping of the frogs and the notes of the whippoorwill only 
intensified her loneliness, until she half wished she had accom- 
panied the rest of the family in their flight. She remained in the 
house a .ew hours without striking a light, and then concluded 
that " discretion was the better part of valor," took her babe and 
some bed-clothes, fastened the cabin door, and hastened to a sink- 
hole in the woods, in which she afterward said that she and her 
babe slept soundly until sunrise next morning. 

Lafayette literally boiled over with people and patriotism. A 
meeting was held at the court-house, speeches were made by 
patriotic individuals, and to allay the fears? of the women an armed 
police was immediately ordered, to be called the " Lafayette Guards." 
Thos. T. Ben bridge was elected Captain, and John Cox, Lieutenant. 
Capt. Benbridge yielded the active drill of his guards to the 
Lieutenant, who had served two years in the war of 1812. After 



^ 




128 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the meeting adjourned, the guards were paraded on the green 
wliere Purdue's block now stands, and put through sundry evolu- 
tions by Lieut. Cox, who proved to be an expert drill officer, and 
whose clear, shrill voice rung out on the night air as he marched 
and counter-marched the troops from where the paper-mill stands 
to Main street ferry, and over the suburbs, generally. Every old 
gun and sword that could be found was brought into requisition, 
with a new shine on them. 

Gen. Walker, Colonels Davis and Jenners, and other officers 
joined in a call of the people of Tippecanoe county for volunteers to 
march to the frontier settlements, A large meeting of the citizens 
assembled in the public square in the town, and over 300 volunteers 
mostly mounted men, left for the scene of action, with an alacrity 
that would have done credit to veterans. 

The first night they camped nine miles west of Lafayette, near 
Grand Prairie. They placed sentinels for the night and retired to 
rest. A few of the subaltern officers very injudiciously concluded 
to try what effect a false alarm would have upon the sleeping sol- 
diers, and a few of them withdrew to a neighboring thicket, and 
thence made a charge upon the picket guards, who , after hailing 
them and receiving no countersign, fired off their guns and ran for 
the Colonel's marqnee in the center of the encampment. The aroused 
Colonels and staff sprang to their feet, shouting "To arms! to arras!" 
and the obedient, though panic-stricken soldiers seized their guns 
and demanded to be led against the invading foe. A wild scene of 
disorder ensued, and amid the din of arras and loud commands of 
the officers the raw militia felt that they had already got into the 
red jaws of battle. One of the alarm sentinels, in running to the 
center of the encampment, leaped over a blazing camp fire, and 
alighted full upon the breast and storaach of a sleeping lawyer, wlio 
was, no doubt, at that moment dreaming of vested and contingent 
remainders, rich clients and good fees, which in legal parlance was 
suddenly estopped by the hob-nails in the stogas of the scared 
sentinel. As soon as the counselor's vitality and consciousness 
sufficiently returned, he put in some strong demurrers to the con- 
duct of the affrighted picket men, averring that he would greatly 
prefer being wounded by the enemy to being run over by a cowardly 
booby. Next morning the organizers of the ruse were severely 
reprimanded. 

May 28, 1832, Governor Noble ordered General Walker to call 
out his whole command, if necessary, and supply arms, horses and 






£k^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 129 

provisions, even though it be necessary to seize them. The next 
day four baggage vragons, loaded with camp equipments, stores, 
provisions and other articles, were sent to the little army, who were 
thus provided for a campaign of five or six weeks. The following 
Tliursday a squad of cavalry, under Colonel Sigler, passed through 
Lafayette on the way to the hostile region ; and on the 13th of June 
Colonel Russell, commandant of the 40th Regiment, Indiana Militia, 
passed through Lafayette with 340 mounted volunteers from the 
counties of Marion, Hendricks and Johnson. Also, several com- 
panies of volunteers from Montgomery, Fountain and W"arren 
counties, hastened to the relief of the frontier settlers. The troops 
from Lafayette marched to Sugar creek, and after a short time, 
there being no probability of finding any of the enemy, were 
ordered to return, They all did so except about 45 horsemen, who 
volunteered to cross Hickory creek, where the Indians had com- 
mitted their depredations. They organized a company by electing 
Samuel McGeorge, a soldier of the war of 1812, Captain, and Amos 
Allen and Andrew W. Ingraham, Lieutenants, 

Crossing Hickory creek, they marched as far as O'Plein river 
without meeting with opposition. Finding no enemy here they 
concluded to return. On the first night of their march home they 
encamped on the open prairie, posting sentinels, as usual. About 
ten o'clock it began to rain, and it was with difficulty that the sen- 
tinels kept their guns dry. Capt. I. H. Cox and a man named Fox 
had been posted as sentinels within 15 or 20 paces of each other. 
Cox drew the skirt of his overcoat over his gun-lock to keep it dry; 
Fox, perceiving this motio7i, and in the darkness taking him for an 
Indian, fired upon him and fractured his thigh-bone. Several sol- 
diers immediately ran toward the place where the flash of the gun 
had been seen; but when they cocked and leveled their guns on the 
figure which had fired at Cox, the wounded man caused them to 
desist by crying, " Don't shoot him, it was a sentinel who shot me." 
The next day the wounded man was left behind the company in 
care of four men, who, as soon as possible, removed him on a litter 
to Col. Moore's company of Illinois militia, then encamped on the 
O'Plein, where Joliet now stands. 

Although the main body returned to Lafayette in eight or nine 
days, yet the alarm among the people was so great that they could 
not be induced to return to their farms for some time. The pres- 
ence of the hostiles was hourly expected by the frontier settlements 
of Indiana, from Yincennes to La Porte. In Clinton county the= 






'I 



130 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

inhabitants gatliered within the forts and prepared for a regular 
siege, while our neighbors at Crawfordsville were suddenly 
astounded bj the arrival of a courier at full speed with the announce- 
ment that the Indians, more than a thousand in number, were then 
crossing the Nine-Mile prairie about twelve miles north of town, 
killing and scalping all. The strongest houses were immediately 
put in a condition of defense, and sentinels were placed at the prin- 
cipal points in the direction of the enemy. Scouts were sent out to 
reconnoitre, and messengers were dispatched in different directions 
to announce the danger to the farmers, and to urge them to hasten 
with their families into town, and to assist .in fighting the moment- 
arily expected savages. At night-fall the scouts brought in the 
news that the Indians had not crossed the "Wabash, but were hourly 
expected at Lafayette. The citizens of Warren, Fountain and Ver- 
million counties were alike terrified bvexaocgrerated stories of Indian 
massacres, and immediately prepared for defense. It turned out 
that the Indians were not within 100 miles of these temporary 
forts; but this by no means proved a want of courage in the citizens. 

After some time had elapsed, a portion of the troops were 
marched back into Tippecanoe county and honorably discharged ; 
but the settlers were still loth for a long time to return to their 
farms. Assured by published reports that the Miamis and Potta- 
watomies did not intend to join the hostiles, the people by degrees 
recovered from the panic and began to attend to their neglected 
crops. 

During this time there was actual war in Illinois. Black Hawk 
and his warriors, well nigh surrounded by a well-disciplined foe, 
attempted to cross to the west bank of the Mississippi, but after 
being chased up into Wisconsin and to the Mississippi again, he 
was in a final battle taken captive. A few years after his liberation, 
about 1837 or 1838, he died, on the banks of the Des Moines river, 
in Iowa, in what is now the county of Davis, where his remains 
were deposited above ground, in the usual Indian style. His re- 
mains were afterward stolen and carried away, but they were re- 
covered by the Governor of Iowa and placed in the museum of the 
Historical Society at Burlington, where they were finally destroyed 
by fire. 



f 



it. 



LAST EXODUS OF THE INDIANS. 

In July, 1837, Col. Abel C. Pepper convened the Pottawatomie 
nation of Indians at Lake Ke-waw-nay for the purpose of remov- 
ing them west of the Mississippi. That fall a small party of some 
80 or 90 Pottawatomies was conducted west of the Mississippi 
river by George Proffit, Esq. Among the number were Ke-waw- 
nay, Nebash, Nas-waw-kay, Pash-po-ho and many other leading 
men of the nation. The regular emigration of these poor Indians, 
about 1,000 in number, took place under Col. Pepper and Gen. Tip- 
ton in the summer of 1838. 

It was a sad and mournful spectacle to witness these children of 
the forest slowly retiring from the home of their childhood, that 
contained not only the graves of their revered ancestors, but also 
many endearing scenes to which their memories would ever recur 
as sunny spots along their pathway through the wilderness. They 
felt that they were bidding farewell to the hills, valleys and streams 
of their infancy; the more exciting hunting-grounds of their ad- 
vanced youth, as well as the stern and bloody battle-fields where 
they had contended in riper manhood, on which they had received 
wounds, and where many of their friends and loved relatives had 
fallen covered with gore and with glory. All these they were leav- 
ing behind them, to be desecrated by the plowshare of the white 
man. As they cast mournful glances back toward these loved 
scenes that were rapidly fading in the distance, tears fell from the 
cheek of the downcast warrior, old men trembled, matrons wept, 
the swarthy maiden's cheek turned pale, and sighs and half-sup- 
pressed sobs escaped from the motley groups as they passed along, 
some on foot, some on horseback, and others in wagons, — sad as a 
funeral procession. Several of the aged warriors were seen to cast 
glances toward the sky, as if they were imploring aid from the 
spirits of their departed heroes, who were looking down upon them 
from the clouds, or from the Great Spirit, who would ultimately 
redress the wrongs of the red man, whose broken bow had fallen 
from his hand, and whose sad heart was bleeding within him. 
Ever and anon one of the party would start out into the brush and 
break back to their old encampments on Eel river and on the Tippe- 

(131) 



V 



132 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

canoe, declaring that they would rather die than be banished from 
their country. Thus, scores of discontented emigrants returned 
from different points on their journey ; and it was several years 
before they could be induced to join their countrymen west of the 
Mississippi. 

Several years after the removal of the Pottawatoraies the Miami 
nation was removed to their Western home, by coercive means, un- 
der an escort of United States troops. They were a proud and 
once powerful nation, but at the time of their removal were far 
inferior, in point of numbers, to the Pottawatomie guests whom 
they had permitted to settle and hunt upon their lands, and fish in 
their lakes and rivers after they had been driven southward by 
powerful and warlike tribes who inhabited the shores of the North- 
ern lakes. 

INDIAN TITLES. 

In 1831 a joint resolution of the Legislature of Indiana, request- 
ing an appropriation by Congress for the extinguishment of the 
Indian title to lands within the State, was forwarded to that body? 
which granted the request. The Secretary of War, by authority, 
appointed a committee of three citizens to carry into effect the pro- 
visions of the recent law. The Miamis were surrounded on all 
sides by American settlers, and were situated almost in the heart 
of the State on the line of the canal then being made. The chiefs 
were called to a council for the purpose of making a treaty; they 
promptly came, but peremptorily refused to go westward or sell 
the remainder of their land. The Pottawatomies sold about 
6,000,000 acres in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, including all 
their claim in this State. 

In 1838 a treaty was concluded with the Miami Indians through 
the good offices of Col. A. C. Pepper, the Indian agent, by which 
a considerable of the most desirable portion of their reserve was 
ceded to the United States. 



V^|< i) ^ ' -^ i) \ 



Q_ 



1^ 



LAND SALES. 

As an example of the manner in which land speculators were 
treated by the early Indian ians, we cite the following instances 
from Cox's " Itecollections of the Wabash Yalley." 

At Crawfordsville, Dec. 24, 1824, many parties were present 
from the eastern and southern portions of the State, as well as from 
Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and even Pennsylvania, to attend a 
land sale. There was but little bidding against each other. The 
settlers, or " squatters," as they were called by the speculators, had 
arranged matters among themselves to their general satisfaction. 
If, upon comparing numbers, it appeared that two were after the 
same tract of land, one would ask the other what he would take 
not to bid against him ; if neither would consent to be bought off 
they would retire and cast lots, and the lucky one would enter the 
tract at Congress price, $1.25 an acre, and the other would enter the 
second choice on his list. If a speculator made a bid, or showed a 
disposition to take a settler's claim from him, he soon saw the 
white of a score of eyes glaring at him, and he would " crawfish" 
out of the crowd at the first opportunity. 

The settlers made it definitely known to foreign capitalists that 
they would enter the tracts of land they had settled upon before 
allowing the latter to come in with their speculations. The land 
was sold in tiers of townships, beginning at the southern part of 
the district and continuing north until all had been ofiered at 
public sale. This plan was persisted in, although it kept many on 
the ground for several days waiting, who desired to purchase land 
in the northern part of the district. 

In 1827 a regular Indian scare was gotten up to keep specu- 
lators away for a short time. A man who owned a claim on Tippe- 
canoe river, near Pretty prairie, fearing that some one of the 
numerous land hunters constantly scouring the country might 
enter the land he had settled upon before he could raise the money 
to buy it, and seeing one day a cavalcade of land hunters riding 
toward where his land lay, mounted his horse and darted off at 
full speed to meet them, swinging his hat and shouting at the top 

of his voice, '' Indians! Indians! the woods are full of Indians, 

(133) 



;\^ 



134 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

murdering and scalping all before them!" They paused a moment, 
but as the terrified horseman still urged his jaded animal and cried, 
"Help! Longlois, Cicots, help!" they turned and fled like a troop of 
retreating cavalry, hastening to the thickest settlements and giving 
the alarm, which spread like fire among stubble until the whole 
frontier region was shocked with the startling cry. The squatter 
who fabricated the story and started this false alarm took a cir- 
cuitous route home that evening, and while others were busy 
building temporary block-houses and rubbing up their guns to 
meet the Indians, he was quietly gathering up money and slipped 
down to Crawfordsville and entered his land, chuckling to himself, 
" There's a Yankee trick for you, done up by a Hoosier." 

HAKMONY COMMUNITY. 

In 1814 a society of Germans under Frederick Rappe, who had 
originally come from Wirtemberg, Germany, and more recently 
from Pennsylvania, founded a settlement on the Wabash about 50 
miles above its mouth. They were industrious, frugal and honest 
Lutherans. They purchased a large quantity of land and laid ofi" 
a town, to which they gave the name of "Harmony," afterward 
called "New Harmony." They erected a church and a public 
school-house, opened farms, planted orchards and vineyards, built 
flouring mills, established a house of public entertainment, a public 
store, and carried on all the arts of peace with skill and regularity. 
Their property was " in common," according to the custom of an- 
cient Christians at Jerusalem, but the governing power, both tem- 
poral and spiritual, was vested in Frederick Rappe, the elder, who 
was regarded as the founder of the society. By the year 1821 the 
society numbered about 900. Every individual of proper age con- 
tributed his proper share of labor. There were neither spendthrifts, 
idlers nor drunkards, and during the whole 17 years of their sojourn 
in America there was not a single lawsuit among them. Every 
controversy arising among them was settled by arbitration, expla- 
nation and compromise before sunset of the day, literally according 
to the injunction of the apostle of the New Testament. 

About 1825 the town of Harmony and a considerable quantity 
of land adjoining was sold to Robert Owen, father of David Dale 
Owen, the State Geologist, and of Robert Dale Owen, of later 
notoriety. He was a radical philosopher from Scotland, who had 
become distinguished for his philanthropy and opposition to 



^ S ^ "^ 5) \ 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 135 

Christianity, He charged the latter with teaching false notions 
regarding human responsibility — notions which have since been 
clothed in the language of physiology, mental philosophy, etc. 
Said he: 

"That which has hitherto been called wickedness in our fellow 
men has proceeded from one of two distinct causes, or from some 
combination of those causes. They are what are termed bad or 
wicked, 

"1. Because they are born with faculties or propensities which 
render them more liable, under the same circumstances, than other 
men, to commit such actions as are usually denominated wicked; 
or, 

" 2. Because they have been placed by birth or other events in 
particular countries, — have been influenced from infancy by par- 
ents, plajj^mates and others, and have been surrounded by those 
circumstances which gradually and necessarily trained them in the 
habits and sentiments called wicked; or, 

" 3. They have become wicked in consequence of some particu- 
lar combination of these causes. 

" If it should be asked, Whence then has wickedness pro- 
ceeded? I reply. Solely from the ignorance of our forefathers. 

" Every society which exists at present, as well as every society 
which history records, has been formed and governed on a belief 
in the following notions, assumed as first principles: 

" 1. That it is in the power of every individual to form his own 
character. Hence the various systems called by the name of religion, 
codes of law, and punishments; hence, also, the angry passions 
entertained by individuals and nations toward each other. 

" 2. That the affections are at the command of the individual. 
Hence insincerity and degradation of character; hence the miseries 
of domestic life, and more than one-half of all the crimes of man- 
kind. 

" 3. That it is necessary a large portion of mankind should ex- 
ist in ignorance and poverty in order to secure to the remaining part 
such a degree of happiness as they now enjoy. Hence a system of 
counteraction in the pursuits of men, a general opposition among 
individuals to the interests of each other, and the necessary efifects 
of such a system, — ignorance, poverty and vice. 



V- 



-r^ 



to 






THE MEXICAN WAR 

During the administration of Gov. Whitcomb the war with 
Mexico occurred, which resulted in annexing to the United States 
vast tracts of land in the south and west. Indiana contributed her 
full ratio to the troops in that war, and with a remarkable spirit^ of 
promptness and patriotism adopted all measures to sustain the gen- 
eral Government. These new acquisitions of territory re-opened 
the discussion of the slavery question, and Governor Whitcomb 
expressed his opposition to a further extension of the " national 
sin." 

The causes which led to a declaration of war against Mexico in 
1846, must be sought for as far back as the year 1830, when the 
present State of Texas formed a province of New and Independent 
Mexico. During the years immediately preceding 1830, Moses 
Austin, of Connecticut, obtained a liberal grant of lauds from the 
established Government, and on his death his son was treated in an 
equally liberal manner. The glowing accounts rendered by Aus- 
tin, and the vivid picture of Elysian fields drawn by visiting jour- 
nalists, soon resulted in the influx of a large tide of immigrants, 
nor did the movement to the Southwest cease until 1830. The 
Mexican province held a prosperous population, comprising 10,00C 
American citizens. The rapacious Government of the Mexicans 
looked with greed and jealousy upon their eastern province, and, 
under the presidency of Gen. Santa Anna, enacted such measures, 
hoth unjust and oppressive, as would meet their design of goading 
the people of Texas on to revolution, and thus alFord an opportu- 
nity for the infliction of punishment upon subjects whose only 
«rime was industry and its accompaniment, prosperity. Precisely 
in keeping with the course pursued by the British toward the col- 
onists of the Eastern States in the last century, Santa Anna's 
Government met the remonstrances of the colonists of Texas with 
threats; and they, secure in their consciousness of right quietly 
issued their declaration of independence, and proved its literal 

meaning on the field of Gonzales in 1836, having with a force of 

(136) 



-i" 



— — : IS 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 137 

500 men forced the Mexican army of 1,000 to fly for refuge to their 
strongholds. Battle after battle followed, bringing victory always 
to the Colonists, and ultimately resulting in the total rout of the 
Mexican army and the evacuation of Texas. The routed army 
after a short term of rest reorganized, and reappeared in the Terri- 
tory, 8,000 strong. On April 21, a division of this large force 
under Santa Anna encountered the Texans under General Samuel 
Houston on the banks of the San Jacinto, and though Houston 
could only oppose 800 men to the Mexican legions, the latter were 
driven from the field,nor could they reform their scattered ranks until 
their General was captured next day and forced to sign the declaration 
of 1835. The signature of Santa Anna, though ignored by the 
Congress of the Mexican Republic, and consequently left unratified 
on the part of Mexico, was effected in so much, that after the sec- 
ond defeat of the army of that Republic all the hostilities of an 
important nature ceased, the Republic of Texas was recognized by 
the powers, and subsequently became an integral part of the United 
States, July 4, 1846. At this period General Herrera was pres- 
ident of Mexico. He was a man of peace, of common sense, and 
very patriotic; and he thus entertained, or pretended to enter- 
tain, the great neighboring Republic in high esteem. For this 
reason he grew unpopular with his people, and General Paredes 
was called to the presidential chair, which he continued to occupy 
until the breaking out of actual hostilities with the United States, 
when Gen. Santa Anna was elected thereto. 

President Polk, aware of the state of feeling in Mexico, ordered 
Gen. Zachary Taylor, in command of the troops in the Southwest, to 
proceed to Texas, and post himself as near to the Mexican border 
as he deemed prudent. At the same time an American squadron was 
dispatched to the vicinity, in the Gulf of Mexico. In November, 
Genera] Taylor had taken his position at Corpus Christi, a Texan 
settlement on a bay of the same name, with about 4,000 men. On 
the 13th of January, 1846, the President ordered him to advance 
with his forces to the Rio Grande; accordingly he proceeded, and 
in March stationed himself on the north bank of that river, wit;h- 
in cannon-shot of the Mexican town of Matamoras. Here he 
hastily erected a fortress, called Fort Brown. The territory ly- 
ina: between the river N^ueces and the Rio Grande river, about 
120 miles in width, was claimed both by Texas and Mexico; ac- 
cording to the latter, therefore, General Taylor had actually 
invaded her Territory, and had thus committed ,an open 



vt? 



138 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

act of war. On the 26th of April, the Mexican General, Ampudia, 
gave notice to this eflPect to General Taylor, and on the same day a 
party of American dragoons, sixty-three in number, being on the 
north side of the Rio Grande, were attacked, and, after the loss of 
sixteen men killed and wounded, were forced to surrender. Their 
commander. Captain Thornton, only escaped. The Mexican forces 
had now crossed the river above Matamoras and were supposed to 
meditate an attack on Point Isabel, where Taylor had established a 
depot of supplies for his array. On the 1st of May, this officer left 
a small number of troops at Fort Brown, and marched with his 
chief forces, twenty-three hundred men, to the defense of Point 
Isabel. Having garrisoned this place, he set out on his return. 
On the Sth of May, about noon, he met the Mexican army, six 
thousand strong, drawn up in battle array, on the prairie near Palo 
Alto. The Americans at once advanced to the attack, and, after an 
action of five hours, in which their artillery was very efiective, 
drove the enemy before them, and encamped upon the field. The 
Mexican loss was about one hundred killed; that ot the Americans, 
four killed and forty wounded. Major Ringgold, of the artillery, 
an officer of great merit, was mortally wounded. The next day, as 
the Americans advanced, they again met the enemy in a strong 
position near Resaca de la Palma, three miles from Fort Brown. 
An action commenced, and was fiercely contested, the artillery on 
both sides being served with great vigor. At last the Mexicans 
gave way, and fled in confusion. General de la Yega having fallen 
into the hands of the Americans. They also abandoned their guns 
and a large quantity of ammunition to the victors. The remain- 
ing Mexican soldiers speedily crossed the Rio Grande, and the next 
day the Americans took up their position at Fort Brown. This 
little fort, in the absence of General Taylor, had gallantly sustained 
an almost uninterrupted attack of several days from the Mexican 
batteries of Matamoras. 

When the news of the capture of Captain Thornton's party was 
spread over the United States, it produced great excitement. The 
President addressed a message to Congress, then in session, declar- 
ing " that war with Mexico existed by her own act;" and that body, 
May, 1846, placed ten millions of dollars at the President's dispo- 
sal, and authorized him to accept the services of fifty thousand 
volunteers. A great part of the summer of 1846 was spent in prep- 
aration for the war, it being resolved to invade Mexico at several 
points. In pursuance of this plan. General Taylor, who had taken 



^ 



\ 



\ 



J- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



]39 



possession of Matamoras, abandoned by the enemy in May, marched 
northward in the enemy's country in August, and on the 19th of 
September he appeared before Monterey, capital of the Mexican 
State of New Leon. His army, after having garrisoned several 
places along his route, amounted to six thousand men. The attack 
began on the 21st, and after a succession of assaults, during the 
period of four days, the Mexicans capitulated, leaving the town 
in possession of the Americans. In October, General Taylor 
terminated an armistice into which he had entered with the 
Mexican General, and again commenced offensive operations. 
Various towns and fortresses of the enemy now rapidly fell into 
our possession. In November, Saltillo, the capital of the State 
of Coahuila was occupied by the division of General Worth; 
in December, General Patterson took possession of Victoria, 
the capital of Taraaulipas, and nearly at the same period. 
Commodore Perry captured the fort of Tampico. Santa Fe, 
the capital of New Mexico, with the whole territory of the State 
had been subjugated by General Harney, after a march of one 
thousand miles through the wilderness. Events of a startling char- 
acter had taken place at still earlier dates along the Pacific coast. On 
the 4th of Jul V, Captain Fremont, having repeatedly defeated su- 
perior Mexican forces with the small band under his command, de- 
clared California independent of Mexico. Other important places 
in this region had yielded to the American naval force, and in Au- 
gust, 1846, the whole of California was in the undisputed occupa- 
tion of the Americans. 

The year 1847 opened with still more brilliant victories on the 
part of our armies. By the drawing off of a large part of 
General Taylor's troops for a meditated attack on Vera Cruz, he 
was left with a comparatively small force to meet the great body of 
Mexican troops, now marching upon him, under command of the 
celebrated Santa Anna, who had again become President of Mexico. 

Ascertaining the advance of this powerful army, twenty thou- 
sand strong, and consisting of the best of the Mexican soldiers, 
General Taylor took up his position at Buena Vista, a valley a few 
miles from Saltillo. His whole troops numbered only four thousand 
seven hundred and fifty-nine, and here, on the 23d of February, he 
was vigorously attacked by the Mexicans. The battle was very 
severe, and continued nearly the whole day, when the Mexicans fled 
from the field in disorder, with a loss of nearly two thousand men. 
Santa Anna speedily withdrew, and thus abandoned the region of 



-^- 






G 



J- 



140 



HISTORY OF INDIANA, 



the Rio Grande to the complete occupation of oar troops. This left 
our forces at liberty to prosecute the grand enterprise of the cam- 
paign, the capture of the strong town of Yera Cruz, with its re- 
nowned castle of San Juan d'Ulloa. On the 9th of March, 1847, 
General Scott landed near the city with an army of twelve thousand 
men, and on the 18tli commenced an attack. For four days and 
nights an almost incessant shower of shot and shells was poured 
upon the devoted town, while the batteries of the castle and the city 
replied with terrible energy. At last, as the Americans were pre- 
paring for an assault, the Governor of the city offered to surrender, 
and on the 26th the American flag floated triumphantly from the 
walls of the castle and the city. General Scott now prepared to 
march upon the city of Mexico, the capital of the country, situated 
two hundred miles in the interior, and approached only through a 
series of rugged passes and mountain fastnesses, rendered still more 
formidable by several strong fortresses. On the 8th of April the 
army commenced their march. At Cerro Gordo, Santa Anna had 
posted himself with fifteen thousand men. On the 18th the Amer- 
icans began the daring attack, and by midday every intrenchment 
of the enemy had been carried. The loss of the Mexicans in this 
remarkable battle, besides one thousand killed and wounded, was 
three thousand prisoners, forty-three pieces of cannon, five 
thousand stand of arms, and all their amunitions and mate- 
rials of war. The loss of the Americans was four hundred 
and thirty-one in killed and wounded. The next day our forces 
advanced, and, capturing fortress after fortress, came on the 
18th of August within ten miles of Mexico, a city of two hun- 
dred thousand inhabitants, and situated in one of the most 
beautiful valleys in the world. On the 20th they attacked and 
carried the strong batteries of Contreras, garrisoned by 7,000 men, 
in an impetuous assault, which lasted but seventeen minutes. On 
the same day an attack was made by the Americans on the fortified 
post of Churubusco, four miles northeast of Contreras, Here 
nearly the entire Mexican army — more than 20,000 in number — 
were posted; but they were defeated at every point, and obliged to 
seek a retreat in the city, or the still remaining fortress of Chapul- 
tepec. While preparations were being made on the 21st by Gen- 
eral Scott, to level his batteries against the city, prior to summon- 
ing it fo surrender, he received propositions from the enemy, which 
terminated in an armistice. This ceased on the 7th of September. 
On the 8th the outer defense of Chapul tepee was successfully 



_0 



to 



^■VK 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 141 

stormed by General "Worth, though he lost one-fourth of his men 
in the desperate struggle. The castle of Chapultepec, situated on 
an abrupt and rocky eminence, 150 feet above the surrounding 
country, presented a most formidable object of attack. On the 
12th, however, the batteries were opened against it, and on the 
next day the citadel was carried by storm. The Mexicans still strug- 
gled along the great causeway leading to the city, as the Americans 
advanced, but before nightfal a part of our army was within the 
gates of the city. Santa Anna and the officers of the Government 
fled, and the next morning, at seven o'clock, the flag of the Ameri- 
cans floated from the national palace of Mexico. This conquest of 
the capital was the great and final achievement of the w^ar. The 
Mexican republic was in fact prostrate, her sea-coast and chief 
cities being in the occupation of our troops. On the 2d of Feb- 
ruary, 1848, terms of peace were agreed upon by the American 
commissioner and the Mexican Government, this treaty being rati- 
fied by the Mexican Congress on the 30th of May following, and 
by the United States soon after. President Polk proclaimed peace 
on the 4th of July, 1848. In the preceding sketch we have given 
only a mere outline of the war with Mexico. We have necessarily 
passed over many interesting events, and have not even named 
many of our soldiers who performed gallant and important ser- 
vices. General Taylor's successful operations in the region of the 
Rio Grande were duly honored by the people of the United States, 
by bestowing upon him the Presidency. General Scott's campaign, 
from the attack on Vera Cruz, to the surrender of the city of 
Mexico, was far more remarkable, and, in a military point of view, 
must be considered as one of the most brilliant of modern times. It 
is true the Mexicans are not to be ranked with the great nations of 
the earth; with a population of seven or eight millions, they have 
little more than a million of the white race, the rest being half-civ- 
ilized Indians and mestizos, that is, those of mixed blood. Their 
government is inefficient, and the people divided among them- 
selves. Their soldiers often fought bravely, but they were badly 
officered. While, therefore, we may consider the conquest of so 
extensive and populous a country, in so short a time, and attended 
with such constant superiority even to the greater numbers of the 
enemy, as highly gratifying evidence of the courage and capacity 
of our army, still we must not, in judging of our achievements, fail 
to consider the real weakness of the nation whom we vanquished. 

•4— ' 'i^ 



142 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

One thing we may certainly dwell upon with satisfaction — the ad- 
mirable example, not only as a soldier, but as a man, set by our com- 
mander, Gen. Scott, who seems, in the midst of war and the ordinary 
license of the camp, always to have preserved the virtue, kindness, 
and humanity belonging to a state of peace. These qualities 
secured to him the respect, confidence and good-will even of the 
enemy he had conquered. Among the Generals who effectually 
aided General Scott in this remarkable campaign, we must not 
omit to mention the names of Generals Wool, Twiggs, Shields, 
Worth, Smith, and Quitman, who generally added to the high 
qualities of soldiers the still more estimable characteristics of 
good men. The treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo stipulated that the 
disputed territory between the Xueces and the Rio Grande should 
belong to the United States, and it now forms a part of Texas, as 
has been already stated; that the United States should assume and 
pay the debts due from Mexico to American citizens, to the amount 
of $3,500,000; and that, in consideration of the sum of $15,000,000 
to be paid by the United States to Mexico, the latter should 
relinquish to the former the whole of New Mexico and Upper 
California. 

The soldiers of Indiana who served in this war were formed into 
five regiments of volunteers, numbered respectively, 1st, 2d, 3rd, 
4th and 5th. The fact that companies of the three first-named reg- 
iments served at times with the men of Illinois, the New York 
volunteers, the Palmettos of South Carolina, and United States 
marines, under Gen. James Shields, makes for them a history; be- 
cause the campaigns of the Rio Grande and Chihuahua, the siege 
of Vera Cruz, the desperate encounter at Cerro Gordo, the tragic 
contests in the valley, at Contreras and Churubusco, the storming 
of Chapultepec, and the > planting of the stars and stripes upon 
every turret and spire within the conquered city of Mexico, were 
all carried out by the gallant troops under the favorite old General, 
and consequently each of them shared with him in the glories at- 
tached to such exploits. The other regiments under Cols. Gorman 
and Lane participated in the contests of the period under other com- 
manders. The 4th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, comprising 
ten companies, was formally organized at Jefiersonville, Indiana, 
by Capt. R. C. Gatlin, June 15, 1847, and on the 16th elected 
Major Willis A. Gorman, of the 3rd Regiment, to the Colonelcy; 
Ebenezer Dumont, Lieutenant-Colonel, and W. McCoy, Major. On 
the 27th of June the regiment left Jejffersouville for the front, and 



^ 



^ 

^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 143 

subsequently was assigned to Brigadier-General Lane's command, 
which then comprised a battery of five pieces from the 3rd Regi- 
ment U. S. Artillery; a battery of two pieces from the 2nd Regiment 
U. S. Ertillery, the 4th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers and the 4th 
Regiment of Ohio, with a squadron of mounted Louisianians and 
detachments of recruits for the U. S. army. The troops of this 
brigade won signal honors at Passo de Ovegas, August 10, 1847- 
National Bridge, on the 12th; Cerro Gordo, on the 15th; Las Ani- 
mas, on the 19th, under Maj. F. T. Lally, of General Lane's staff, 
and afterward under Lane, directly, took a very prominent part in 
the siege of Puebla, which began on the 15th of September and 
terminated on the 12th of October. At Atlixco, October 19th; 
Tlascala, November 10th; Matamoras and Pass Galajara, Novem- 
ber 23rd and 24th; Guerrilla Ranche, December 5th; Napaloncan, 
December 10th, the Indiana volunteers of the 4th Regiment per- 
formed gallant service, and carried the campaign into the following 
year, representing their State at St. Martin's, February 27, 1848; 
Cholula, March 26th; Matacordera, February 19th; Sequalteplan, 
February 25th; and on the cessation of hostilities reported at 
Madison, Indiana, for discharge, July 11, 1848; while the 5th In- 
diana Regiment, under Col. J. H. Lane, underwent a similar round 
of duty during its service with other brigades, and gained some 
celebrity at Yera Cruz, Churubusco and with the troops of Illinois 
under Gen. Shields at Chapultepec. 

This war cost the people of the United States sixty-six millions 
of dollars. This very large amount was not paid away for the at- 
tainment of mere glory; there was something else at stake, and 
this something proved to be a country larger and more fertile than 
the France of the Napoleons, and more steady and sensible than 
the France of the Republic. It was the defense of the great Lone 
Star State, the humiliation and chastisement of a q uarrelsome 
neighbor. 









>^H. 



SLAYEKY. 

We have already referred to the prohibition of slavery in the 
Northwestern Territory, and Indiana Territory by the ordinance of 
1787; to the imperfection in the execution of this ordinance and the 
troubles which the authorities encountered ; and the complete estab- 
lishment of the principles of freedom on the organization of the State. 
The next item of significance in this connection is the following lan- 
guage in the message of Gov. Ray to the Legislature of 1828: " Since 
our last separation, while we have witnessed with anxious solicitude 
the belligerent operations of another hemisphere, the cross contend- 
ing against the crescent, and the prospect of a general rupture among 
the legitimates of other quarters of the globe, our attention has 
been arrested by proceedings in our own country truly dangerous 
to liberty, seriously premeditated, and disgraceful to its authors 
if agitated only to tamper with the American people. If such ex- 
periments as we see attempted in certain deluded quarters do not 
fall with a burst of thunder upon the heads of their seditious pro- 
jectors, then indeed the Republic has begun to experience the days 
of its degeneracy. The union of these States is the people's only 
sure charter for their liberties and independence. Dissolve it and 
each State will soon be in a condition as deplorable as Alexander's 
conquered countries after they were divided amongst his victorious 
military captains." 

In pursuance of a joint resolution of the Legislature of 1850, a 
block of native marble was procured and forwarded to Washington, 
to be placed in the monument then in the course of erection at the 
National Capital in memory of George Washington. In the 
absence of any legislative instruction concerning the inscription 
upon this emblem of Indiana's loyalty, Gov. Wright ordered the 
following words to be inscribed upon it: Indiana Knows No 
North, No South, Nothing but the Union. Within a dozen 
years thereafter this noble State demonstrated to the world her loy- 
alty to the Union and the principles of freedom by the sacrifice of 
blood and treasure which she made. In keeping with this senti- 
ment Gov. Wright indorsed the compromise measures of Congress 
on the slavery question, remarking in his message that " Indiana 
takes her stand in the ranks, not of Southern destiny, nor yet of 

(144) ^ 

■ .iX. I ■■ 1 1 will ■ p- — ■ I ■ ■ ■■ -III L a 

^ 4 ^ ""^ • > 



■V 



>^ 




SCENE ON THE WABASH RIVER. 






(9 

•FT 



,-vk 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 147 

Northern destiny: she plants herself on the basis of the Consti- 
tution and takes her stand in the ranks of American destiny." 

FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT. 

At the session of the Legislature in January, 1869, the subject 
of ratifying the fifteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution 
allowing negro suffrage, came up with such persistency that neither 
party dared to undertake any other business lest it be checkmated 
in some way, and being at a dead lock on this matter, they adjourn- 
ed in March without having done much important business. The 
Democrats, as well as a portion of the conservative Republicans, 
opposed its consideration strongly on the ground that it would be 
unfair to vote on the question until the people of the State had had 
an opportunity of expressing their views at the polls; but most of 
the Republicans resolved to push the measure through, while the 
Democrats resolved to resign in a body and leave the Legislature 
without a quorum. Accordingly, on March 4, 17 Senators and 36 
Representatives resigned, leaving both houses without a quorum. 

As the early adjournment of the Legislature left the benevolent 
institutions of the State unprovided for, the Governor convened 
that body in extra session as soon as possible, and after the neces- 
sary appropriations were made, on the 19th of May the fifteenth 
amendment came up; but in anticipation of this the Democratic 
members had all resigned and claimed that there was no quorum 
present. There was a quorum, however, of Senators in ofiice, 
though some of them refused to vote, declaring that they were no 
longer Senators; but the president of that body decided that as he 
had not been informed of their resignation by the Governor, they 
were still members. A vote was taken and the ratifying resolution 
was adopted. When the resolution came up in the House, the 
chair decided that, although the Democratic members had resigned 
there was a quorum of the de-facto members present, and the 
House proceeded to pass the resolution. This decision of the chair 
was afterward sustained by the Supreme Court. 

At the next regular session of the Legislature, in 1871, the 
Democrats undertook to repeal the ratification, and the Republican 
members resigned to prevent it. The Democrats, as the Republi- 
cans did on the previous occasion, proceeded to pass their resolu- 
tion of repeal; but while the process was under way, before the 
House Committee had time to report on the matter, 34 Republican 
members resigned, thereby preventing its passage and putting a 
stop to further legislation. 



^<s- 






L 



_ff) 



INDIANA IN THE WAR. 

The events of the earlier years of this State have been reviewed 
down to that period in the nation's history when the Republic de- 
manded a first sacrifice from the newly erected States; to the time 
when the very safety of the glorious heritage, bequeathed by the 
fathers as a rich legacy, was threatened with a fate worse than death 
— a life under laws that harbored the slave— a civil defiance of .he 
first principles of the Constitution. 

Indiana was among the first to respond to the summons of patri- 
otism, and register itself on the national roll ol honor, even as she 
was among the first to join in that song of joy which greeted a Re- 
public made doubly glorious within a century by the dual victory 
which won liberty for itself, and next bestowed the precious boon 
upon the colored slave. 

The fall of Fort Sumter was a signal for the uprising of the State. 

The news of the calamity was fiashed to Indianapolis on the 14th of 

April, 1861, and early the next morning the electric wire brought 

the welcome message to Washington: — 

Executive Department of Indiana, ) 
Indianapolis, April 15, 1861. ) 

To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:— On behalf of the State 
of Indiana, I tender to you for the defense of the Nation, and to uphold the au- 
thority of the Government, ten thousand men. 

OLIVER P. MORTON, 
Governor of Indiana. 

This may be considered the first official act of Governor Morton, 
who had just entered on the duties of his exalted position. The 
State was in an almost helpless condition, and yet the faith of the 
" War Governor " was prophetic, when, after a short consultation 
with the members of the Executive Council, he relied on the fidelity 
of ten thousand men and promised their services to the Protectorate 
at Washington. This will be more apparent when the military 
condition of the State at the beginning of 1861 is considered. At 
that time the armories contained less than five hundred stand of 
serviceable small arms, eight pieces of cannon which might be use- 
ful in a museum of antiquities, with sundry weapons which would 
merely do credit to the aborigines of one hundred years ago. The 
financial condition of the State was even worse than the military. 

(148) * 

. ol -^ . % 
^ vie -. ^ '^ s V 



•<yK 



k-. 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



149 



The sum of $10,368.58 in trust funds was the amount of cash in the 
hands of the Treasurer, and this was, to all intents and purpo ses 
unavailable to meet the emergency, since it could not be devoted 
to the military requirements of the day. This state of affairs was 
dispiriting in the extreme, and would doubtless have militated 
against the ultimate success of any other man than Morton; yet 
he overleaped every difficulty, nor did the fearful realization of 
Floyd's treason, discovered during his visit to Washington, damp 
his indomitable courage and energy, but with rare persistence he 
urged the claims of his State, and for his exertions was requited 
with an order for five thousand muskets. The order was not exe- 
cuted until hostilities were actually entered upon, and consequently 
for some days succeeding the publication of the President's procla- 
mation the people labored under a feeling of terrible anxiety min- 
gled with uncertainty, amid the confusion which followed the crim- 
inal negligence that permitted the disbandment of the magnificent 
corps c?' armee (51,000 men) of 1832 two years later in 1834, Great 
numbers of the people maintained their equanamity with the result 
of beholding within a brief space of time every square mile of their 
State represented by soldiers prepared to fight to the bitter end iu 
defense of cherished institutions, and for the extension of the prin- 
ciple of human liberty to all States and classes within the limits of 
the threatened Union. This, their zeal, was not animated by hos- 
tility to the slave holders of the Southern States, but rather by a 
fraternal spirit, akin to that which urges the eldest brother to cor- 
rect the persistent follies of his juniors, and thus lead them from 
crime to the maintenance of family honor; in this correction, to 
draw them away from all that was cruel, diabolical and inhuman in 
the Republic, to all that is gentle, holy and sublime therein. Many 
of the raw troops were not only unimated by a patriotic feeling, 
but also by that beautiful idealization of the poet, who in his un- 
conscious Republicanism, said: 

" I would not have a slave to till my ground, 

To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, 

And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth 

That sinews bought and sold have ever earned 

No : dear as freedom is — and, in my heart's 

Just estimation, prized above all price — 

I had much rather be myself the slave, 

And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him." 

Thus animated, it is not a matter for surprise to find the first 
call to arms issued by the President, and calling for 75,000 men, 






V 



•V 



10 



150 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

answered nobly by the people of Indiana. The quota of troops to 
be furnished by the State on the first call was 4,683 men for three 
years' service from April 15, 1860. On the 16th of April, Gov- 
ernor Morton issued his proclamation calling on all citizens of the 
State, who had the welfare of the Republic at heart, to organize 
themselves into six regiments in defense of their rights, and in 
opposition to the varied acts of rebellion, charged by him against 
the Southern Confederates. To this end, the Hon. Lewis Wallace, 
a soldier of the Mexican campaign was appointed Adjutant-General, 
Col. Thomas A, Morris of the United States Military Academy, 
Quartermaster-General, and Isaiah Mansur, a merchant of Indian- 
apolis, Commissary-General. These general officers converted the 
grounds and buildings of the State Board of Agriculture into a 
military headquarters, and designated the position Camp Morton, 
as the beginning of the many honors which were to follow the pop- 
ular Governor throughout his future career. Now the people, im- 
bued with confidence in their Government and leaders, rose to the 
grandeur of American freemen, and with an enthusiasm never 
equaled hitherto, flocked to the standard of the nation; so that 
within a few days (19th April) 2,400 men were ranked beneath 
their regimental banners, until as the oflicial report testifies, the 
anxious question, passing from mouth to mouth, was, " Which of 
us will be allowed to go? " It seemed as if Indiana was about to 
monopolize the honors of the period, and place the 75,000 men 
demanded of the Union by the President, at his disposition. Even 
now under the genial sway of guaranteed peace, the features of 
Indiana's veterans flush with righteous pride when these days — re- 
membrances of heroic sacrifice — are named, and freemen, still un- 
born, will read their history only to be blessed and glorified in the 
possession of such truly, noble progenitors. Nor were the ladies 
of the State unmindful of their duties. Everywhere they partook 
of the general enthusiasm, and made it practical so far as in their 
power, by embroidering and presenting standards and regimental 
colors, organizing aid and relief societies, and by many other acts 
of patriotism and humanity inherent in the high nature of woman. 
During the days set apart by the military authorities for the or- 
ganization of the regiments, the financiers of the State were en- 
gaged in the reception of munificent grants of money from pri- 
vate citizens, while the money merchants within and without the 
State oifered large loans to the recognized Legislature without even 
imposing a condition of payment. This most practical generosity 

^ 



— -j p 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 151 



strengthened the hands of the Executive, and within a very few days 
Indiana had passed the crucial test, recovered some of her military 
prestige lost in 1834, and so was prepared to vie with the other 
and wealthier States in making sacrifices for the public welfare. 

On the 20th of April, Messrs, I. S. Dobbs and Alvis D. Gall re- 
ceived their appointments as Medical Inspectors of the Division, 
while Major T. J. Wood arrived at headquarters from Washington 
to receive the newlj'^ organized regiments into the service of the 
Union. At the moment this formal proceeding took place, Morton, 
unable to restrain the patriotic ardor of the people, telegraphed to 
the capitol that he could place six regiments of infantry at the dis- 
posal of the General Government within six days, if such a pro- 
ceeding were acceptable; but in consequence of the wires being cut 
between the State and Federal capitols, no answer came. Taking 
advantage of the little doubt which may have had existence in re- 
gard to future action in the matter and in the absence of general 
orders, he gave expression to an intention of placing the volunteers 
in camp, and in his message to the Legislature, who assembled three 
days later, he clearly laid down the principle of immediate action 
and strong measures, recommending a uote of $1,000,000 for there- 
organization of the volunteers, for the purchase of arms and supplies, 
and for the punishment of treason. The message was received most 
enthusiastically. The assembly recognized the great points made 
by the Governor, and not only yielded to them in toto, but also made 
the following grand appropriations: 

General military purposes $1,000,000 

Purchase of arms • 500,000 

Contingent military expenses 100,000 

Organization and support of militia for two years 140,000 

These appropriations, together with the laws enacted during the 
session of the Assembly, speak for the men of Indiana. The celerity 
with which these laws were put in force, thediligince and economy 
exercised by the officers, entrusted with their administration, and 
that systematic genius, under which all the machinery of Govern- 
ment seemed to work in harmony, — all, all, tended to make for the 
State a spring-time of noble deeds, when seeds might be cast along 
her fertile fields and in the streets of her villages of industry to 
grow up at once and blossom in the ray of fame, and after to bloom 
throughout the ages. Within three days after the opening of the 
extra session of the Legislature (27th April) six new regiments were 
organized, and commissioned for three months' service. These reg- 



s 



d 



)Fr 



•V •s »- -- £> >^ 



152 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



iments, notwithstanding the fact that the first six regiments were 
already mustered into the general service, were known as "The 
First Brigade, Indiana Yolunteers," and with the simple object of 
making the way of the future student of a brilliant history clear, 
were numbered respectiv^ely 

Sixth Regiment, commanded by Col. T. T. Crittenden. 
Seventh " " " " Ebenezer Dumont. 

Eighth " « " " W. P. Benton. 

Ninth " « " " R. H. Milroy. 

Tenth " " " " T. T. Reynolds. 

Eleventh " " " " Lewis Wallace. 

The idea of these numbers was suggested by the fact that the 
military representation of Indiana in the Mexican Campaign was 
one brigade of five regiments, and to observe consecutiveness the 
regiments comprised in the first division of volunteers were thus 
numbered, and the entire force placed under Brigadier General T. 
A. Morris, with the following staif: John Love, Major; Cyrus C* 
Hines, Aid-de-camp; and J. A. Stein, Assistant Adjutant General. 
To follow the fortunes of these volunteers through all the vicissi- 
tudes of war would prove a special work; yet their valor and endur- 
ance during their first term of service deserved a notice of even more 
value than that of the historian, since a commander's opinion has 
to be taken as the basis upon which the chronicler may expatiate. 
Therefore the following dispatch, dated from the headquarters of the 
Army of Occupation, Beverly Camp, W. Virginia, July 21, 1861, 
must be taken as one of the first evidences of their utility and 
valor: — 

"Governor O. P. Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana- 

Governor :— I have directed the three months' regiments from Indiana to 
move to Indianapolis, there to be mustered out and reorganized for three years' 
service. 

I cannot permit them to return to j-^ou without again expressing my high 
appreciation of the distinguished valor and endurance of the Indiana troops, and 
my hope that but a short time will elapse before I have the pleasure of knowing 
that they are again ready for the field. ******* 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

George B. McClellan, 
Major-Oeneral, U. 8. A. 

On the return of the troops to Indianapolis, July 29, Brigadier 
Morris issued a lengthy, logical and well-deserved congratulatory 
address, from which one paragraph may be extracted to characterize 



•V 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 153 

the whole. After passing a glowing eulogium on their military 
qualities and on that unexcelled gallantry displayed at Laurel Hill, 
Phillipi and Carrick's Ford, he says: — 

" Soldiers ! You have now returned to the friends whose prayers went with you 
to the field of strife. They welcome you with pride and exultation. Your State 
and country acknowledge the value of your labors. May your future career be as 
your past has been, — honorable to yourselves and serviceable to your country." 

The six regiments forming Morris' brigade, together with one 
composed of the surplus volunteers, for whom there was no reo-i- 
ment in April, now formed a division of seven regiments, all reor- 
ganized for three years' service, between the 20th August and 20th 
September, with the exception of the new or 12th, which was ac- 
cepted for one year's service from May 11th, under command of 
Colonel John M. Wallace, and reorganized May 17, 1862, for three 
years' service under Col. W. H. Link, who, with 172 officers and 
men, received their mortal wounds during the Richmond (Ken- 
tucky) engagement, three months after its reorganization. 

The 13th Kegiment, under Col. Jeremiah Sullivan, was mus- 
tered into the United States in 1861 and joined Gen. McClellan's 
command at Rich Mountain on the 10th July. The day following it 
was present under Gen. Rosencrans and lost eight men killed; three 
successive days it was engaged under Gen. I. I. Reynolds, and won 
its laurels at Cheat Mountain summit, where it participated in the 
decisive victory over Gen. Lee. 

The 14th Regiment, organized in 1861 for one year's service, and 
reorganized on the 7th of June at Terre Haute for three years' ser- 
vice. Commanded by Col, Kimball and showing a muster roll of 
1,134 men, it was one of the finest, as it was the first, three years' 
regiment organized in the State, with varying fortunes attached to 
its never ending round of duty from Cheat Mountain, September, 
1861, to Morton's Ford in 1864, and during the movement South in 
May of that year to the last of its labors, the battle of Cold Har- 
bor, 

The 15th Regiment, reorganized at La Fayette 14th June, 1861, 
under Col, G, D. "Wagner, moved on Rich Mountain on the 11th 
of July in time to participate in the complete rout of the enemy. 
On the promotion of Col. Wagner, Lieutenant-Col. G. A. Wood 
became Colonel of the regiment, November, 1862, and during the 
first days of January, 1863, took a distinguished part in the severe 
action of Stone River. From this period down to the battle of Mis- 
sion Ridge it was in a series of destructive engagements, and was, 



"*>l<r 



* ' — frr-^ 

. 154 HISTOKT OF INDIANA. 

after enduring terrible hardships, ordered to Chattanooga, and 
thence to Indianapolis, where it was mustered out the 18th June, 
1864, — four days after the expiration of its term of service. 

The 16th Regiment, organized under Col. P. A. Hackleman at 
Richmond for one year's service, after participating in many minor 
military events, was mustered out at Washington, D.C., on the 14th 
of May, 1862. Col. Hackleman was killed at the battle of luka, 
and Lieutenant-Col. Thomas I. Lucas succeeded to the command. 
It was reorganized at Indianapolis for three years' service. May 27, 
1862, and took a conspicuous part in all the brilliant engagements 
of the war down to June, 1865, when it was mustered out at New 
Orleans. The survivors, numbering 365 rank and file, returned to 
Indianapolis the 10th of July amid the rejoicing of the populace. 

The 17th Regiment was mustered into service at Indianapolis 
the 12th of June, 1861, for three years, under Col. Hascall, who 
on being promoted Brigadier General in March, 1862, left the 
Colonelcy to devolve on Lieutenant Colonel John T. Wilder. This 
regiment participated in the many exploits of Gen. Reynold's army 
from Green Brier in 1862, to Macon in 1865, under Gen. Wilson. 
Returning to Indianapolis the 16th of August, in possession of a 
brilliant record, the regiment was disbanded. 

The 18th Regiment, under Colonel Thomas Pattison, was organ- 
ized at Indianapolis, and mustered into service on the 16th of 
August, 1861. Under Gen. Pope it gained some distinction at 
Blackwater, and succeeded in retaining a reputation made there, 
by its gallantry at Pea Ridge, February, 1862, down to the moment 
when it planted the regimental flag on the arsenal of Augusta, 
Georgia, where it was disbanded August 28, 1865. 

The 19th Regiment, mustered into three years' service at the 
State capital July 29, 1861, was ordered to join the army of the 
Potomac, and reported its arrival at Washington, August 9. Two 
days later it took part in the battle of Lewinsville, under Colonel 
Solomon Meredith. Occupying Falls Church in September, 1861, 
it continued to maintain a most enviable place of honor on the 
military roll until its consolidation with the 20th Regiment, October, 
1864, under Colonel William Orr, formerly its Lieutenant Colonel. 

The 20th Regiment of La Fayette was organized in July. 1861, 
mustered into three years' service at Indianapolis on the 22d of the 
same month, and reached the front at Cockeysville, Maryland, 
twelve days later. Throughout aJ its iirilliant actions from Hat- 
teras Bank, on the 4th of October, to Clover Hill, 9th of April, 1865, 

. . Is 

^1 _ .. ir-»- 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 155 

including the saving of the United States ship Congress, at New- 
port News, it added daily some new name to its escutcheon. This 
regiment was mustered out at Louisville in July, 1865, and return- 
ing to Indianapolis was welcomed by the great war Governor of 
their State. 

Tlie 21sT Kegiment was mustered into service under Colonel I. 
W. McMilhin, July 24, 1861, and reported at the front the third 
day of August. It was the first regiment to enter New Orleans. 
The fortunes of this regiment were as varied as its services, so that 
its name and fame, grown from the blood shed by its members, are 
destined to live and flourish. In December, 1863, the regiment 
was reorganized, and on the 19th February, 1864, many of its 
veterans returned to their State, where Morton received them with 
that spirit of proud gratitude which he was capable of showing to 
those who deserve honor for honors won. 

The 22d Regiment, under Colonel Jeff. C. Davis, left Indian- 
apolis the 15th of August, and was attached to Fremont's Corps at 
St. Louis on the 17th. From the day it moved to the support of 
Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, to the last victory, won under 
General Sherman at Bentonville, on the 19th of March, 1865, it 
gained a high military reputation. After the fall of Johnston's 
southern army, this regiment was mustered out, and arrived at 
Indianapolis on the 16th June. 

The 23d Battalion, commanded by Colonel W. L. Sanderson, 
was mustered in at New Albany, the 29th July, 1861, and moved 
to the front early in August. From its unfortunate marine ex- 
periences before Fort Henry to Bentonville it won unusual honors, 
and after its disbandment at Louisville, returned to Indianapolis 
July 24, 1865, where Governor Morton and General Sherman 
reviewed and complimented the gallant survivors. 

The 24th Battalion, under Colonel Alvin P. Hovey, was 
mustered at Vincennes the 31st of July, 1861. Proceeding imme- 
diately to the front it joined Fremont's command, and participated 
under many Generals in important affairs during the war. Three 
hundred and ten men and officers returned to their State in August, 
1865, and were received with marked honors by the people and 
Executive. 

Tiie 25th Regiment, of Evansville mustered into service there 
for three years under Col. J. C. Veatch, arrived at St. Louis on the 
26th of August, 1861. During the war this regiment was present 
at 18 battles and skirmishes, sustaining therein a loss of 352 men 



-^ — , T^ 

166 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and officers. Mustered out at Louisville, July 17, 1865, it returned 
to Indianapolis on the 21st amid universal rejoicing. 

The 26th Battalion, under W. M. Wheatley, left Indianapolis 
for the front the 7th of September, 1861, and after a brilliant cam- 
paign under Fremont, Grant, Heron and Smith, may be said to 
disband the 18th of September, 1865, when the non-veterans and 
recruits were reviewed by Morton at the State capital. 

The 27th Regiment, under Col. Silas Colgrove, moved from 
Indianapolis to Washington City, September 15th, 1861, and in 
October was allied to Gen. Banks' army. From Winchester 
Heights, the 9th of March 1862, through all the affairs of General 
Sherman's campaign, it acted a gallant and faithful part, and was 
disbanded immediately after returning to their State. 

The 28th or 1st Cavalry was mustered into service at Evans- 
ville on the 20th of August, 1861, under Col. Conrad Baker. From 
the skirmish at Ironton, on the 12th of September, wherein three 
companies under Col. Gavin captured a position held by a 
few rebels, to the battle of the Wilderness, the First Cavalry per- 
formed prodigies of valor. In June and July, 1865, the troops 
were mustered out at Indianapolis. 

The 29th Battalion of La Porte, under Col. J. F. Miller, left 
on the 5tli of October, 1861, and reaching Camp Nevin, Kentucky, 
on the 9th, was allied to Rosseau's Brigade, serving with McCook's 
division at Shiloh, with Buell's army in Alabama, Tennessee and 
Kentucky, with Rosencrans at Murfreesboro, at Decatur, Alabama, 
and at Dalton, Georgia. The Twenty-ninth won many laurels, 
and had its Colonel promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. 
This officer was succeeded in the command by Lieutenant-Col. 
D.M.Dunn. 

The 30th Regiment of Fort Wayne, under Col. Sion S. Bass, 
proceeded to the front via Indianapolis, and joined General Rosseau 
at Camp Nevin on the 9th of October, 186 L At Shiloh, Col. 
Bass received a mortal wound, and died a few days later at 
Paducah, leaving the Colonelcy to devolve upon Lieutenant-Col. J. 
B. Dodge. In October 1865, it formed a battalion of General Sheri- 
dan's army of observation in Texas. 

The 31st Regiment, organized at Terre Haute, under Col. Charles 
Cruft, in September 1861, was mustered in, and left in a few days 
for Kentucky. Present at the redaction of Fort Donelson on the 
13th, 14th, and 15th of February, 1862, its list of killed and 
wounded proves its desperate fighting qualities. The organization 



^ 



l\ 



V^'L 



y>- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 157 

was subjected to many changes, but in all its phases maintained a 
fair fame won on many battle fields. Like the former regiment, 
it passed into Gen. Sheridan's Army of Observation, and held the 
district of Green Lake, Texas. 

The 32d Regiment of German Infantry, under Col. August 
Willich, organized at Indianapolis, mustered on the 24th of August, 

1861, served with distinction throughout the campaign Col.* 
Willich was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, andLieut.- 
Col. Henry Yon Trebra commissioned to act, under whose com- 
mand the regiment passed into General Sheridan's Army, hold- 
ing the post of Salado Creek, until the withdrawal of the corps of 
observation in Texas. 

The 33d Regiment of Indianapolis possesses a military history 
of no small proportions. The mere facts that it was mustered in 
under Col. John Coburn, the 16th of September, won a series of 
distinctions throughout the war district and was mustered out at 
Louisville, July 21, 1865, taken with its name as one of the most 
powerful regiments engaged in the war, are sufficient here. 

The 34:Tii Battalion, organized at Anderson on the 16th Sep- 
tember, 1861, under Col. Ashbury Steele, appeared among the in- 
vesting battalions before New Madrid on the 30th of March, 1862. 
From the distinguished part" it took in that siege, down to the 
13th of May, 1865, when at Palmetto Ranche, near Palo Alto, it 
fought for hours against fearful odds the last battle of the war for 
the Union. Afterwards it marched 250 miles up the Rio Grande, 
and was the first regiment to reoccupy the position, so long in 
Southern hands, of Ringold barracks. In 1865 it garrisoned Bea- 
consville as part of the Army of Observation. 

The 35th or First Irish Regiment, was organized at Indian- 
apolis, and mustered into service on the 11th of December, 1861, 
under Col. John C. Walker. At ISTashville, on the 22d of May, 

1862, it was joined by the organized portion of the Sixty-first or 
Second Irish Regiment, and unassigned recruits. Col. Mullen now 
became Lieut. -Colonel of the 35th, and shortly after, its Colonel, 
From the pursuit of Gen. Bragg through Kentucky and the affair 
at Perryville on the 8th of October, 1862, to the terrible hand to 
hand combat at Kenesaw mountain, on the night of the 20th of 
June, 1864, and again from the conclusion of the Atlanta campaign 
to September, 1865, with Gen. Sheridan's army, when it was mus- 
tered out, it won for itself a name of reckless daring and unsur- 
passed gallantry. 



■^ 



■♦- 



> 



•Vj<5 ^ ^ g > J- 

— m 

158 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The 36th Eegiment, of Eichmond, Ind., under Col. William 
Grose, mustered into service for three years on the 16th of Sep- 
tember, 1861, went immediately to the front, and shared the for- 
tunes of the Army of the Ohio until the 27th of February, 1862, 
when a forward movement led to its presence on the battle-field of 
Shiloh. Following up the honors won at Shiloh, it participated in 
some of the most important actions of the war, and was, in October, 
1865, transferred to Gen. Sheridan's army. Col. Grose was pro- 
moted in 1864 to the position of Brigadier-General, and the 
Colonelcy devolved on Oliver H. P. Carey, formerly Lieut.-Colonel 
of the regiment. 

The 37th Battalion, of Lawrenceburg, commanded by Col. 
Geo. W. Hazzard, organized the 18th of September, 1861, left for 
the seat of war early in October. From the eventful battle of 
Stone river, in December, 1862, to its participation in Sherman's 
march through Georgia, it gained for itself a splendid reputation. 
Tliis regiment returned to, and was present at, Indianapolis, on the 
30th of July, 1865, where a public reception was tendered to men 
and officers on the grounds of the Capitol. 

The 38th Regiment, under Col. Benjamin F. Scribner, was mus- 
tered in at New Albany, on the 18th of September, 1861, and 
in a few days were en route for the front. To follow its continual 
round of duty, is without the limits of this sketch; therefore, it 
will suffice to say, that on every well-fought field, at least from 
February, 1862, until its dissolution, on the 15th of July, 1865, it 
earned an enviable renown, and drew from Gov. Morton, on return- 
ing to Indianapolis the 18th of the same month, a congratulatory 
address couched in the highest terms of praise. 

The 39th Regiment, or Eighth Cavalry, was mustered in as 
an infantry regiment, under Col. T. J. Harrison, on the 28th of 
August, 1861, at the State capital. Leaving immediately for the 
front it took a conspicuous part in all the engagements up to April, 
1863, when it was reorganized as a cavalry regiment. The record of 
this organization sparkles with great deeds which men will extol 
while language lives; its services to the Union cannot be over esti- 
mated, or the memory of its daring deeds be forgotten by the un- 
happy people who raised the tumult, which culminated in their 
second shame. 

The 40th Regiment, of Lafayette, under Col. W. C. Wilson, 
subsequently commanded by Col. J. W. Blake, and again by Col. 
Henry Learning, was organized on the 30th of December, 1861, and 



\ 



— 1 p 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 15y 

at once proceeded to the front, where some time was necessarily spent 
in the Camp of Instruction at Bardstown, Kentucky. In February, 
1862, it joined in Buell's forward movement. During the war the 
regiment shared in all its hardships, participated in all its honors, 
and like many other brave commands took service under Gen. 
Sheridan in his Army of Occupation, holding the post of Port 
Lavaca, Texas, until peace brooded over the land. 

The 41st Regiment or Second Cavalry, the first complete regi- 
ment of horse ever raised in the State, was organized on the 3d of 
September, 1861, at Indianapolis, under Col. John A. Brido-land, 
and December 16 moved to the front. Its first war experience was 
gained en route to Corinth on the 9th of April, 1862, and at Pea 
Eidge on the 15th. Gallatin, Vinegar Hill, and Perryville, and 
Talbot Station followed in succession, each battle bringing to the 
cavalry untold honors. In May, 1864, it entered upon a glorious 
career under Gen. Sherman in his Atlanta campaign, and again 
under Gen. Wilson in the raid through Alabama during April, 
1865. On the 22d of July, after a brilliant career, the regiment was 
mustered out at Kashville, and returned at once to Indianapolis for 
discharge. 

The 42d, under Col J. G. Jones, mustered into service at Evans- 
ville, October 9, 1861, and having participated in the principal 
military affairs of the period, Wartrace, Mission Eidge, Altoona, 
Kenesaw, Savannah, Charlestown and Bentonville, was discharged 
at Indianapolis on the 25th of July, 1865. 

The 43d Battalion was mustered in on the 27tli of September, 
1861, under Col. George K. Steele, and left Terre Haute enroute to 
the front within a few days. Later it was allied to Gen. Pope's 
corps, and afterwards served with Commodore Foote's marines in 
the reduction of Fort Pillow. It was the first Union reeiment to 
enter Memphis. From that period until the close of the war it was 
distinguished for its unexcelled qualifications as a military body, 
and fully deserved the encomiums passed upon it on its return to 
Indianapolis in March, 1865. 

The 44th or the Eegimentof the 10th Congressional District 
was organized at Fort Wayne on the 24th of October, 1861, under 
Col. Hugh B. Eeed. Two months later it was ordered to the front, 
and arriving in Kentucky, was attached to Gen. Cruft's Brigade, 
then quartered at Calhoun. After years of faithful service it was 
mustered out at Chattanooga, the 14th of September, 1865. 

The 45th, or Third Cavalry, comprised ten companies 



f 



- « 






t 



160 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

organized at different periods and for varied services in 1861- 
'62, under Colonel Scott Carter and George H. Chapman. The 
distinguished name won by the Third Cavalry is established in 
every village within the State. Let it suffice to add that after its 
brilliant participation in Gen. Sheridan's raid down the James' 
river canal, it was mustered out at Indianapolis on the 7th of Au- 
gust, 1865. 

The 46th Regiment, organized at Logansport under Colonel 
Graham N. Fitch, arrived in Kentucky the 16th of February, 1862, 
and a little later became attached to Gen. Pope's army, then quar- 
tered at Commerce. The capture of Fort Pillow, and its career 
under Generals Curtis, Palmer, Hovey, Gorman, Grant, Sherman, 
Banks and Burbridge are as truly worthy of applause as ever fell to 
the lot of a regiment. The command was mustered out at Louis- 
ville on the 4th of September, 1865, 

The 47th was organized at Anderson, under Col. I. R. Slack, early 
in October, 1862. Arriving at Bardstown, Kentucky, on the 21st 
of December, it was attached to Gen. Buell's army; but within two 
months was assigned to Gen. Pope, under whom it proved the first 
regiment to enter Fort Thompson near New Madrid. In 1864 the 
command visited Indianapolis on veteran furlough and was enthu- 
siastically received by Governor Morton and the people. Return- 
ing to the front it engaged heartily in Gen. Banks' company. In 
December, Col. Slack received his commission as Brigadier-General, 
and was succeeded on the regimental command by Col. J. A. Mc- 
Laughton ; at Shreveport under General Heron it received the sub- 
mission of General Price and his army, and there also was it mus- 
tered out of service on the 23d of October, 1865. 

The 48th Regiment, organized at Goshen the 6th of December, 
1861, under Col. Norman Eddy, entered on its duties during the 
siege of Corinth in May, and again in October, 1862. The record 
of this battalion may be said to be unsurpassed in its every feature, 
so that the grand ovation extended to the returned soldiers in 
1865 at Indianapolis, is not a matter for surprise. 

The 49th Regiment, organized at Jefferson ville, under Col. J. W 
Ray, and mustered in on the 21st of November, 1861, for service, 
left 671 route for the camp at Bardstown. A month later it arrived 
at the unfortunate camp-ground of Cumberland Ford, where dis- 
ease carried off a number of gallant soldiers. The regiment, how- 
ever, survived the dreadful scourge and won its laurels on many 



\ 

\ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 161 

a well-fought field until September, 1865, when it was mustered out 
at Louisville. 

The 50i'H Eegiment, under Col. Cyrus L. Dunham, organized 
during the month of September, 1861, at Seymour, left e)i route to 
Bardstown for a course of military instruction. On the 20th of 
August, 1862, a detachment of the 50th, under Capt. Atkinson, was 
attacked by Morgan's Cavalry near Edgefield Junction ; but the 
gallant few repulsed their oft-repeated onsets and finally drove 
them from the field. The regiment underwent many changes in 
organization, and may be said to muster out on the 10th of Septem- 
ber, 1865. 

The 51sT Regiment, under Col. Abel. D. Streight, left Indianap- 
olis on the 14th of December, 1861, for the South. After a short 
course of instruction at Bardstown, the regiment joined General 
Buell's and acted with great efi'ect during the campaign in Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee. Ultimately it became a participator in the 
work of the Fourth Corps, or Army of Occupation, and held the post 
of San Antonio until peace was doubly assured. 

The 52d Regiment was partially raised at Rushville, and the 
organization completed at Indianapolis, where it was consolidated 
with the Railway Brigade, or 56th Regiment, on the 2d of Feb- 
ruary, 1862. Going to the front immediately after, it served with 
marked distinction throughout the war, and was mustered out at 
Montgomery on the 10th of September, 1865. Returning to Indian- 
apolis six days later, it was welcomed by Gov. Morton and a most 
enthusiastic reception accorded to it. 

The 53kd Battalion was raised at New Albany, and with the 
addition of recruits raised at Rockport formed a standard regi- 
ment, under command of Col. "W. Q. Gresham. Its first duty was 
that of guarding the rebels confined on Camp Morton, but on 
going to the front it made for itself an endurable name. It was mus- 
tered out in July, 1865, and returned to Indiananoplis on the 25th 
of the same month. 

The 54th Regiment was raised at Indianapolis on the 10th of 
June, 1862, for three months' service under Col. D. G. Rose. The 
succeeding two months saw it in charge of the prisoners at Carnp 
Morton, and in August it was pushed forward to aid in the defense 
of Kentucky against the Confederate General, Kirby Smith. The 
remainder of its short term of service was given to the cause. On the 
muster out of the three months' service regiment it was reorgau- 



- » 
IK*- 



■V <2 ^ -^ *' I x^ 



t 



(»' 



162 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

ized for one year's service and gained some distinction, after which 
it was mustered out in 1863 at New Orleans. 

The 55th Kegiment, organized for three months' service, retains 
the brief history applicable to the first organization of the 54:th. 
It was mustered in on the 16th of June, 1862, under Col. J. R. 
Mahon, disbanded on the expiration of its term and was not reor- 
ganized. 

The 56th Regiment, referred to in the sketch of the 52nd, was 
designed to be composed of railroad men, marshalled under J, M. 
Smith as Colonel, but owing to the fact that many railroaders had 
already volunteered into other regiments. Col. Smith's volunteers 
were incorporated with the 52nd, and this number left blank in the 
army list. 

The 57th Battalion, actually organized by two ministers of the 
gospel,— the Rev. I. W. T. McMuUen and Rev. F. A. Hardin, of 
Richmond, Ind., mustered into service on the ISth of Novem- 
ber, 1861, under the former named reverend gentleman as Colonel, 
who was, however, succeeded by Col. Cyrus C. Haynes, and he in 
turn by G. W. Leonard, Willis Blanch and John S. McGrath, the 
latter holding command until the conclusion of the war. The 
history of this battalion is extensive, and if participation in a num- 
ber of battles with the display of rare gallantry wins fame, the 57th 
may rest assured of its possession of this fragile yet coveted prize. 
Like many other regiments it concluded its military labors in the 
service of General Sheridan, and held the post of Port Lavaca in 
conjunction with another regiment until peace dwelt in the land. 

The 58th Regiment, of Princeton, was organized there early in 
October, 1861, and was mustered into service under the Colonelcy 
of Henry M. Carr. In December it was ordered to join Gen- 
eral Buell's army, after which it took a share in the various 
actions of the war, and was mustered out on the 25tli of July, 1805, 
at Louisville, having gained a place on the roll of honor. 

The 59th Battalion was raised under a commission issued by 
Gov. Morton to Jesse I. Alexander, creating him Colonel. Owing 
to the peculiarities hampering its organization, Col. Alexander could 
not succeed in having his regiment prepared to muster in before 
the 17th of February, 1862. However, on that day the equipment 
was complete, and on the 18th it left en route to Commerce, where 
on its arrival, it was incorporated under General Pope's command. 
The list of its casualties speaks a history, — no less than 793 men 
were lost during the campaign. The regiment, after a term char- 

_______ ——___-_ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 163 

acterized by distinguished service, was mustered out at Louisville 
on the 17th of July, 1865. 

The 60th Eegiment was partially organized under Lieut. -Col. 
Kichard Owen at Evansville during November 1861, and perfected 
at Camp Morton during March, 1862. Its first experience was its 
gallant resistance to Bragg' s army investing Munfordsville, which 
culminated in the unconditional surrender of its first seven com- 
panies on the 14th of September. An exchange of prisoners took 
place in November, which enabled it to joine the remaining com- 
panies in the field. The subsequent record is excellent, and forms, 
as it were, a monument to their fidelity and heroism. The main 
portion of this battalion was mustered out at Indianapolis, on the 
21st of March, 1865. 

The 61sT was partially organized in December, 1861, under Col. 
B. F. Mullen. The failure of thorough organization on the 22d of 
May, 1862, led the men and oflicers to agree to incorporation with 
the 35th Regiment of Yolunteers. 

The 62d Battalion, raised under a commission issued to Wil- 
liam Jones, of Rockport, authorizing him to organize this regiment 
in the First Congressional District was so unsuccessful that consoli- 
dation with the 53d Regiment was resolved upon. 

The 63d Regiment, of Covington, under James McManomy, 
Commandant ot Camp, and J. S. Williams, Adjutant, was partially 
organized on the 31st of December, 1861, and may be considered 
on duty from its very formation. After guarding prisoners at 
Camp Morton and Lafayette, and engaging in battle on Manassas 
Plains on the 30th of August following, the few companies sent 
out in February, 1862, returned to Indianapolis to find six new 
companies raised under the call of July, 1862, ready to embrace 
the fortunes of the 63d. So strengthened, the regiment went forth 
to battle, and continued to lead in the paths of honor and fidelity 
until mustered out in May and June, 1865. 

The 64th Regiment failed in organization as an artillery corps ; 
but orders received from the War Department prohibiting the con- 
solidation of independent batteries, put a stop to any further move 
in the matter. However, an infantry regiment bearing the same 
number was afterward organized. 

The 65th was mustered in at Princeton and Evansville, in July 
and August, 1862, under Col. J. W. Foster, and left at once e7i 
route for the front. The record of this battalion is creditable, not 
only to its members, but also to the State which claimed it. Its 



164 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

last action during the war was on the 18th and 20th of February, 
1865, at Fort Anderson and Town creek, after which, on the 22d 
June, it was disbanded at Greensboro. 

The 66th Regiment partially organized at New Albany, under 
Commandant Roger Martin, was ordered to leave for Kentucky on 
the 19th of August, 1862, for the defense of that State against the 
incursions of Kirby Smith. After a brilliant career it was mus- 
tered out at Washington on the 3d of June, 1865, after which it 
returned to Indianapolis to receive the thanks of a grateful people. 

The 67th Regiment was organized within the Third Congressional 
District under Col. Frank Emerson, and was ordered to Louisville 
on the 20tli of August, 1862, whence it marched to Munfordville,. 
only to share the same fate with the other gallant regiments en- 
gaged against Gen. Bragg's advance. Its roll of honor extends 
down the years of civil disturbance, — always adding garlands, un- 
til Peace called a truce in the fascinating race after fame, and insured 
a terra of rest, wherein its members could think on comrades forever 
vanished, and temper the sad thought with the sublime mem- 
ories born of that chivalrous fight for the maintenance and integri- 
ty of a great Republic. At Galveston on the 19th of July, 1865, the 
gallant 67th Regiment was mustered out, and returning within a 
few days to its State received the enthusiastic ovations of her citi- 
zens. 

The 68th Regiment, organized at Greensburg under Major Ben- 
jamin C. Shaw, was accepted for general service the 19th of August, 
1862, under Col. Edward A. King, with Major Shaw as Lieutenant 
Colonel; on the 25th its arrival at Lebanon was reported and with- 
in a few days it appeared at the defense of Munfordville; but shar- 
ing in the fate of all the defenders, it surrendered unconditionally to 
Gen. Bragg and did not participate further in the actions of that 
year, nor until after the exchange of prisoners in 1863. From this 
period it may lay claim to an enviable history extending to the end 
of the war, when it was disembodied. 

The 69th Regiment, of Richmond, Ind., under Col. A. Bickle, 
left for the front on the 20th of August, 1862, and ten days later 
made a very brilliant stand at Richmond, Kentucky, against 
the advance of Gen. Kirby Smith, losing in the engagement two 
hundred and eighteen men and officers together with its liberty. 
After an exchange of prisoners the regiment was reorganized under 
Col. T. "W. Bennett and took the field in December, 1862, under 






•*v 



Lk- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. Ig5 

Generals Sheldon, Morgan and Sherman of Grant's army. Chick- 
asaw, Vicksburg, Blakely and many other names testify to the valor 
of the 69th. The remnant of the regiment was in January, 1865, 
formed into a battalion under Oran Perry, and was mustered out in 
July following. 

The 70th Regiment was organized at Indianapolis on the 12th of 
August, 1862, under Col. B. Harrison, and leaving for Louisville on 
the 13th, shared in the honors of Bruce's division at Franklin 
and Eussellville. The record of the regiment is brimful of honor. 
It was mustered out at Washington, June 8, 1865, and received at 
Indianapolis with public honors. 

The 71sT OR Sixth Cavalry was organized as an infantry regi- 
ment, at Terre Haute, and mustered into general service at Indian- 
apolis on the 18th of August, 1862, under Lieut. -Col. Melville D. 
Topping. Twelve days later it was engaged outside Richmond, 
Kentucky, losing two hundred and fifteen officers and men, includ- 
ing Col. Topping and Major Conklin, together with three hundred 
and forty-seven prisoners, only 225 escaping death and capture. 
After an exchange of prisoners the regiment was re-formed under 
Col. I. Bittle, but on the 28th of December it surrendered to Gen. 
J. H. Morgan, who attacked its position at Muldraugh's Hill with a 
force of 1,000 Confederates. During September and October, 1863, 
it was organized as a cavalry regiment, won distinction throughout 
its career, and was mustered out the 15th of September, 1865, at 
Murfreesboro. 

The 77th Regiment was organized at Lafayette, and left enroute 
to Lebanon, Kentucky, on the 17th of August, 1862. Under Col. 
Miller it won a series of honors, and mustered out at Kashville on 
the 26th of June, 1865. 

The 73rd Regiment, under Col. Gilbert Hathaway, was mustered 
in at South Bend on the 16th of August, 1862, and proceeded im- 
mediately to the front. Day's Gap, Crooked Creek, and the high 
eulogies of Generals Rosencrans and Granger speak its long and 
brilliant history, nor were the welcoming shouts of a great people 
and the congratulations of Gov. Morton, tendered to the regiment 
on its return home, in July, 1865, necessary to sustain its well won 
reputation. 

The 74th Regiment, partially organized at Fort Wayne and made 
almost complete at Indianapolis, left for the seat of war on the 22d 
of August, 1862, under Col. Charles W. Chapman. The desperate 
opposition to Gen. Bragg, and the magnificent defeat of Morgan, 



"71 s- 



J^ 



:l^ 



166 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

together with the battles of Dallas, Chattahoochie river, Kenesaw 
and Atlanta, where Lieut. Col. Myron Baker was killed, all bear evi- 
dence of its never surpassed gallantry. It was mustered out of ser- 
vice on the 9tli of June, 1865, at Washington. On the return of the 
regiment to Indianapolis, the war Governor and people tendered it 
special honors, and gave expression to the admiration and regard 
in which it was held. 

The Y5th Regiment was organized within the Eleventh Congress- 
ional District, and left Wabash, on the 21st of August, 1862, for the 
front, under Col. I. W. Petit. It was the first regiment to enter 
Tullahoma, and one of the last engaged in the battles of the Repub- 
lic. After the submission of Gen. Johnson's army, it waa mustered 
out at Washington, on the 8th of June 1865. 

The 76th Battalion was solely organized for thirty days' service 
under Colonel James Gavin, for the purpose of pursuing the rebel 
guerrilas, who plundered Newburg on the 13th July, 1862. It was 
organized and equipped within forty-eight hours, and during its 
term of service gained the name, " The Avengers of Newburg." 

The 77th, or Fourth Cavalry, was organized at the State capi- 
tal in August, 1862, under Colonel Isaac P. Gray. It carved its 
way to fame over twenty battlefields, and retired from service at 
Edgefield, on the 29th June, 1865. 

The 79th Regiment was mustered in at Indianapolis on the 2nd 
September, 1862, under Colonel Fred Knefier. Its history may be 
termed a record of battles, as the great numbers of battles, from 
1862 to the conclusion of hostilities, were participated in by it. 
The regiment received its discharge on the 11th Jnne, 1865, at 
Indianapolis. During its continued round of field duty it captured 
eighteen guns and over one thousand prisoners. 

The 80th Regiment was organized within the First Congress- 
ional District under Col. C. Denby, and equipped at Indianapolis, 
when, on the 8th of September, 1862, it left for the front. During 
its term it lost only two prisoners; but its list of casualties sums 
up 325 men and officers killed and wounded. The regiment may 
be said to muster out on the 22nd of June, 1865, at Saulsbury. 

The 81sT Regiment, of New Albany, under Colonel W. W. 
Caldwell, was organized on the 29th August, 1862, and proceeded 
at once to join Buell's headquarters, and join in the pursuit of 
General Bragg. Throughout the terrific actions of the war its 
infiuence was felt, nor did its labors cease until it aided in driving 
the rebels across the Tennessee. It was disembodied at Nashville 



Ql 



1 '■Z/ 



^^ 



'VL 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 167 

on the 13th June, 1865, and returned to Indianapolis on the 15th, 
to receive the well-merited congratulations of Governor Morton, 
and the people. 

The 82nd Regiment, under Colonel Morton C. Hunter, was 
mustered in at Madison, Ind,, on the 30th August, 1862, and 
leaving immediately for the seat of war, participated in many of 
the great battles down to the return of peace. It was mustered out 
at Washington on the 9th June, 1865, and soon returned to its 
State to receive a grand recognition of its faithful service. 

The 83rd Regiment, of Lawrenceburg, under Colonel Ben. J. 
Spooner, was organized in September, 1862, and soon left en route 
to the Mississippi. Its subsequent history, the fact of its being 
under fire for a total term of 4,800 hours, and its wanderings over 
6,285 miles, leave nothing to be said in its defense. Master of a 
thousand honors, it was mustered out at Louisville, on the 15th 
July, 1865, and returned home to enjoy a well-merited repose. 

The 84th Regiment was mustered in at Richmond, Ind., on the 
8th September, 1862, under Colonel Nelson Trusler. Its first 
military duty was on the defenses of Covington, in Kentucky, and 
Cincinnati; but after a short time its labors became more con- 
genial, and tended to the great disadvantage of the slaveholding 
enemy on many well-contested fields. This, like the other State 
regiments, won many distinctions, and retired from the service on 
the 14th of June, 1865, at Nashville. 

The 85th Regiment was mustered at Terre Haute, under Colonel 
John P. Bayard, on the 2d September, 1862. On the 4th March, 
1863, it shared in the unfortunate aifair at Thompson's Station, 
when in common with the other regiments forming Coburn's Bri- 
gade, it surrendered to the overpowering forces of the rebel 
General, Forrest. In June, 1863, after an exchange, it again took 
the field, and won a large portion of that renown accorded to 
Indiana. It was mustered out on the 12th of June, 1865. 

The 86th Regiment, of La Fayette, left for Kentucky on the 26th 
August, 1862, under Colonel OrvilleS. Hamilton, and shared in the 
duties assigned to the 84th. Its record is very creditable, particu- 
larly that portion dealing with the battles of Nashville on the 15th 
and 16th December, 1864. It was mustered out on the 6th of June,. 
1865, and reported within a few days at Indianapolis for discharge. 

The 87th Regiment, organized at South Bend, under Colonels 
Kline G. Sherlock and N. Gleason, was accepted at Indianapolis 
on the 31st of August, 1862, and left on the same day en route to 



7 



^. 



^\ h *K - 



St 



16S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the front. From Springfield and Perryville on the 6th and 8th of 
October, 1862, to Mission Ridge, on the 25th of November, 1863, 
thence through the Atlanta campaign to the surrender of the South- 
ern armies, it upheld a gallant name, and met with a true and en- 
thusiastic welcome* home on the 21st of June, 1865, with a list of 
absent comrades aggregating 451. 

The 88th Regiment, organized within the Fourth Congressional 
District, under Col. Geo. Humphrey, entered the service on the 
29th of August, 1862, and presently was found among the front 
ranks in war. It passed through the campaign in brilliant form 
down to the time of Gen. Johnson's surrender to Gen. Grant, after 
which, on the Vth of June, 1865, it was mustered out at Washing- 
ton. 

The 89th Regiment, formed from the material of the 
Eleventh Congressional District, was mustered in at Indianapolis, 
on the 28th of August, 1862, under Col. Chas. ' D. Murray, and 
after an exceedingly brilliant campaign was discharged by Gov. 
Morton on the 4th of August, 1865. 

The 90th Regiment, or Fifth Cavalry, was organized at 
Indianapolis under the Colonelcy of Felix W. Graham, between 
August and November, 1862. The different companies, joining 
headquarters at Louisville on the 11th of March, 1863, engaged in 
observing the movements of the enemy in the vicinity of Cumber- 
land river until the 19th of April, when a first and successful 
brush was had with the rebels. The regiment had been in 22 en- 
gagements during the term of service, captured 640 prisoners, and 
claimed a list of casualties mounting up to the number of 829. 
It was mustered out on the 16th of J une, 1865, at Pulaski. 

The 91st Battalion, of seven companies, was mustered into 
service at Evansville, the 1st of October, 1862, under Lieut.-Colonel 
John Mehringer, and in ten days later left for the front. In 
1863 the regiment was completed, and thenceforth took a very 
prominent position in the prosecution of the war. During its ser- 
vice it lost 81 men, and retired from the field on the 26th of June, 
1865. 

The 92d Regiment failed in organizing. 

The 93d Regiment was mustered in at Madison, Ind., on the 
20th of October, 1862, under Col. De Witt C. Thomas and Lieut.- 
Col. Geo. W. Carr. ' On the 9th of November it began a move- 
ment south, and ultimately allied itself to Buckland's Brigade of 



71^ 



\ 



^ ■ — 

HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 169 

Gen. Sherman's. On the 14th of May it was among the first regi- 
ments to enter Jackson, the capital of Mississippi; was next pres- 
ent at the assault on Yicksburg, and made a stirring campaign 
down to the storming of Fort Blakely on the 9th of April, 1865. 
It was discharged on the 11th of August, that year, at Indianapo- 
lis, after receiving a public ovation. 

The 94th and 95th Regiments, authorized to be formed within 
the Fourth and Fifth Congressional Districts, respectively, were 
only partially organized, and so the few companies that could be 
mustered were incorporated with other regiments. 

The 96th Regiment could only bring together three companies, 
in tlie Sixth Congressional District, and these becoming incoroo- 
rated with the 99th then in process of formation at South Bend, the 
number was left blank. 

The 97th Regiment, raised in the Seventh Congressional Dis- 
trict, was mustered into service at Terre Haute, on the 20th of 
September, 1861, under Col. Robert F. Catterson. Reaching the 
front within a few days, it was assigned a position near Memphis, 
and subsequently joined in Gen. Grant's movement on Vicksburg, 
by overland route. After a succession of great exploits with the 
several armies to which it was attached, it completed its list of 
battles at Bentonville, on the 21st of March, 1865, and was dis- 
embodied at Washington on the 9th of June following. During its 
term of service the regiment lost 341 men, including the three 
Ensigns killed during the assaults on rebel positions along the 
Augusta Railway, from the 15th to the 27th of June, 1864. 

The 98th Regiment, authorized to be raised within the Eighth 
Congressional District, failed in its organization, and the number 
was left blank in the army list. The two companies answering to 
the call of July, 1862, were consolidated with the 100th Regiment 
then being organized at Fort Wayne. 

The 99th Battalion, recruited within the Ninth Congressional 
District, completed its muster on the 21st of October, 1862, under 
Col. Alex. Fawler, and reported for service a few days later at 
Memphis, where it was assigned to the 16th Army Corps. The va- . 
ried vicissitudes through which this regiment passed and its remark- 
able gallantry upon all occasions, have gained for it a fair fame. 
It was disembodied on the 5th of June, 1865, at Washington, and 
returned to Indianapolis on the 11th of the same month. 

The 100th Regiment, recruited from the Eighth and Tenth 
Congressional Districts, under Col. Sandford J. Stoughton, mustered 



Q fc^ » ^ 



170 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



into the service on the 10th of September, left for the front on the 
11th of November, and became attached to the Army of Tennessee 
on the 26th of that month, 1862. The regiment participated in 
twentj'iive battles, together v^ith skirmishing during fully one-third 
of its term of service, and claimed a list of casualties mounting up 
to four hundred and sixty-four. It was mustered out of the ser- 
vice at "Washington on the 9th of June, and reported at Indianapolis 
for discharge on the 14th of June, 1865. 

The lOlsT Regiment was mustered into service at "Wabash on 
the 7th of September, 1862, under Col. William Garver, and pro- 
ceeded immediately to Covington, Kentucky. Its early experiences 
were gained in the pursuit ofBragg's army and John Morgan's 
cavalry, and these experiences tendered to render the regiment one 
of the most valuable in the war for the Republic. From the defeat 
of John Morgan at Milton on the 18th of March, 1863, to the fall 
of Savannah on the 23rd of September, 1863, tlie regiment won 
many honors, and retired from the service on the 25th of June, 
1865, at Indianapolis. 

THE MORGAN RAID REGIMENTS — MINUTE MEN. 

The 102d Regiment, organized under Col. Benjamin M. Gregory 
from companies of the Indiana Legion, and numbering six hun- 
dred and twenty-three men and officers, left Indianapolis for the 
front early in July, and reported at North Yernon on the 12th of 
July, 1863, and having completed a round of duty, returned to In- 
dianapolis on the 17th to be discharged. 

The 103d, comprising seven companies from Hendricks county, 
two from Marion and one from "Wayne counties, numbering 681 
men and officers, under Col. Lawrence S. Shuler, was contemporary 
with the 102d Regiment, varying only in its service by being mus- 
tered out one day before, or on the 16th of July, 1863. 

The 104th Regiment of Minute Men was recruited from mem- 
bers of the Legion of Decatur, La Fayette, Madison, Marion and Rush 
counties. It comprised 714 men and officers under the command 
of Col. James Gavin, and was organized within forty hours after the 
issue of Governor Morton's call for minute men to protect Indiana 
and Kentucky against the raids of Gen. John H Morgan's rebel 
forces. After Morgan's escape into Ohio the command returned 
and was mustered out on the 18th of July, 1863. 

The 105th Regiment consisted of seven companies of the Legion 
and three of Minute Men, furnished by Hancock, Union, Randolph, 



K 



\\q_ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 1"1 

Putnam, Wayne, Clinton and Madison counties. The command 
numbered seven hundred and thirteen men and officers, under Col. 
Sherlock, and took a leading part in the pursuit of Morgan. Re- 
turning on the 18th of July to Indianapolis it was mustered out. 

The 1 06th Regiment, under Col. Isaac P. Gray, consisted of 
onecompany of the Legion and nine companies of Minute Men, 
aggregating seven hundred and ninety-two men and officers. The 
countres of Wayne, Randolph, Hancock, Howard, and Marion were 
represented in its rank and file. Like the other regiments organized 
to repel Morgan, it was disembodied in July, 1863. 

The IOTth Regiment, under Col. De Witt C. Rugg, was organ- 
ized in the city of Indianapolis from the companies' Legion, or 
Ward Guards. The successes of this promptly organized regiment 
were unquestioned. 

The 108th Regiment comprised five companies of Minute Men, 
from Tippecanoe county, two from Hancock, and one from each of 
the counties known as Carroll, Montgomery and Wayne, aggregat- 
ing TIO men and officers, and all under the command of Col. W. C. 
Wilson. After performing the only duties presented, it returned 
from Cincinnati on the 18th of July, and was mustered out. 

The 109th Regiment, composed of Minute Men from Coles 
county. 111., La Porte, Hamilton, Miami and Randolph counties, 
Ind., showed a roster of 709 officers and men, under Col. J. K 
Mahon. Morgan having escaped from Ohio, its duties were at an 
end, and returning to Indianapolis was mustered out on the 17th 
of July, 1863, after seven days' service. 

The 110th Regiment of Minute Men comprised volunteers from 
Henry, Madison, Delaware, Cass, and Monroe counties. The men 
were ready and willing, if not really anxious to go to the front. But 
happily the swift-winged Morgan was driven away, and conse- 
q uently the regiment was not called to the field. 

The 111th Regiment, furnished by Montgomery, Lafayette, 
Rush, Miami, Monroe, Delaware and Hamilton counties, number- 
ing 733 men and officers, under Col. Robert Canover, was not 

requisitioned. . 

The 112th Regiment was formed from nine companies ot Min- 
ute Men, and the Mitchell Light Infantry Company of the Legion. 
Its strength was 703 men and officers, under Col. Hiram F. Brax- 
ton Lawrence, Washington, Monroe and Orange counties were 
represented on its roster, and the historic names of North Vernon 
and Sunman's Station on its banner. Returning from the South 









\ 



172 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 






after seven days' service, it was mustered out oil the ITtli of 
July, 1863. 

The 113th E.EGIMENT, furnished by Daviess, Martin, Washington, 
and Monroe counties, comprised 526 rank and lile under Col. Geo. 
W. Burge. Like the 112th, it was assigned to Gen. Hughes' 
Brigade, and defended North Vernon against the repeated attacks 
of John H. Morgan's forces. 

The 114th Regiment was wholly organized in Johnson county, 
under Col. Lambertson, and participated in the afiair of North 
Yernon. Returning on the 21st of July, 1863, with its brief but 
faithful record, it was disembodied at Indianapolis, 11 days after 
its organization. 

All these regiments were brought into existence to meet an 
emergency, and it must be confessed, that had not a sense of 
duty, military instinct and love of country animated these regi- 
ments, the rebel General, John H. Morton, and his 6,000 cavalry 
would doubtless have carried destruction as far as the very capital 
of their State. 

SIX- months' regiments. 

The 115th Regiment, organized at Indianapolis in answer to the 
call of the President in June, 1863, was mustered into service on 
the 17th of August, under Col. J. R. Mahon. Its service was short 
but brilliant, and received its discharge at Indianapolis the 10th 
of February, 1864. 

The 116th Regiment, mustered in on the 17th of August, 1863, 
moved to Detroit, Michigan, on the 30th, under Col. Charles Wise. 
During October it was ordered to Nicholasville, Kentucky, where it 
was assigned to Col. Mahon's Brigade, and with Gen. Willcox's 
entire command, joined in the forward movement to Cumberland 
Gap. After a term on severe duty it returned to Lafayette and 
there was disembodied on the 24th of February, 1864, whither Gov. 
Morton hastened, to share in the ceremonies of welcome. 

The 117th Regiment of Indianapolis was mustered into service 
on the 17th of September, 1863, under Col. Thomas J. Brady. 
After surmounting every obstacle opposed to it, it returned on the 
6th of February, 1864, and was treated to a public reception on 
the 9 th. 

The 118th Regiment, whose organization was completed on the 
3d of September, 1863, under Col. Geo. W. Jackson, joined the 
116th at Nicholasville, and sharing in its fortunes, returned to the 



■i" 



-5» 



FT 






• 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 173 

State capital on the 14th of February, 1864. Its casualties were 
comprised in a list of 15 killed and wounded. 

The 119th, or Seventh Cavalry, was recruited under Col. John 
P. C. Shanks, and its organization completed on the 1st of Octo- 
ber, 1863. The rank and tile numbered 1,213, divided into twelve 
companies. On the 7th of December its arrival at Louisville was 
reported, and on the 14th it entered on active service. After the 
well-fought battle of Guntown, Mississippi, on the 10th of June, 
1864, although it only brought defeat to our arms. General Grier- 
son addressed the Seventh Cavalry, saying: " Yoar General con- 
gratulates you upon your noble conduct during the late expedition. 
Fighting against overwhelming numbers, under adverse circum- 
stances, your prompt obedience to orders and unflinching courage 
commanding the admiration of all, made even defeat almost a vic- 
tory. For hours on foot you repulsed the charges of the enemies' in- 
fantry, and again in the saddle you met his cavalry and turned his 
assaults into confusion. Your heroic perseverance saved hundreds 
of your fellow-soldiers from capture. You have been faithful to 
your honorable reputation, and have fully justified the confidence, 
and merited the high esteem of your commander." 

Early in 1865, a number of these troops, returning from impris- 
onment in Southern bastiles, were lost on the steamer "Sultana." 
The survivors of the campaign continued in the service for a long 
period after the restoration of peace, and finally mustered out. 

The 120th Regiment. In September, 1863, Gov. Morton re- 
ceived authority from the War Department to organize eleven regi- 
ments within the State for three years' service. By April, 1864, 
this organization was complete, and b6ing transferred to the com- 
mand of Brigadier General Alvin P. Hovey, were formed by him 
into a division for service with the Army of Tennessee. Of those 
regiments, the 120th occupied a very prominent place, both on ac- 
count of its numbers, its perfect discipline and high reputation. 
It was mustered in at Columbus, and was in all the great battles 
of the latter years of the war. It won high praise from friend 
and foe, and retired with its bright roll of honor, after the success 
of Right and Justice was accomplished. 

The 121sT, OR Ninth Cavalry, was mustered in March 1, 1864, 
under Col. George W. Jackson, at Indianapolis, and though not 
numerically strong, was so well equipped and possessed such excel- 
lent material that on the 3rd of May it was ordered to the front. 
The record of the 121st, though extending over a brief period, is- 



• 



• * — -^ '• -^ » K. * 



\ 



174 



HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 



pregnant with deeds of war of a high character. On the 26th of 
April, 1865, these troops, while returning from their labors in the 
South, lost 55 men, owing to the explosion of the engines of the 
steamer " Sultana." The return of the 386 survivors, on the 5th of 
September, 1865, was hailed with joy, and proved how well and 
dearly the citizens of Indiana loved their soldiers. 

The 122d Kegiment ordered to be raised in the Third Congres- 
Bional District, owing to very few men being then at home, failed 
in organization, and the regimental number became a blank. 

The 123d Kegiment was furnished by the Fourth and Seventh 
Congressional Districts during the winter of lS63-'64, and mus- 
tered, March 9, 1864, at Greensburg, under Col. John C. McQuis- 
ton. The command left for the front the same day, and after win- 
ning rare distinction during the last years of the campaign, par- 
ticularly in its gallantry at Atlanta, and its daring movement to 
escape Forrest's 15,000 rebel horsemen near Franklin, this regi- 
ment was discharged on the 30th of August, 1865, at Indianapolis, 
being mustered out on the 25th, at Raleigh, North Carolina. 

The 121th Regiment completed its organization by assuming 
three companies raised for the 125th Regiment (which was intended 
to be cavalry), and was mustered in at Richmond, on the 10th of 
March, 1864, under Colonel James Burgess, and reported at Louis- 
ville within nine days. From Buzzard's Roost, on the 8th of May, 
1864, under General Scholield, Lost Mountain in June, and the 
capture of Decatur, on the 15th July, to the 21st March, 1865, in 
its grand advance under General Sherman from Atlanta to the 
coast, the regiment won many laurel wreaths, and after a brilliant 
campaign, was mustered out at Greensboro on the 31st August, 
1865. 

The 125th, oe Tenth Cavalry, was partially organized during 
November and December, 1862, at Yincennes, and in February, 
1863, completed its numbers and equipment at Columbus, under 
Colonel T. M. Pace. Early in May its arrival in Nashville was 
reported, and presently assigned active service. During September 
and October it ensaged rebel contino;ents under Forrest and Hood, 
and later in the battles of Nashville, Reynold's Hill and Sugar 
Creek, and in 1865 Flint River, Courtland and Mount Hope. The 
explosion of the Sultana occasioned the loss of thirty-five men with 
Captain Gaffney and Lieutenants Twigg and Reeves, and in a 
collision on the Nashville & Louisville railroad, May, 1864, lost 
five men killed and several wounded. After a term of service un- 



(J) ' — 



\ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 175 

surpassed for its utility and character it was disembodied at Yicks- 
burg, Mississippi, on the 31st August, 1865, and returning to 
Indianapolis early in September, was welcomed by the Executive 
and people. 

The 126th, or Eleventh Cavalry, was organized at Indian- 
apolis under Colonel Robert R. Stewart, on the 1st of March, 1864, 
and left in May for Tennessee. It took a very conspicuous part in 
the defeat of Hood near Nashville, joining in the pursuit as far as 
Gravelly Springs, Alabama, where it was dismounted and assigned 
infantry duty. In June, 1865, it was remounted at St. Louis, and 
moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, and thence to Leavenworth, where it 
was mustered out on the 19th September, 1865. 

The 127th, or Twelfth Cavalry, was partially organized at 
Kendallville, in December, 1863, and perfected at the same place, 
under Colonel Edward Anderson, in April, 1864:. Reaching the 
front in May, it went into active service, took a prominent part in 
the march through Alabama and Georgia, and after a service bril- 
liant in all its parts, retired from the field, after discharge, on the 
22d of November, 1865. 

The 128th Regiment was raised in the Tenth Congressional Dis- 
trict of the period, and mustered at Michigan City, under Colonel 
R. P. De Hart, on the 18th March, 1864. On the 25th it was 
reported at the front, and assigned at once to Schofleld's Division. 
The battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, 
Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Dalton, Brentwood Hills, Nashville. 
and the six days' skirmish of Columbia, were all participated in by 
the 128th, and it continued in service long after the termination 
of hostilities, holding the post of Raleigh, North Carolina. 

The 129th Regiment was, like the former, mustered in at 
Michigan City about the same time, under Colonel Charles Case, 
and moving to the front on the 7th April, 1864, shared in the for- 
tunes of the 128th until August 29, 1865, wheu it was disembodied 
at Charlotte, Notrh Carolina. 

The 130th Regiment, mustered at Kokomo on the 12th March, 
1864, under Colonel C. S. Parrish, left en route to the seat of war 
on the 16th, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, 
Twenty-third Army Corps, at Nashville, on the 19th. During the 
war it made for itself a brilliant history, and returned to Indian- 
apolis with its well-won honors on the 13th DecemDer, 1865. 

The 13 1st, or Thirteenth Cavalry, under Colonel G. M L. 
Johnson, was the last mounted regiment recruited within the State. 



^ 



176 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

It left Indianapolis on the 30th of April, 1864, in infantry trim, 
and gained its first honors on the Ist of October in its magnificent 
defense of Huntsville, Alabama, against the rebel division of 
General Buford, following a line of first-rate military conduct to 
the end. In January, 1865, the regiment was remounted, won 
some distinction in its modern form, and was mustered out at 
Yicksburg on the 18th of November, 1865. The morale and 
services of the regiment were such that its Colonel was promoted 
Brevet Brigadier-General in consideration of its merited honors. 

THE ONE HUNDRED-DATS VOLUNTEERS. 

Governor Morton, in obedience to the ofier made under his auspices 
to the general Government to raise volunteer regiments for one hun- 
dred days' service, issued his call on the 23rd of April, 1864. This 
movement suggested itself to the inventive genius of the war Gov- 
ernor as a most important step toward the subjection or annihila- 
tion of the military supporters of slavery within a year, and thus 
conclude a war, which, notwithstanding its holy claims to the name 
of Battles for Freedom, was becoming too protracted, and proving 
too detrimental to the best interests of the Union. In answer to 
the esteemed Governor's call eight regiments came forward, and 
formed The Grand Division of the Volunteers. 

The 132d Regiment, under Col. S. C. Yance, was furnished by 
Indianapolis, Shelbyville, Franklin and Danville, and leaving on 
the IStliof May, 1864, reached the front where it joined the forces 
acting in Tennessee. 

The 133d Regiment, raised at Richmond on the 17th of May, 
1864, under Col. R. N. Hudson, comprised nine companies, and 
followed the 132d. 

The 134th Regiment, comprising seven companies, was organ- 
ized at Indianapolis on the 25th of May, 1864, under Col. James 
Gavin, and proceeded immediately to the front. 

The 135th Regiment was raised from the volunteers of Bedford, 
Noblesville and Goshen, with seven companies from the First Con- 
gressional District, under Col. W. C. "Wilson, on the 25th of May, 
1864, and left at once en route to the South. 

The 136th Regiment comprised ten companies, raised in the 
fame districts as those contributing to the 135th, under CoL J. W. 
Foster, and left for Tennessee on the 24th of May, 1864. 

The 137th Regiment, under Col. E. J. Robinson, comprising 
volunteers from Kokomo, Zanesville, Medora, Sullivan, Rockville, 



r 






:v- 



^!! 



>^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



177 



and Owen and Lawrence counties, left en- route to Tennessee on the 
28tli of May, 1864, having completed organization the day previous. 

The 138th Regiment was formed of seven companies from the 
Ninth, with three from the Eleventh Congressional District (un- 
reformed), and mustered in at Indianapolis on the 27th of May, 
1864, under Col. J. H. Shannon. This fine regiment was re- 
ported at the front within a few days. 

The 139th Regiment, under Col. Geo. Humphrey, was raised from 
volunteers furnished by Kendallville, Lawrenceburg, Elizaville, 
Knightstown, Connersville, Newcastle, Portland, Yevay, New 
Albany, Metamora, Columbia City, New Haven and New Phila- 
delphia. It was constituted a regiment on the 8th of June, 1864, 
and appeared among the defenders in Tennessee during that month. 

All these regiments gained distinction, and won an enviable po- 
sition in the glorious history of the war and the no less glorious 
one of their own State in its relation thereto. 

THE president's CALL OF JULY, 1864. 

The 140th Regiment was organized with many others, in response 
to the call of the nation. Under its Colonel, Thomas J. Brady, it pro- 
ceeded to the South on the 15th of November, 1864. Havino- taken 
a most prominent part in all the desperate struggles, round Nash- 
ville and Murfreesboro in 1864, to Town Creek Bridge on the 20th 
of February, 1865, and completed a continuous round of severe duty 
to the end, arrived at Indianapolis for discharge on the 21st of July, 
where Governor Morton received it with marked honors. 

The 14 1st Regiment was only partially raised, and its few com- 
panies were incorporated with Col. Brady's command. 

The 142d Regiment was recruited at Fort Wayne, under Col. I. 
M. Comparet, and was mustered into service at Indianapolis on the 
jl of November, 1864. After a steady and exceedingly effective 
service, it returned to Indianapolis on the 16th of July, 1865. 

the president's call of DECEMBER, 1864, 

Was answered by Indiana in the most material terms. No less 
than fourteen serviceable regiments were placed at the disposal of 
the General Government. 

The 143d Regiment was mustered in, under Col J. T. Grill, on 
the 21st February, 1865, reported at Nashville on the 24th, and af- 
ter a brief but brilliant service returned to the State on the 21st 
October, 1865. 



V« 



"T 



<3\ 



A^ 



178 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

TJie 144tii Regiment, under Col. G. W. Riddle, was mustered in 
on the 6tli March, 1865, left on the 9th for Harper's Ferry, took an 
effective part in the close of the campaign and reported at Indian- 
apolis for discharge on the 9th August, 1865. 

The 145th Regiment, under Col. W, A. Adams, left Indianapolis 
on the 18th of February, 1865, and joining Gen. Steadman's division 
at Chattanooga on the 23d was sent on active service. Its duties 
were discharged with rare fidelity until mustered out in January, 
1866. 

The 11:6th Regiment, under Col. M. C. Welsh, left Indianapolis 
on the 11th of March en route to Harper's Ferr}'^, where it was i.s- 
signed to the army of the Shenandoah. The duties ot this regiment 
were severe and continuous, to the period of its muster out at Bal- 
timore on the 31st of August, 1865. 

The 147th Regiment, comprised among other volunteers from 
Benton, Lafayette and Henry counties, organized under Col. Milton 
Peden on the 13th of March, 1865, at Indianapolis. It shared a 
fortune similar to that of the 146th, and returned for discharge on 
the 0th of August, 1865. 

The 148th Regiment, under Col. N. R. Ruckle, left the State 
capital on the 28th of February, 1865, and reporting at Nashville, 
was sent on guard and garrison duty into the heart of Tennessee. 
Returning to Indianapolis on the 8th of September, it received a 
final discharge. 

The 149th Regiment was organized at Indianapolis by Col. W. 
H. Fairbanks, and left on 'the 3d of March, 1865, for Tennessee, 
where it had the honor of receiving the surrender of the rebel 
forces, and military stores of Generals Roddy and Polk. The reg- 
iment was welcomed home by Morton on the 29tli of September. 

The 150th Regiment, under Col. M. B. Taylor, mustered in on the 
9th of March, 1865, left for the South on the 13th and reported at 
Harper's Ferry on the 17th. This regiment did guard duty at 
Charleston, Winchester, Stevenson Station, Gordon's Springs, and 
after a service characterized by utility, returned on the 9th of 
August to Indianapolis for discharge. 

The 151sT Regiment, under Col. J. Healy, arrived at Nashville on 
the 9th of March, 1865. On the 14th a movement on Tullahoma 
was undertaken, and three months later returned to Nashville for 
garrison duty to the close of the war. It was mustered out on the 
2-2d of September, 1865. 

The 152d Regiment was organized at Indianapolis, under Col. 



\ 



^G 



lW 



M 

o 

M 

o 




^ 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 181 

W. W Griswold, and left for Harper's Ferry on the 18th of March, 
1865. It was attached to the provisional divisions of Shenandoah 
Army, and engaged until the 1st of September, when it was dis- 
charged at Indianapolis. 

The 153d Regiment was organized at Indianapolis on the 1st of 
March, 1865, under Col. O. H. P. Carey. It reported at Louis- 
ville, and by order of Gen. Palmer, was held on service in Ken- 
tucky, where it was occupied in the exciting but very dangerous 
pastime of fighting Southern guerrillas. Later it was posted at 
Louisville, until mustered out on the 4th of September, 1865. 

The 151th Regiment, organized under Col. Frank Wilcox, left 
Indianapolis under Major Simpson, for Parkersburg, W. Virginia, 
on the 28th of April, 1865. It was assigned to guard and garrison 
duty until its discharge on the 4th of August, 1865. 

The 155th Regiment, recruited throughout the State, left on the 
26th of April for Washington, and was afterward assigned to a 
provisional Brigade of the Ninth Army Corps at Alexandria. The 
companies of this regiment were scattered over the country, — at 
Dover, Centreville, Wilmington, and Salisbury, but becoming re- 
united on the 4th of August, 1865, it was mustered out at Dover, 
Delaware, 

The 156th Battalion, under Lieut.-Colonel Charles M. Smith, 
left en route to the Shenandoah Valley on the 27th of April, 1865, 
where it continued doing guard duty to the period of its muster 
out the 4th of August, 1865, at Winchester, Virginia. 

On the return of these regiments to Indianapolis, Gov. Morton 
and the people received them with all that characteristic cordiality 
and enthusiasm peculiarly their own. 

independent cavalry company of INDIANA VOLUNTEERS. 

The people of Crawford county, animated with that inspiriting 
patriotism which the war drew forth, organized this mounted com- 
pany on the 25th of July, 1863, and placed it at the disposal of 
the Government, and it was mustered into service by order of the 
War Secretary, on the 13th of August, 1863, under Captain L. 
Lamb. To the close of the year it engaged in the laudable pursuit 
of arresting deserters and enforcing the draft; however, on the 
18th of January, 1864, it was reconstituted and incorporated with 
the Thirteenth Cavalry, with which it continued to serve until the 
treason of Americans against America was conquered. 



-4- 
< < 



.> 



182 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

OUR COLORED TROOPS. 

The 2Sth Regiment of Colored Troops was recruited throuo-h- 
out the State of Indiana, and under Lieut.-Colonel Charles S. 
Russell, left Indianapolis for the fronton the 24th of April, 1864. 
The regiment acted very well in its first engagement with the 
rebels at White House, Virginia, and again with Gen. Sheridan's 
Cavalry, in the swamps of the Chickahominy. In the battle of 
the "Crater," it lost half its roster; but their place was soon filled 
by other colored recruits from the State, and Russell promoted to 
the Colonelcy, and afterward to Brevet Brigadier-General, when he 
was succeeded in the command by Major Thomas II. Logan. 
During the few months of its active service it accumulated quite a 
history, and was ultimately discharged, on the 8th of January, 
1866, at Indianapolis. 

batteries of light artillery. 

First Battery, organized at Evansville, under Captain Martin 
Klauss, and mustered in on the 16th of August, 1861, joined Gen. 
Fremont's army immediately, and entering readily upon its salu- 
tary course, aided in the capture of 950 rebels and their position 
at Blackwater creek. On March the 6th, 1862 at Elkhorn Tavern, 
and on the 8th at Pea Ridge, the battery performed good service. 
Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Jackson, the Teche country, Sabine 
Cross Roads, Grand Encore, all tell of its efficacy. In 1864 it was 
subjected to reorganization, when Lawrence Jacoby was raised to 
the Captiancy, vice Klauss resigned. After a long term of useful 
service, it was mustered out at Indianapolis on the 18th of August, 
1865. 

Second Battery was organized, under Captain D, G. Rabb, at 
Indianapolis on the 9th of August, 1861, and one month later pro- 
ceeded to the front. It participated in the campaign against Col. 
Cofiee's irregular troops and the rebellious Indians of the Cherokee 
nation. From Lone Jack, Missouri, to Jenkin's Ferry and Fort 
Smith it won signal honors until its reorganization in 1864, and 
even after, to June, 1865, it maintained a very fair reputation. 

The Third Battery, under Capt. W. W. Frybarger, was organ- 
ized and mustered in at Connersville on the 24th of August, 1861, 
and proceeded immediately to join Fremont's Army of the Mis- 
souri. Moon's Mill, Kirksville, Meridian, Fort de Russy, Alex- 
andria, Round Lake, Tupelo, Clinton and Tallahatchie are names 



V 









HISTORY OF INDIANA. 183 

whicli may be engraven on its gnns. It participated in the affairs 
before Nashville on the 15th and 16th of December, 1864, when 
General Hood's Army was put to route, and at Fort Blakely, out- 
side Mobile, after which it returned home to report for discharge, 
August 21, 1865. 

The Fourth Battery, recruited in La Porte, Porter and Lake 
counties, reported at the front early in October, 1861, and at once 
assumed a prominent place in the army of Gen. Buell. Again 
under Rosencrans and McCook and under General Sheridan at 
Stone Kiver, the services of this battery were much praised, and it 
retained its well-earned reputation to the very day of its muster out 

the 1st of August, 1865. Its first organization was completed 

under Capt. A. K. Bush, and reorganized in Oct., 1864, under Capt 
B. F. Johnson. 

The Fifth Battery was furnished by La Porte, Allen, Whitley 
and Noble counties, organized under Capt. Peter Simonson, and mus- 
tered into service on the 22d of November, 1861. It comprised 
four six pounders, two being rifled cannon, and two twelve-pounder 
Howitzers with a force of 158 men. Reporting at Camp Gil- 
bert, Louisville, on the 29th, it was shortly after assigned to the 
division of Gen. Mitchell, at Bacon Creek. During its term, it 
served in twenty battles and numerous petty actions, losing its Cap- 
tain at Pine Mountain. The total loss accruing to the battery was 
84 men and officers and four guns It was mustered out on the 
20th of July, 1864. 

The Sixth Battery was recruited at Evansville, under Captain 
Frederick Behr, and left, on the 2d of Oct., 1861, for the front, 
reporting at Henderson, Kentucky, a few days after. Early in 
1862 it joined Gen. Sherman's army at Paducah, and participated 
in the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April. Its history grew in 
brilliancy until the era of peace insured a cessation of its great 

labors. 

The Seventh Battery comprised volunteers from Terre Haute, 
Arcadia, Evansville, Salem, Lawrenceburg, Columbus, Vin- 
cennes and Indianapolis, under Samuel J. Harris as its first 
Captain, who was succeeded by G. R. Shallow and O. H. Mor- 
gan after its reorganization. From the siege of Corinth to the 
capture of Atlanta it performed vast services, and returned to 
Indianapolis on the 11th of July, 1865, to be received by the peo- 
ple and hear its history from the lips of the veteran patriot and 
Governor of the State. 

J£^ ■ ^« s v 



•V 



184 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



The Eighth Battery, under Captain G. T. Cochran, arrived at 
the front on the 26th of February, 1862, and subsequently entered 
upon its real duties at the siege of Corinth. It served with dis- 
tinction throughout, and concluded a well-made campaign under 
Will Stokes, who was appointed Captain of the companies with 
which it was consolidated in March, 1865. 

The ISTiNTH Battery. The organization of this battery was 
perfected at Indianapolis, on the 1st of January, 1862, under Capt. 
N. S. Thompson. Moving to the front it participated in the affairs 
of Shiloh, Corinth, Queen's Hill, Meridian, Fort Dick Taylor, Fort 
de Russy, Henderson's Hill, Pleasant Hill, Cotile Landing, Bayou 
Rapids, Man sura, Chicot, and many others, winning a name in 
each engagement. The explosion of the steamer Eclipse at Johnson- 
ville, above Paducah, on Jan. 27, 1865, resulted in the destruction of 
58 men, leaving only ten to represent the battery. The survivors 
reached Indianapolis on the 6th of March, and were mustered out. 

The Tenth Battery was recruited at Lafayette, and mustered in 
under Capt. Jerome B, Cox, in January, 1861. Having passed 
through the Kentucky campaign against Gen. Bragg, it partici- 
pated in many of the great engagements, and finally returned to 
report for discharge on the 6th of July, 1864, having, in the mean- 
time, won a very fair fame. 

The Eleventh Battery was organized at Lafayette, and mus- 
tered in at Indianapolis under Capt. Arnold Sutermeister, on the 
I7th of December, 1861. On most of the principal battle-fields, 
from Shiloh, in 1862, to the capture of Atlanta, it maintained a high 
reputation for military excellence, and after consolidation with the 
Eighteenth, mustered out on the Tth of June, 1865. 

The Twelfth Battery was recruited at Jeffersonville and sub- 
sequently mustered in at Indianapolis. On the 6th of March, 1862, 
it reached Nashville, having been previously assigned to Buell's 
Army, In April its Captain, G. W. Sterling, resigned, and the 
position devolved on Capt. James E. White, who, in turn, was suc- 
ceeded by James A. Dunwoody. The record of the battery holds 
a first place in the history of the period, and enabled both men and 
officers to look back with pride upon the battle-fields of the land. 
It was ordered home in June, 1865, and on reaching Indianapolis, 
on the 1st of July, was mustered out on the Yth of that month. 

The Thirteenth Battery was organized under Captain Sewell 
Coulson, during the winter of 1861, at Indianapolis, and proceeded 
to the front in February, 1862. During the subsequent months it 



-t 



^^ 



HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 



185 



was occupied Id the pursuit of John H. Morgan's raiders, and 
aided eflfectively in driving them from Kentucky. This artillery 
company returned from the South on the 4th of July, 1865, and 
were discharged the day following. 

The Fourteenth Battery, recruited in Wabash, Miami, Lafay- 
ette, and Huntington counties, under Captain M. H. Kidd, and 
Lieutenant J. W. H. McGuire, left Indianapolis on the 11th of 
April, 1862, and within a few months one portion of it was cap- 
tured at Lexington by Gen. Forrest's great cavalry command. The 
main battery lost two guns and two men at Guntown, on the Mis- 
sissippi, but proved more successful at Nashville and Mobile. It 
arrived home on the 29th of August, 1865, received a public wel- 
come, and its final discharge. 

The Fifteenth Battery, under Captain I. C. H. Von Sehlin, 
was retained on duty from the date of its organization, at Indian- 
apolis, until the 5th of July, 1862, when it was moved to Harper's 
Ferry. Two months later the gallant defense of Maryland Heights 
was set at naught by the rebel Stonewall Jackson, and the entire 
garrison surrendered. Being paroled, it was reorganized at Indian- 
apolis, and appeared again in the field in March, 1863, where it 
won a splendid renown on every well-fought field to the close of 
the war. It was mustered out on the 24th of June, 1865. 

The Sixteenth Battery was organized at Lafayette, under 
Capt. Charles A. Nay lor, and on the Ist of June, 1862, left for 
"Washington. Moving to the front with Gen. Pope's command, it 
participated m the battle of Slaughter Mountain, on the 9th of 
August, and South Mountain, and Antietam, under Gen. McClel- 
lan. This battery was engaged in a large number of general en- 
gagements and flying column affairs, won a very favoi-able record, 
and returned on the 5th of July, 1865. 

The Seventeenth Battery, under Capt. Milton L. Miner, was 
mustered in at Indianapolis, on the 20th of May, 1862, left for the 
front on the 5th of July, and subsequently engaged in the Gettys- 
burg expedition, was present at Harper's Ferry, July 6, 1863, and 
at Opequan on the 19th of September. Fisher's Hill, New Mar- 
ket, and Cedar Creek brought it additional honors, and won from 
Gen. Sheridan a tribute of praise for its service on these battle 
grounds. Ordered from Winchester to Indianapolis it was mus- 
tered out there on the 3d of July, 1865. 

The Eighteenth Battery, under Capt. Eli Lilly, left for the 






^ 



^ 



<2_ 



186 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



front in August, 1862, but did not take a leading part in the cam- 
paign until 1863, when, under Gen. Rosencrans, it appeared prom- 
inent at Hoover's Gap. From this period to the affairs of West 
Point and Macon, it performed first-class service, and returned to 
its State on the 25th of June, 1865. 

The Nineteenth Battery was mustered into service at Indian- 
apolis, on the 5th of August, 1862, under Capt. S. J. Harris, and 
proceeded immediately afterward to the front, where it participated 
in the campaign against Gen. Bragg. It was present at every post 
of danger to the end of the war, when, after the surrender of John- 
son's army, it returned to Indianapolis. Reaching that city on 
the 6tli of June, 1865, it was treated to a public reception and 
received the congratulations of Gov. Morton. Four days later it 
was discharged. 

The Twentieth Battery, organized under Capt. Frank A. Rose, 
left the State capital on the 17th of December, 1862, for the front, 
and reported immediately at Henderson, Kentucky. Subsequently 
Captain Rose resigned, and, in 1863, under Capt. Osborn, turned 
over its guns to the 11th Indiana Battery, and was assigned to the 
charge of siege guns at Nashville. Gov. Morton had the battery 
supplied with new field pieces, and by the 5th of October, 1863, it 
was again in the field, where it won many honors under Slierman, 
and continued to exercise a great influence until its return on the 
23d of June, 1865. 

The Twenty-first Battery recruited at Indianapolis, under the 
direction of Captain W. W. Andrew, left on the 9th of September, 
1862, for Covington, Kentucky, to aid in its defense against the 
advancing forces of Gen. Kirby Smith. It was engaged in numerous 
military afiairs and may be said to acquire many honors, although 
its record is stained with the names of seven deserters. The battery 
was discharged on the 21st of June, 1865. 

The Twenty-second Battery was mustered in at Indianapolis 
on the 15th of December, 1862, under Capt. B. F. Denning, and 
moved at once to the front. It took a very conspicuous part in the 
pursuit of Morgan's Cavalry, and in many other affairs. It threw 
the first shot into Atlanta, and lost its Captain, who was killed in 
the skirmish line, on the 1st of July. While the list of casualties 
numbers only 35, that of desertions numbers 37. This battery was 
received with public honors on its return, the 25th of June, 1865, 
and mustered out on the 7th of the same month. 



^ 



\ 



|0 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 187 

The Twenty-third Battery, recruited in October 1862, and 
mustered in on the 8th of November, under Capt. I. II. Myers, pro- 
ceeded south, after having rendered very efficient services at home 
in guarding the camps of rebel prisoners. In Julj', 1865, the battery 
took an active part, under General Boyle's command, in routing 
and capturing the raiders at Brandenburgh, and subsequently to 
the close of the war performed very brilliant exploits, reaching 
Indianapolis in June, 1865. It was discharged on the 27th of that 
month. 

The Twenty-fourth Battery, under Capt. I. A. Simms, was 
enrolled for service on the 29th of November, 1862; remained 
at Indianapolis on duty until the 13th of March, 1863, when 
it left for the field. From its participation in the Cumberland 
River campaign, to its last engagement at Columbia, Tennessee, it 
aided materially in bringing victory to the Union ranks and made 
for itself a widespread fame. Arriving at Indianapolis on the 2Sth 
of July, it was publicly received, and in five days later disembodied. 

The Twenty-fifth Battery was recruited in September and Oc- 
tober, 1864, and mustered into service for one year, under Capt. 
Frederick C. Sturm. December 13th, it reported at Nashville, and 
took a prominent part in the defeat of Gen. Hood's army. Its 
duties until July, 1865, were continuous, when it returned to 
report for final discharge. 

The Twenty-sixth Battery, or "Wilder's Battery," was re- 
cruited under Capt. I. T. Wilder, of Greensburg, in May, 1861; but 
was not mustered in as an artillery company. Incorporating itself 
with a regiment then forming at Indianapolis it was mustered as 
company "A," of the 17th Infantry, with Wilder' as Lieutenant- 
Colonel of the regiment. Subsequently, at Elk Water, Virginia, 
it was converted into the "First Independent Battery," and became 
known as " Rlgby's Battery." The record of this battery is as 
brilliant as any won during the war. On every field it has won a 
distinct reputation; it was well worthy the enthusiastic reception 
given to it on its return to Indianapolis on the 11th and 12th of 
July, 1865. During its term of service it was subject to many 
transmutations; but in every phase of its brief history, areputation 
for gallantry and patriotism was maintained which now forms a 
living testimonial to its services to the public. 

The total number of battles in the " War of the Rebellion " in 
which the patriotic citizens of the great and noble State of Indiana 
were more or less engaged, was as follows: 






::4! 



i. 



188 



HISTOKT OF INDIANA. 



Locality. No. of Battles. 

Virginia 90 

Tennessee 51 

Georgia. , 41 

Mississippi 24 

Arkaasas 19 

Kentucky 16 

Louisana 15 

Missouri 9 



Locality. No of Battles. 

Maryland 7 

Texas 3 

Soutti Carolina 2 

Indian Territory 2 

Pennsylvania 1 

Ohio 1 

Indiana 1 



North Carolina. 



8 Total 



308 



The regiments sent forth to the defense of the Republic in the 
hour of its greatest peril, when a host of her own sons, blinded by 
some unholy infatuation, leaped to arras that they might trample 
upon the liberty-giving principles of the nation, have been passed 
in very brief review. The authorities chosen for the dates, names, 
and figures are the records of the State, and the main subject is 
based upon the actions of those 267,000 gallant men of Indiana 
who rushed to arms in defense of all for which their fathers bled, 
leaving their wives and children and homes in the guardianship of 
a truly paternal Government. 

The relation of Indiana to the Republic was then established; 
for when the population of the State, at the time her sons went 
forth to participate in war for the maintenance of the Union, is 
brought into comparison with all other States and countries, it will 
be apparent that the sacrifices made by Indiana from 1861-'65 
equal, if not actually exceed, the noblest of those recorded in the 
history of ancient or modern times. 

Unprepared for the terrible inundation of modern wickedness, 
which threatened to deluge the country in a sea of blood and rob, 
a people of their richest, their most prized inheritance, the State 
rose above all precedent, and under the benign influence of patriot- 
ism, guided by the well-directed zeal of a wise Governor and 
Government, sent into the field an army that in numbers was 
gigantic, and in moral and physical excellence never equaled 

It is laid down in the official reports, furnished to the War De- 
partment, that over 200,000 troops were specially organized to aid 
in crushing the legions of the slave-holder; that no less than 50,000 
militia were armed to defend the State, and that the large, but abso- 
lutely necessary number of commissions issued was 17,114. All 
this proves the scientific skill and military economy exercised by 
the Governor, and brought to the aid of the people in a most terri- 
ble emergency; for he, with some prophetic sense of the gravity of 
the situation, saw that unless the greatest powers of the Union 
were put forth to crush the least justifiable and most pernicious 



^ 






-» V 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 189 

of all rebellions holding a place in the record of nations, the best 
blood of the country would flow in a vain attempt to avert a catas- 
trophe which, if prolonged for many years, would result in at least 
the moral and commercial ruin of the country. 

The part which Indiana took in the war against the Rebellion is 
one of which the citizens of the State may well be proud. In the 
number of troops furnished, and in the amount of voluntary con- 
tributions rendered, Indiana, in proportion and wealth, stands 
equal to any of her sister States. " It is also a subject of gratitude 
and thankfulness," said Gov. Morton, in his message to the Legis- 
lature, " that, while the number of troops furnished by Indiana 
alone in this great contest would have done credit to a first-class 
nation, measured by the standard of previous wars, not a single 
battery or battalion from this State has brought reproach upon the 
national flag, and no disaster of the war can be traced to any want 
of fidelity, courage or efiiciency on the part of any Indiana officer. 
The endurance, heroism, intelligence and skill of the officers and 
soldiers sent forth by Indiana to do battle for the Union, have shed 
a luster on our beloved State, of which any people might justly be 
proud. Without claiming superiority over our loyal sister States, 
it is but justice to the brave men who have represented us on 
almost every battle-field of the war, to say that their deeds have 
placed Indiana in the front rank of those heroic States which 
rushed to the rescue of the imperiled Government of the nation. 
The total number of troops furnished by the State for all terms of 
service exceeds 200,000 men, much the greater portion of them 
being for three years; and in addition thereto not less than 50,000 
State militia have from time to time been called into active service 
to repel rebel raids and defend our southern border from inva- 



sion." 



AFTER THE WAR. 



In 1867 the Legislature comprised 91 Republicans and 59 Dem- 
ocrats. Soon after the commencement of the session. Gov. Morton 
resigned his office in consequence of having been elected to the U. 
S. Senate, and Lieut.-Gov. Conrad Baker assumed the Executive 
chair during the remainder of Morton's term. This Legislature, 
by a very decisive vote, ratified the 14th amendment to the Federal 
Constitution, constituting all persons born in the country or sub- 
ject to its jurisdiction, citizens of the United States and of the 
State wherein they reside, without regard to race or color; reduc- 



►rr 



-V 



(3 »_ .^ ? ^ 






190 flISTOKY OF INDIANA. 

ing the Congressional representation in any State in which there 
should be a restriction of the exercise of the elective franchise on 
account of race or colpr; disfranchising persons therein named 
wlio shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the 
United States; and declaring that the validity of the public debt 
of the United States authorized by law, shall not be questioned. 

This Legislature also passed an act providing for the registry of 
votes, the punishment of fraudulent practices at elections, and for 
the apportionment and compensation of a Board of Registration; 
this Board to consist, in each township, of two freeholders appointed 
by the County Commissioners, together with the trustee of such 
township; in cities the freeholders are to be appointed in each 
ward by the city council. The measures of this law are very strict, 
and are faithfully executed. No cries of fraud in elections are 
heard in connection with Indiana. 

This Legislature also divided the State into eleven Congressional 
Districts and apportioned their representation; enacted a law for 
the protection and indemnity of all officers and soldiers of the 
United States and soldiers of the Indiana Legion, for acts done in 
the military service of the United States, and in the military ser- 
vice of the State, and in enforcing the laws and preserving the 
peace of the country; made definite appropriations to the several 
benevolent institutions of the State, and adopted several measures 
for the encouragement of education, etc. 

In 1868, Indiana was the first in the field of national politics, 
both the principal parties holding State conventions early in the 
year. The Democrats nominated T. A. Hendricks for Governor, 
and denounced in their platform the reconstruction policy of the 
Republicans; recommended that United States treasury notes be 
substituted for national bank currency; denied that the General 
Government had a right to interfere with the question of suflfrage 
in any of the States, and opposed negro suffrage, etc.; while the 
Republicans nominated Conrad Baker for Governor, defended its 
reconstruction policy, opposed a further contraction of the currency, 
etc. The campaign was an exciting one, and Mr. Baker was 
elected Governor by a majority of only 96L In the Presidential 
election that soon followed the State gave Grant 9,572 more than 
Seymour, 

During 1868 Indiana presented claims to the Government for 
about three and a half millions dollars for expenses incurred in the 
war, and $1,958,917.94 was allowed. Also, this year, a legislative 



.' 



-v 



^.J^': 



hL 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



19;^ 



commission reported that $413,599.48 were allowed to parties suf- 
fering loss by the Morgan raid. 

This year Governor Baker obtained a site for the House of 
Refuge. (See a subsequent page.) The Soldiers' and Seamen's 
Home, near Knightstown, originally established by private enter- 
prise and benevolence, and adopted by the Legislature of the 
previous year, was in a good condition. Up to that date the insti- 
tution had afforded relief and temporary subsistence to 400 men 
who had been disabled in the war. A substantial brick building 
had been built for the home, while the old buildings were used for 
an orphans' department, in which were gathered 86 children of 
deceased soldiers. 

DIYORCE LAWS. 

By some mistake or liberal design, the early statute laws of 
Indiana on the subject of divorce were rather more loose than those 
of most other States in this Union; and this subject had been a 
matter of so much jest among the public, that in 1870 the Governor 
recommended to the Legislature a reform in this direction, which 
was pretty effectually carried out. Since that time divorces can 
be granted only for the following causes: 1. Adultery. 2. Impo- 
tency existing at the time of marriage. 3. Abandonment for two 
years. 4. Cruel and inhuman treatment of one party by the other. 
5. Habitual drunkenness of either party, or the failure of the hus- 
band to make reasonable provision for the family. 6 The failure 
of the husband to make reasonable provision for the family for a 
period of two years. 7. The conviction of either party of an infamous 
crime. 



l£> 






FiisrAisrciAL. 

Were it not for political government the pioneers would have got 
along without money much longer than they did. The pressure of 
governmental needs was somewhat in advance of the monetary 
income of the first settlers, and the little taxation required to carry 
on the government seemed great and even oppressive, especially at 
certain periods. 

In November, 1821, Gov. Jennings convened the Legislature in 
extra session to provide for the payment of interest on the State 
debt and a part of the principal, amounting to $20,000. It was 
thought that a sufficient amount would be realized in the notes of 
the State bank and its branches, although they were considerably 
depreciated. Said the Governor: "It will be oppressive if the 
State^ after the paper of this institution (State bank) was author- 
ized to be circulated in revenue, should be prevented by any assign' 
ment of the evidences of existing debt, from discharging at least 
so much of that debt with the paper of the bank as will absorb the 
collections of the present year; especially when their notes, after 
being made receivable by the agents of the State, became greatly 
depreciated by great mismanagement on the part of the bank 
itself. It ought not to be expected that a public loss to the State 
should be avoided by resorting to any measures which would not 
comport with correct views of public justice; nor should it be 
anticipated that the treasury of the United States would ultimately 
adopt measures to secure an uncertain debt which would inter- 
fere with arrangements calculated to adjust the demand against the 
State without producing any additional embarrassment," 

The state of the public debt was indeed embarrassing, as the 

bonds which had been executed in its behalf had been assigned. 

The exciting cause of this proceeding consisted in the machinations 

of unprincipled speculators. Whatever disposition the principal 

bank may have made of the funds deposited by the United States, 

the connection of interest between the steam-mill company and the 

bank, and the extraordinary accommodations, as well as their amount, 

effected by arrangements of the steam-mill agency and some of 

the officers of the bank, were among the principal causes which 

(194) 



^ 



HISTOEY OF INDIANA. ^95 

had prostrated the paper circulating medium of the State, so far as it 
was dependent on the State bank and its branches. An abnormal 
state of affairs like this very naturally produced a blind disburse- 
ment of the fund to some extent, and this disbursement would be 
called by almost every one an " unwise administration." 

During the first 16 years of this century, the belligerent condi- 
tion of Europe called for agricultural supplies from America, and 
the consequent high price of grain justified even the remote pio- 
neers of Indiana in undertaking the tedious transportation of the 
products of the soil which the times forced upon them. The large 
disbursements made by the general Government among the peo- 
ple naturally engendered a rage for speculation; numerous banks 
with fictitious capital were established; immense issues of paper 
were made; and the circulating medium of the country was in- 
creased fourfold in the course of two or three yearSo This infla- 
tion produced the consequences which always follow such a scheme, 
namely, unfounded visions of wealth and splendor and the wild 
investments which result in ruin to the many and wealth to the 
few. The year 1821 was consequently one of great financial panic, 
and was the first experienced by the early settlers of the West. 

In 1822 the new Governor, William Hendricks, took a hopeful 
view of the situation, referring particularly to the " agricultural 
and social happiness of the State." The crops were abundant this 
year, immigration was setting in heavily and everything seemed to 
have an upward look. But the customs of the white race still com- 
pelling them to patronize European industries, combined with the 
remoteness of the surplus produce of Indiana from European mar- 
kets, constituted a serious drawback to the accumulation of wealth. 
Such a state of things naturally changed the habits of the people 
to some extent, at least for a short time, assimilating them to those 
of more primitive tribes. This change of custom, however, was 
not severe and protracted enough to change the intelligent and 
social nature of the people, and they arose to their normal height 
on the very first opportunity. 

In 1822-'3, before speculation started up again, the surplus 
money was invested mainly in domestic manufactories instead of 
other and wilder commercial enterprises. Home manufactories 
were what the people needed to make them more independent. 
They not only gave employment to thousands whose services were 
before that valueless, but also created a market for a great portion 






\ 



>^ 



196 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



of the surplus produce of the farmers. A part of the surphis cap- 
ital, however, was also sunk in internal improvements, some of 
which were unsuccessful for a time, but eventually proved remu- 
nerative. 

Nuah Noble occupied the Executive chair of the State from 1831 
to 1837, commencing his duties amid peculiar embarrassments. 
The crops of 1832 were short, Asiatic cholera came sweeping along 
the Ohio and into the interior of the State, and the Black Hawk war 
raged in the Northwest, — all these at once, and yet the work of 
internal improvements was actually begun . 

STATE BANK. 

The State bank of Indiana was established by law January 28, 
1834, The act of the Legislature, by its own terms, ceased to be a 
law, January 1, 1857. At the time of its organization in 1834, its 
outstanding circulation was $4,208,725, with a debt due to the insti- 
tution, principally from citizens of the State, of $6,095,368. During 
the years 1857-'58 the bank redeemed nearly its entire circulation, 
providing for the redemption of all outstanding obligations; at this 
time it had collected from most of its debtors the money which they 
owed. The amounts of the State's interest in the stock of the bank 
was $1,390,000, and the money thus invested was procured by the 
issue of five per cent bonds, the last of which was payable July 1, 1866. 
The nominal profits of the bank were $2,780,604.36. By the law 
creating the sinking fund, that fund was appropriated, first, to pay 
the principal and interest on the bonds; secondly, the expenses of 
the Commissioners; and lastly the cause of common-school educa- 
tion. 

The stock in all the branches authorized was subscribed by indi- 
viduals, and the installment paid as required by the charter. The 
loan authorized for the payment on the stock allotted to the State, 
amounting to $500,000, was obtained at a premium of 1.05 per 
per cent, on five per cent, stock, making the sum of over $5,000 on 
the amount borrowed. In 1836 we find that the State bank was 
doing good service; agricultural products were abundant, and the 
market was good; consequently the people were in the full enjoy- 
ment of all the blessings of a free government. 

By the year 1843 the State was experiencing the disasters and 
embarassment consequent upon a system of over-banking, and its 
natural progeny, over-trading and deceptive speculation. Such a 
state of tilings tends to relax the hand of industry by creating false 






V 



\ 



l^ 



HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 197 

notions of wealth, and tempt to sudden acquisitions by means as delu- 
sive in their results as they are contrary to a primary law of nature. 
The people began more than ever to see the necessity of falling 
back upon that branch of industry for which Indiana, especially 
at that time, was particularly fitted, namely, agriculture, as the 
true and lasting source of substantial wealth. 

Gov. Whitcomb, 1843-'49, succeeded well in maintaining the 
credit of the State. Measures of compromise between the State 
and its creditors were adopted by which, ultimately, the public 
works, although incomplete, were given in payment for the claims 
against the Government. 

At the close of his term, Gov. Whitcomb was elected to the 
Senate of the United States, and from December, 1848, to Decem- 
ber, 1849, Lieut-Gov. Paris C. Dunning was acting Governor. 

In 1851 a general banking law was adopted which gave a new 
impetus to the commerce of the State, and opened the way for a 
broader volume of general trade; but this law was the source of 
many abuses; currency was expanded, a delusive idea of wealth 
again prevailed, and as a consequence, a great deal of damaging 
speculation was indulged in. 

In 1857 the charter of the State bank expired, and the large 
gains to the State in that institution were directed to the promotion 
of common-school education. 

WEALTH AND PROGRESS. 

During the war of the Kebellion the financial condition of the 
people was of course like that of the other Northern States generally. 
1870 found the State in a very prosperous condition. October 31 
of this year, the date of the fiscal report, there was a surplus of 
$373,249 in the treasury. The receipts of the year amounted to 
$3,605,639, and the disbursements to $2,943,600, leaving a balance 
of $1,035,288. The total debt of the State in November, 1871, was 
$3,937,821. 

At the present time the principal articles of export from the State 
are flour and pork. Nearly all the wheat raised within the State 
is manufactured into flour within its limits, especially in the north- 
ern part. The pork business is the leading one in the southern 
part of the State. 

When we take into consideration the vast extent of railroad lines 

'in this State, in connection with the agricultural and mineral 

resources, both developed and undeveloped, as already noted, we can 



^ g I 1 to 

♦* ,^ ~ — I » 



yf- 



198 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

see what a substantial foundation exists for the future welfare of 
this great commonwealth. Almost every portion of the State is 
coming up equally. The disposition to monopolize does not exist 
to a greater degree than is desirable or necessary for healthy compe- 
tition. Speculators in flour, pork and other commodities appeared 
during the war, but generally came to ruin at their own game. 
The agricultural community here is an independent one, under- 
standing its rights, and " knowing them will maintain them." 

Indiana is more a manufacturing State, also, than many imagine. 
It probably has the greatest wagon and carriage manufactory in the 
world. In 1875 the total number of manufacturing establishments 
in this State was 16,812; number of steam engines, SjGSi, with a 
total horse-power of 114,961; the total horse-power of water wheels, 
38,614; number of hands employed in the manufactories, 86,402; 
capital employed, is $117,462,161; wages paid, $35,461,987; cost of 
material, $104,321,632; value of products, $301,304,271. These 
figures are on an average about twice what they were only five years 
previously, at which time they were about double what they were 
ten years before that. In manufacturing enterprise, it is said that 
Indiana, in proportion to her population, is considerably in advance 
of Illinois and Michigan. 

In 1870 the assessed valuation of the real estate in Indiana was 
$460,120,974; of personal estate, $203,334,070; true valuation of 
both, $1,268,180,643. According to the evidences of increase at 
that time, the value of taxable property in this State must be double 
the foregoing figures. This is utterly astonishing, especially when 
ws consider what a large matter it is to double the elements of a 
large and wealthy State, compared with its increase in infancy. 

The taxation for State purposes in 1870 amounted to $2,943,078; 
for county purposes, $4,654,476; and for municipal purposes, 
$3,193,577. The total county debt of Indiana in 1870 was $1,127,- 
269, and the total debt of towns, cities, etc., was $2,523,934. 

In the compilation of this statistical matter we have before us the 
statistics of every element of progress in Indiana, in the U. S. 
Census Reports; but as it would be really improper for us further 
to burden these pages with tables or columns of large numbers, we 
will conclude by remarking that if any one wishes further details in 
these matters, he can readily find them in the Census Reports of 
the Government in any city or village in the country. Besides, 
almost any one can obtain, free of charge, from his representative in 



^^ 



n= 



(5| — _ p 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 199 

Congress, all these and other public documents in which he may be 
interested. 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 

This subject began to be agitated as early as 1818, during the 
administration of Governor Jennings, who, as well as all the 
Governors succeeding him to 1843, made it a special point in their 
messages to the Legislature to urge the adoption of measures for 
the construction of highways and canals and the improvement of 
the navigation of rivers. Gov. Hendricks in 1822 specified as the 
most important improvement the navigation of the Falls of the 
Ohio, the "Wabash and White rivers, and other streams, and the 
construction of the National and other roads through the State. 

In 1826 Governor Eay considered the construction of roads and 
canals as a necessity to place the State on an equal financial footing 
with the older States East, and in 1829 he added: "This subject 
can never grow irksome, since it must be the source of the bless- 
ings of civilized life. To secure its benefits is a duty enjoined upon 
the Legislature by the obligations of the social compact." 

In 1830 the people became much excited over the project of con- 
necting the streams of the country by " The National New York 
& Mississippi railroad." The National road and the Michigan 
and Ohio turnpike were enterprises in which the people and Legis- 
lature of Indiana were interested. The latter had already been the 
cause of much bitter controversy, and its location was then the 
subject of contention. 

In 1832 the work of internal improvements fairly commenced, 
despite the partial failure of the crops, the Black Hawk war and 
the Asiatic cholera. Several war parties invaded the Western 
settlements, exciting great alarm and some snfifering. This year 
the canal commissioners completed the task assigned them and had 
negotiated the canal bonds in New York city, to the amount of 
$100,000, at a premium of 13J- per cent., on terms honorable to the 
State and advantageous to the work. Before the close of tnis year 
$54,000 were spent for the improv^ement of the Michigan road, and 
$52,000 were realized from the sale of lands appropriated for its 
construction. In 1832, 32 miles of the Wabash and Erie canal was 
placed under contract and work commenced. A communication 
was addressed to the Governor of Ohio, requesting him to call the 
attention of the Legislature of that State to the subject of the 
extension of the canal from the Indiana line through Ohio to the 



\o ■ " *=> /• 

— ~ fl 

-^^ HISTORY OF INDIANA, 

Lake. In compliance with this request, Governor Lucas promptly; 
laid the subject before the Legislature of the State, and, in a spirit 
of courtesy, resolutions were adopted by that body, stipulating that 
if Ohio should ultimately decline to undertake the completion of 
that portion of the work within her limits before the time fixed by 
the act of Congress for the completion of the canal, she would, on 
just and equitable terms, enable Indiana to avail herself of the bene- 
fit of the lands granted, by authorizing her to sell them and invest 
the proceeds in the stock of a company to be incorporated by Ohio; 
and that she would give Indiana notice of her final determination 
on or before January 1, 1838. The Legislature of Ohio also 
authorized and invited the agent of the State of Indiana to select, 
survey and set apart the lands lying within that State. In keeping 
with this policy Governor Noble, in 1834, said: "With a view of 
engaging in works of internal improvement, the propriety of 
adopting a general plan or system, having reference to the several 
portions of the State, and the connection of one with the other, 
naturally suggests itself. No work should be commenced but such 
as would be of acknowledged public utility, and when completed 
would form a branch of some general system. In view of this 
object, the policy of organizing a Board of Public Works is again 
respectfully suggested." The Governor also called favorable atten- 
tion to the Lawrenceburg & Indianapolis railway, for which a 
charter had been granted. 

In 1835 the Wabash & Erie canal was pushed rapidly forward. 
The middle division, extending from the St. Joseph dam to the 
forks of the Wabash, about 32 miles, was completed, for about 
$232,000, including all repairs. Upon this portion of the line nav- 
igation was opened on July 4, which day the citizens assembled 
"to witness the mingling of the waters of the St. Joseph with 
those of the Wabash, uniting the waters of the northern chain of 
lakes with those of the Gulf of Mexico in the South." On other 
parts of the line the work progressed with speed, and the sale of 
canal lands was unusually active 

In 1836 the first meeting of the State Board of Internal Im- 
provement was convened and entered upon the discharge of its 
numerous and responsible duties. Having assigned to each mem- 
ber the direction and superintendence of a portion of the work, 
the next duty to be performed preparatory to the various spheres of 
active service, was that of procuring the requisite number of 
engineers. A delegation was sent to the Eastern cities, but returned 






^W 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 20l 

without engaging an Engineer-in-Chief for the roads and railways, 
and without the desired number for the subordinate station; but 
after considerable delay the Board was fully organized and put in 
operation. Under their management work on public improve- 
ments was successful; the canal progressed steadily; the naviga- 
tion of the middle division, from Fort Wayne to Huntington, was 
uninterrupted; 16 miles of the line between Huntington and La 
Fontaine creek were filled with water this year and made ready for 
navigation ; and the remaining 20 miles were completed, except a 
portion of the locks; from La Fontaine creek to Logansport prog- 
ress was made; the line from Georgetown to Lafayette was placed 
under contract; about 30 miles of the Whitewater canal, extending 
from Lawrenceburg through the beautiful valley of the White- 
water to Brookville, were also placed under contract, as also 23 
miles of the Central canal, passing through Indianapolis, on which 
work was commenced; also about 20 miles of the southern divis- 
ion of this work, extending from Evansville into the interior, 
were also contracted for; and on the line of the Cross-Cut canal, 
from Terre Haute to the intersection of the Central canal, near 
the mouth of Eel river, a commencement was also made on all the 
heavy sections. All this in 1836. 

Early in this year a party of engineers was organized, and 
directed to examine into the practicability of the Michigan & 
Erie canal line, then proposed. The report of their operations 
favored its expediency. A party of engineers was also fitted out, 
who entered upon the field of service of the Madison & Lafayette 
railroad, and contracts were let for its construction from Madison 
to Vernon, on which work was vigorously commenced. Also, con- 
tracts were let for grading and bridging the New Albany & Vin- 
cennes road from the former point to Paoli, about 40 miles. 
Other roads were also undertaken and surveyed, so that indeed a 
stupendous system of internal improvement was undertaken, and 
as Gov. Noble truly remarked, upon the issue of that vast enter- 
prise the State of Indiana staked her fortune. She had gone too 
far to retreat. 

In 1837, when Gov. Wallace took the Executive chair, the 
reaction consequent upon ''over work" by the State in the internal 
improvement scheme began to be felt by the people. They feared 
a State debt was being incurred from which they could never be 
extricated; but the Governor did all he could throughout the terra 
of his administration to keep up the courage of the citizens. He 



•t 



9 

■: — >- 



>^ 



202 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



told them that the astonishing success so far, surpassed even the 
hopes of the most sanguine, and that the flattering auspices of the 
future were sufiicient to dispel every doubt and quiet every fear. 
Notwithstanding all his efforts, however, the construction of pub- 
lic works continued to decline, and inhislast message he excJaimed: 
" Never before — I speak it advisedly — never before have you wit- 
nessed a period in our local history that more urgently called for 
the exercise of all the soundest and best attributes of grave and 
patriotic legislators than the present. * * ■» ^\yQ 

truth is — and it would be folly to conceal it — we have our hands 
full — full to overflowing; and therefore, to sustain ourselves, to 
preserve the credit and character of the State unimpaired, and to 
continue her hitherto unexampled march to wealth and distinction, 
we have not an hour of time, nor a dollar of money, nor a hand 
employed in labor, to squander and dissipate upon mere objects of 
idleness, or taste, or amusement." 

The State had borrowed $3,827,000 for internal improvement pur- 
poses, of which $1,327,000 was for the Wabash & Erie canal and 
the remainder for other works. The five per cent, interest on 
debts — about $200,000 — wiiich the State had to pay, had become 
burdensome, as her resources for this purpose were only two, 
besides direct taxation, and they were small, namely, the interest 
on the balances due for canal lands, and the proceeds of the third 
installment of the surplus revenue, both amounting, in 1838, 
to about $45,000. 

In August, 1839, all work ceased on these improvements, with 
one or two exceptions, and most of the contracts were surrendered 
to the State. This was done according to an act of the Legislature 
providing for the compensation of contractors by the issue of 
treasury notes. In addition to this state of affairs, the Legisla- 
ture of 1839 had made no provision for the payment of interest on 
the State debt incurred for internal improvements. Concerning 
this situation Gov. Bigger, in 1840, said that either to go ahead 
with the works or to abandon them altogether would be equally 
ruinous to the State, the implication being that the people should 
wait a little while for a breathing spell and then take hold again. 

Of course much individual indebtedness was created during the 
progress of the work on internal improvement. When operations 
ceased in 1839, and prices fell at the same time, the people were 
left in a great measure without the means of commanding money 
to pay their debts. This condition of private enterprise more than 



o) 






■V 



v'- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



203 



ever rendered direct taxation inexpedient. Hence it became the 
policy of Gov. Bigger to provide the means of paying the interest 
on the State debt without increasing the rate of taxation, and to 
continue that portion of the public works that could be immedi- 
ately completed, and from which the earliest returns could be 
expected. 

In 1840 the system embraced ten different works, the most im- 
portant of which was the Wabash & Erie canal. The aggregate 
length of the lines embraced in the system was 1,160 miles, and 
of this only 140 miles had been completed. The amount expended 
had reached the sum of $5,600,000, and it required at least $14,000,- 
000 to complete them. Although the crops of 1841 were very 
remunerative, this perquisite alone was not sufficient to raise the 
State again up to the level of going ahead with her gigantic 
works. 

We should here state in detail the amount of work completed and 
of money expended on the various works up to this time, 1841, 
which were as follows : 

1. The Wabash & Erie canal, from the State line to Tippe- 
canoe, 129 miles in length, completed and navigable for the whole 
length, at a cost of $2,041,012. This sum includes the cost of the 
steamboat lock afterward completed at Delphi. 

2. The extension of the Wabash & Erie canal from the mouth 
of the Tippecanoe to Terre Haute, over 104 miles. The estimated 
cost of this work was $1,500,000; and the amount expended for the 
same $408,855. The navigation was at this period opened as far 
down as Lafayette, and a part of the work done in the neighbor- 
hood of Covington. 

3. The cross-cut canal from Terre Haute to Central canal, 
49 miles in length; estimated cost, $718,672; amount expended, 
$420,679; and at this time no part of the course was navigable. 

4. The White Water canal, from Lawrenceburg to the mouth 
of Nettle creek, 76^ miles; estimated cost, $1,675,738; amount 
expended to that date, $1,099,867; and 31 miles of the work 
was navigable, extending from the Ohio river to Brookville. 

5. The Central canal, from the Wabash & Erie canal, to 
Indianapolis, including the feeder bend at Muncietown, 124 miles 
in length; total estimated cost, $2,299,853; amount expended, 
$568,046; eight miles completed at that date, and other portions 
nearly done. 



o 



FT" 



4<2_ 






2Utt 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



6. Central canal, from Indianapolis to Evansville on the Ohio 
river, 194 miles in length; total estimated cost, $3,532,394; amount 
expended, $831,302, 19 miles of which was completed at that date, 
at the southern end, and 16 miles, extending south from Indianau- 
olis, were nearly completed. 

7. Erie & Michigan canal, 182 miles in length; estimated cost, 
$2,624,823; amount expended, $156,394. No part of this work 
finished. 

8. The Madison & Indianapolis railroad, over 85 miles in 
length; total estimated cost, $2,046,600; amount expended, $1,493,- 
013. Hoad finished and in operation for about 28 miles; grad- 
ing nearly finished for 27 miles in addition, extending to Eden- 
buig. 

9. Indianapolis & Lafayette turnpike road, 73 miles in length; 
total estimated cost, $593, 737; amount expended, $72,118. The 
bridging and most of the grading was done on 27 miles, from 
Crawfordsville to Lafayette. 

10. New Albany & Vincennes turnpike road, 105 miles in 
length; estimated cost, $1,127,295; amount expended, $654,411. 
Eorty-one miles graded and macadamized, extending from New 
Albany to Paoli, and 27 miles in addition partly graded. 

11. Jeffersonville & Crawfordsville road, over 164 miles long; 
total estimated cost, $1,651,800; amount expended, $372,737. 
Forty-five miles were partly graded and bridged, extending from 
Jefi*ersonville to Salem, and from Greencastle north. 

12. Improvement of the Wabash rapids, undertaken jointly by 
Indiana and Illinois; estimated cost to Indiana, $102,500; amount 
expended by Indiana, $9,539. 

Grand totals: Length of roads and canals, 1,289 miles, only 
281 of which have been finished; estimated cost of all the works, 
$19,914,424; amount expended, $8,164,528. The State debt at 
this time amounted to $18,469,146. The two principal causes 
which aggravated the embarrassment of the State at this juncture 
were, first, paying most of the interest out of the money borrowed, 
and, secondly, selling bonds on credit. The first error subjected 
the State to the payment of compound interest, and the people, 
not feeling the pressure of taxes to discharge the interest, natu- 
rally became inattentive to the public policy pursued. Postpone- 
ment of the payment of interest is demoralizing in every way. 
During this period the State was held up in an unpleasant manner 
before the gaze of the world; but be it to the credit of this great 



J2) 



■^^ 

5 \ 



61 






HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



205 



aud glorious State, she would not repudiate, as many other States 
and municipalities have done. 

By the year 1850, the so-called "internal improvement" system 
having been abandoned, private capital and ambition pushed for- 
ward various "public works." During this year about 400 miles 
of plank road were completed, at a cost of $1,200 to $1,500 per 
mile, and about 1,200 miles more were surveyed and in progress. 
There were in the State at this time 212 miles of railroad in suc- 
cessful operation, of which 124 were completed this year. More 
than 1,000 miles of railroad were surveyed and in progress. 

An attempt was made during the session of the Legislature in 
1869 to re-burden the State with the old canal debt, and the matter 
was considerably agitated in the canvass of 1870. The subject of the 
Wabash & Erie canal was lightly touched in the Republican plat- 
form, occasioning considerable discussion, which probably had 
some effect on the election in the fall. That election resulted in 
an average majority in the State of about 2,864 for the Democracy. 
It being claimed that the Legislature had no authority under the 
constitution to tax the people for the purpose of aiding in the con- 
struction of railroads, the Supreme Court, in Aoril, 1871, decided 
adversely to such a claim. 

GEOLOGY. 

In 1869 the development of mineral resources in the State 
attracted considerable attention. Rich mines of iron and coal were 
discovered, as also fine quarries of building stone. The Yincennes 
railroad passed through some of the richest portions of the mineral 
region, the engineers of which had accurately determined the 
quality of richness of the ores. Near Brooklyn, about 20 miles 
from Indianapolis, is a fine formation of sandstone, yielding good 
material for buildings in the city; indeed, it is considered the best 
building stone in the State. The limestone formation at Gosport, 
continuing 12 miles from that point, is of great variety, and 
includes the finest and most durable building stone in the world. 
Portions of it are susceptible only to the chisel; other portions are 
soft and can be worked with the ordinary tools. At the end of this 
limestone formation there commences a sandstone series of strata 
which extends seven miles farther, to a point about 60 miles from 
Indianapolis. Here an extensive coal bed is reached consisting of 
seven distinct veins. The first is about two feet thick, the next 
three feet, another four feet, and the others of various thicknesses. 



fv" 



\ *^ ■ .— ? J- 



206 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

These beds are all easily worked, having a natural drain, and they 
yield heavy profits. In the whole of the southwestern part of the 
State and for 300 miles up the Wabash, coal exists in good quality 
and abundance. 

The scholars, statesmen and philanthropists of Indiana work- 
ed hard and long for the appointment of a State Geologist, with 
sufficient support to enable him to make a thorough geological 
survey of the State. A partial survey was made as early as 1837-'8, 
by David Dale Owen, State Geologist, but nothing more was done 
until 1869, when Prof. Edward T. Cox was appointed State Geolo- 
gist. For 20 years previous to this date the Governors urged and 
insisted in all their messages that a thorough survey should be 
made, but almost, if not quite, in vain. In 1852, Dr. Ryland T. 
Brown delivered an able address on this subject before the Legis- 
lature, showing how much coal, iron, building stone, etc., there 
were probably ; in the State, but the exact localities and qualities 
not ascertained, and how millions of money could be saved to the 
State by the expenditure of a few thousand dollars; but "they 
answered the Doctor in the negative. It must have been because 
they hadn't time to pass the bill. They were very busy. They had 
to pass all sorts of regulations concerning the negro. They had to 
protect a good many white people from marrying negroes. And as 
they didn't need any labor in the State, if it was ' colored,' they 
had to make regulations to shut out all of that kind of labor, and 
to take steps to put out all that unfortunately got in, and they didn't 
have time to consider the scheme proposed by the white people" — 
W. W. Clayton. 

In 1853, the State Board of Agriculture employed Dr. Brown to 
make a partial examination of the geology of the State, at a salary 
of $500 a year, and to this Board the credit is due for the final 
success of the philanthropists, who in 1869 had the pleasure of 
witnessing the passage of a Legislative act " to provide for a Depart- 
ment of Geology and Natural Science, in connection with the State 
Board of Agriculture." Under this act Governor Baker immedi- 
ately appointed Prof. Edward T. Cox the State Geologist, who has 
made an able and exhaustive report of the agricultural, mineral 
and manufacturing resources of this State, world-wide in its celeb- 
rity, and a work of which the people of Indiana may be very 
proud. "We can scarcely give even the substance of his report in a 
work like this, because it is of necessity deeply scientific and made 
up entirely of local detail. 



*• 



\ 






3 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



207 



COAL. 



The coal measures, says Prof. E. T. Cox, cover an area of about 
6,500 square miles, in the southwestern part of the State, and 
extend from Warren county on the north to the Ohio river on the 
south, a distance of about 150 miles. This area comprises the fol- 
lowing counties: Warren, Fountain, Parke, Yertnillion, Vigo, Clay, 
Sullivan, Greene, Knox, Daviess, Martin, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, 
Vanderburg, Warrick, Spencer, Perry and a small part of Crawford, 
Monroe, Putnam and Montgomery. 

This coal is all bituminous, but is divisible into three well-marked 
varieties: caking-coal, non-caking-coal or block coal and cannel 
coal. The total depth of the seams or measures is from 600 to 800 
feet, with 12 to 14 distinct seams of coal; but these are not all to 
be found throughout the area; the seams range from one foot to 
eleven feet in thickness. The caking coal prevails in the western 
portion of the area described, and has from three to four workable 
seams, ranging from three and a half to eleven feet in thickness. 
At most of the places where these are worked the coal is mined by 
adits driven in on the face of the ridges, and the deepest shafts in 
the State are less than 300 feet, tlie average depth for successful 
mining not being over 75 feet. This is a bright, black, sometimes 
glossy, coal, makes good coke and contains a very large percentage 
of pure illuminating gas. One pound will yield about 4|- cubic feet 
of gas, with a power equal to 15 standard sperm candles. The 
average calculated calorific power of the caking coals is 7,745 heat 
units, pure carbon being 8,080. Both in the northern and southern 
portions of the field, the caking coals present similar good qualities, 
and are a great source of private and public wealth. 

The block coal prevails in the eastern part of the field and has an 
area of about 450 square miles. This is excellent, in its raw state, 
for making pig iron. It is indeed peculiarly fitted for metal- 
lurgical purposes. It has a laminated structure with carbonaceous 
matter, like charcoal, between the lamina, with slaty cleavage, and 
it rings under the stroke of the hammer. It is " free-burning," 
makes an open fire, and without caking, swelling, scaffolding in the 
furnace or changing form, burns like hickory wood until it is con- 
sumed to a white ash and leaves no clinkers. It is likewise valuable 
for generating steam and for household uses. Many of the principal 
railway lines in the State are using it in preference to any other 
coal, as it does not burn out the fire-boxes, and gives as little trouble 
as wood. 






^ 



•V 



Lk^ 



?0C; HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

There are eight distinct seams of block coal in this zone, three of 
. which are workable, having an average thickness of four feet. In 
some places this coal is mined by adits, but generally from shafts. 
40 to 80 feet deep. The seams are crossed by cleavage lines, and 
the coal is usually mined without powder, and may be taken out in 
blocks weio:hing a ton or more. When entries or rooms are driven 
angling across the cleavage lines, the walls of the mine present a 
zigzag, notched appearance resembling a Virginia worm fence. 

In 1871 there were about 24 block coal mines in operation, and 
about 1,500 tons were mined daily. Since that time this industry 
has vastly increased. This coal consists of 81|- to 83^ percent, of 
carbon, and not quite three fourths of one per cent, of sulphur. 
Calculated calorific power equal to 8,283 heat units. This coal also 
is equally good both in the northern and southern parts of the field. 

The great Indiana coal field is within 150 miles of Chicago or 
Michigan City, by railroad, from which ports the Lake Superior 
specular and red hematite ores are landed from vessels that are able 
to run in a direct course from the ore banks. Considering the 
proximity of the vast quantities of iron in Michigan and Missouri 
one can readily see what a glorious future awaits Indiana in respect 
to manufactories. 

Of the cannel coal, one of the finest seams to be found in the 
country is in Daviess county, this State. Here it is three and a 
half feet thick, underlaid by one and a half feet of a beautiful, jet- 
black caking coal. There is no clay, shale or other foreign matter 
intervening, and fragments of the caking coal are often found 
adhering to the cannel. There is no gradual change from one to 
the other, and the character of each is homogeneous throughout. 

The cannel coal makes a delightful fire in open grates, and does 
not pop and throw oif scales into the room, as is usual with this 
kind of coal. This coal is well adapted to the manufacture of 
illuminating gas, in respect to both quantity and high illuminating 
power. One ton of 2,000 pounds of this coal yields 10,400 feet of 
gas, while the best Pennsylvania coal yields but 8,680 cubic feet. 
This gas has an illuminating power of 25 candles, while the best 
Pennsylvania coal gas has that of only 17 candles. 

Cannel coal is also found in great abundance in Perry, Greene, 
Parke and Fountain counties, where its commercial value has already 
been demonstrated. 

Numerous deposits of bog iron ore are found in the northern part 
of the State, and clay iron-stones and impure carbonates and brown- 






\ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 209 

oxides are found scattered in the vicinity of the coal field. In some 
places the beds are quite thick and of considerable commercial 
value. 

An abundance of excellent lime is also found in Indiana, espe- 
cially in Huntington county, where many large kilns are kept in 
profitable operation. 

AGRICULTURAL. 

In 1852 the Legislature passed an act authorizing the organization 
of county and district agricultural societies, and also establishing a 
State Board, the provisions of which actare substantially as follows: 

1. Thirty or more persons in any one or two counties organizing 
into a society for the improvement of agriculture, adopting a consti- 
tution and by-laws agreeable to the regulations prescribed by the 
State Board, and appointing the proper officers and raising a sum 
of $50 for its own treasury, shall be entitled to the same amount 
from the fund arising from show licenses in their respective 
counties. 

2. These societies shall offer annual premiums for improvement 
of soils, tillage, crops, manures, productions, stock, articles of 
domestic industry, and such other articles, productions and improve- 
ments as they may deem proper; they shall encourage, by grant 
of rewards, agricultural and household manufacturing interests, and 
so regulate the premiums that small farmers will have equal 
opportunity with the large; and they shall pay special attention to 
cost and profit of the inventions and improvements, requiring an 
exact, detailed statement of the processes competing for rewards. 

3. They shall publish in a newspaper annually their list of 
awards and an abstract of their treasurers' accounts, and they shall 
report in full to the State Board their proceedings. Failing to do 
the latter they shall receive no payment from their county funds, 

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

The act of Feb. 17, 1852, also established a State Board of Agri- 
culture, with perpetual succession; its annual meetings to be held 
at Indianapolis on the first Thursday after the first Monday in 
January, when the reports of the county societies are to be received 
and agricultural interests discussed and determined upon; it shall 
make an annual report to the Legislature of receipts, expenses, 
proceedings, etc., of its own meeting as well as of those of the local 



it) 



^9 



-— ; — — — ■ I » 



Si 

210 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

societies; it shall hold State fairs, at such times and places as they 
may deem proper; may hold two meetings a year, certifying to the 
State Auditor their expenses, wlio shall draw his warrant upon the 
Treasurer for the, same. 

In 1861 the State Board adopted certain rules, embracing ten 
sections, for the government of local societies, but in 1868 they 
were found inexpedient and abandoned. It adopted a resolution 
admitting delegates from the local societies. 

THE EXPOSITION. 

As the Board found great difficulty in doing justice to exhibitors 
without an adequate building, the members went earnestly to work 
in the fall of 18Y2 to get up an interest in the matter. They 
appointed a committee of five to confer with the Councilor citizens 
of Indianapolis as to the best mode to be devised for a more 
thorough and complete exhibition of the industries of the State. 
The result of the conference was that the time had arrived for a 
regular " exposition," like that of the older States. At the Janu- 
ary meeting in 1873, Hon. Thomas Dowling, of Terre Haute, 
reported for the committee that they found a general interest in 
this enterprise, not only at the capital, but also throughout the 
State. A sub-committee was appointed who devised plans and 
specifications for the necessary structure, taking lessons mainly 
from the Kentucky Exposition building at Louisville. All the 
members of the State Board were in favor of proceeding with the 
building except Mr. Poole, who feared that, as the interest of the 
two enterprises were somewhat conflicting, and the Exposition being 
the more exciting show, it would swallow up the State and county 
fairs. 

The Exposition was opened Sept. 10, 1873, when Hon. John 
Sutherland, President of the Board, the Mayor of Indianapolis, 
Senator Morton and Gov. Hendricks delivered addresses. Senator 
Morton took the high ground that the money spent for an exposi- 
tion is spent as strictly for educational purposes as that which goes 
directly into the common school. The exposition is not a mere 
show, to be idly gazed upon, but an industrial school where one 
should study and learn. He thought that Indiana had less untill- 
able land than any other State in the Union; 'twas as rich as any 
and yielded a greater variety of products; and that Indiana was 
the most prosperous agricultural community in the United States. 



r?i" 



< 



\ 




HISTORY OF INDIANA. . 211 

The State had nearly 3,700 miles of railroad, not counting side- 
track, with 400 miles more under contract for building. In 15 
or 18 months one can go from Indianapolis to every county in 
the State by railroad. Indiana has 6,500 square miles of coal field) 
450 of which contain block coal, the best in the United States for 
manufacturing purposes. 

On the subject of cheap transportation, he said: " By the census 
of 1870, Pennsylvania had, of domestic animals of all kinds, 4,006,- 
589, and Indiana, 4,511,094. Pennsylvania had grain to the amount 
of 60,460,000 bushels, while Indiana had 79,350,454. The value of 
the farm products of Pennsylvania was estimated to be $183,946,- 
000; those of Indiana, $122,914,000. Thus you see that while 
Indiana had 505,000 head of live stock more, and 19,000,000 
bushels of grain more than Pennsylvania, yet the products of Penn- 
sylvania are estimated at $183,946,000, on account of her greater 
proximity to market, while those of Indiana are estimated at only 
$122,914,000. Thus you can understand the importance of cheap 
transportation to Indiana. 

" Let us see how the question of transportation affects us on the 
other hand, with reference to the manufacturer of Bessemer steel. 
Of the 174,000 tons of iron ore used in the blast furnaces of Pitts- 
burg last year, 84,000 tons came from Lake Superior, 64,000 tons 
from Iron Mountain, Missouri, 20,000 tons from Lake Champlain, 
and less than 5,000 tons from the home mines of Pennsylvania. 
They cannot manufacture their iron with the coal they have in 
Pennsylvania without coking it. "We have coal in Indiana with 
which we can, in its raw state, make the best of iron; while we are 
250 miles nearer Lake Superior than Pittsburg, and 430 miles 
nearer to Iron Mountain. So that the question of transportation 
determines the fact that Indiana must become the great center for 
the manufacture of Bessemer steel." 

" What we want in this country is diversified labor.'' 

The grand hall of the Exposition buildings is on elevated ground 
at the head of Alabama street, and commands a fine view of the 
city. The structure is of brick, 308 feet long by 150 in width, and 
two stories high. Its elevated galleries extend quite around the 
building, under the roof, thus affording visitors an opportunity to 
secure the most commanding view to be had in the city. The 
lower floor of the grand hall is occupied by the mechanical, geologi- 
cal and miscellaneous departments, and by the offices of the Board, 
which extend along the entire front. The second floor, which is 



\ <5! fc^ _^ 9 J- 



lH 



212 . HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

approached by three wide stairways, accommodates the fine art, 
musical and other departments of light mechanics, and is brilliantly 
lighted by windows and skylights. But as we are here entering 
the description of a subject magnificent to behold, we enter a 
description too vast to complete, and we may as well stop here as 
anywhere. 

The Presidents of the State Fairs have been: Gov. J. A. Wright, 
1852-'4; Gen. Jos. Orr, 1855; Dr. A. C. Stevenson, 1856-'8; G. D. 
Wagner; 1859-60; D. P. Rolloway, 1861; Jas. D.Williams, 1862, 
1870-'l; A. D. Hamrick, 1863, 1867-'9; Stearns, Fisher, 1864-'6; 
John Sutherland, 1872-'4; Wm. Crim, 1875. Secretaries: John B. 
Dillon, 1852-'3, 1855, 1858-'9; Ignatius Brown, 1856-'7; W.T. Den- 
nis, 1854, 1860-'l; W.H. Loomis, 1862-'6; A. J. Holmes, 1867-'9;. 
Joseph Poole, 1870-'l ; Alex. Heron, 1872-'5. Place of fair, Indian- 
apolis every year except: Lafayette, 1853; Madison, 1854; New 
Albany, 1859,- Fort Wayne, 1865; and Terre Haute, 1867. In 
1861 there was no fair. The gate and entry receipts increased from 
$4,651 in 1852 to $45,330 in 1874. 

On the opening of the Exposition, Oct. 7, 1874, addresses were 
delivered by the President of the Board, Hon. John Sutherland, 
and by Govs. Hendricks, Bigler and Pollock. Yvon's celebrated 
painting, the " Great Republic," was unveiled with great ceremony,, 
and many distinguished guests were present to witness it. 

The exhibition of 1875 showed that the plate glass from the 
southern part of the State was equal to the finest French plate; that 
the force-blowers made in the eastern part of the State was of a 
world-wide reputation; that the State has within its bounds the 
largest wagon manufactory in the world; that in other parts of the 
State there were all sorts and sizes of manufactories, including roll- 
ing mills and blast furnaces, and in the western part coal was mined 
and shipped at the rate of 2,500 tons a day from one vicinity; and 
many other facts, which " would astonish the citizens of Indiana 
themselves even more than the rest of the world." 

INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

This society was organized in 1842, thus taking the lead in the 
West. At this time Henry Ward Beeclier was a resident of Indian- 
apolis, engaged not only as a minister but also as editor of the 
Indiana Farmer and Gardener^ and his influence was very exten- 
sive in the interests of horticulture, floriculture and farming. 
Prominent among his pioneer co-laborers were Judge Coburn^ 



■^^HF 



. *K 



-^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 213 

Aaron Aldridge, Capt. James Sigarson, D. Y. Culley, Reuben 
Ragan, Stephen Hampton, Cornelius Ratliff, Joshua Lindley, 
Abner Pope and many others. In the autumn of this year the 
society held an exhibition, probably the first in the State, if not 
in the West, in the hall of the new State house. The only pre- 
mium offered was a set of silver teaspoons for the best seedling 
apple, which was won by Reuben Ragan, of Putnam county, for 
an apple christened on this occasion the " Osceola." 

The society gave great encouragement to the introduction of 
new varieties of fruit, especially of the pear, as the soil and cli- 
mate of Indiana were well adapted to this fruit. But the bright 
horizon which seemed to be at this time looming up all around the 
field of the young society's operations was suddenly and thoroughly 
darkened by the swarm of noxious insects, diseases, blasts of win- 
ter and the great distance to market. The prospects of the cause 
scarcely justified a continuation of the expense of assembling from 
remote parts of the State, and the meetings of the society therefore 
soon dwindled away until the organization itself became quite 
extinct. 

But when, in 1852 and afterward, railroads began to traverse the 
State in all directions, the Legislature provided for the organization 
of a State Board of Agriculture, whose scope was not only agri- 
culture but also horticulture and the mechanic and household arts. 
The rapid growth of the State soon necessitated a differentiation of 
this body, and in the autumn of 1860, at Indianapolis, there was 
organized the 

INDIANA POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 

October 18, Reuben Ragan was elected President and Wm H. 
Loomis, of Marion county. Secretary. The constitution adopted 
provided for biennial meetings in January, at Indianapolis. At 
the first regular meeting, Jan. 9, 1861, a committee-man for each 
congressional district was appointed, all of them together to be 
known as the " State Fruit Committee," and twenty-five members 
were enrolled during this session. At the regular meeting in 1863 
the constitution was so amended as to provide for annual sessions, 
and the address of the newly elected President, Hon. I. G. D. Nel- 
son, of Allen county, urged the establishment of an agricultural 
college. He continued in. the good cause until his work was 
crowned with success. 



~® 



214 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

In 1864 there was but little done on account of the exhaust- 
ive demands of the great war; and the descent of mercury 60° in 
eighteen hours did so much mischief as to increase the discourage- 
ment to the verge of despair. The title of the society was at this 
meeting, Jan., 1864 changed to that of the Indiana Horticultural 
Society. 

The first several meetings of the society were mostly devoted to 
revision of fruit lists; and although the good work, from its vast- 
ness and complication, became somewhat monotonous, it has been 
no exception in this respect to the law that all the greatest and 
most productive labors of mankind require perseverance and toil. 

In 1866, George M. Beeler, who had so indefatigably served as 
secretary for several years, saw himself hastening to his grave and 
showed his love for the cause of fruit culture by bequeathing to 
the society the sum of $1,000. This year also the State Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction was induced to take a copy of the 
Society's transactions for each of the township libraries in the State, 
and this enabled the Society to bind its volume of proceedings in 
a substantial manner. 

At the meeting in 1867 many valuable and interesting papers 
were presented, the office of corresponding secretary was created, 
and the subject of Legislative aid was discussed. The State Board 
of Agriculture placed the management of the horticultural depart- 
ment of the State fair in the care of the Society. 

The report for 1868 shows for the first time a balance on hand, 
after paying expenses, the balance being $61.55. Up to this time 
the Society had to take care of itself, — meeting current expenses, do- 
ing its own printing and binding, "boarding and clothing itself," 
and diflusing annually an amount of knowledge utterly incalcu- 
lable. During the year called meetings were held at Salem, in the 
peach and grape season, and evenings during the State fair, which 
was held in Terre Haute the previous fall. The State now assumed 
the cost of printing and binding, but the volume of transactions 
was not quite so valuable as that of the former year. 

In 1870 $160 was given to this Society by the State Board of 
Agriculture, to be distributed as prizes for essays, which object 
was faithfully carried out. The practice has since then been con- 
tinued. 

In 1871 the Horticultural Societv brouo^ht out the best volume 
of papers and proceedings it ever has had published. 



Ql 



V 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 215 

In 1872 the oflSce of corresponding secretary was discontinued ; 
the appropriation by the State Board of Agriculture diverted to 
the payment of premiums on small fruits given at a show held the 
previous summer; results of the exhibition not entirely satisfac- 
tory. 

In 1873 the State officials refused to publish the discussions of 
the members of the Horticultural Society, and the Legislature 
appropriated $500 for the purpose for each of the ensuing two 
years. 

In 1876 the Legislature enacted a law requiring that one of the 
trustees of Purdue University shall be selected by the Horticultu- 
ral Society. 

The aggregate annual membership of this society from its organ- 
ization in 1860 to 1875 was 1,225. 

» 

EDUCATION. 

The subject of education has been referred to in almost every 
gubernatorial message from the organization of the Territory to 
the present time. It is indeed the most favorite enterprise of the 
Hoosier State. In the first survey of Western lands, Congress set 
apart a section of land in every township, generally the 16th, for 
school purposes, the disposition of the land to be in hands of the 
residents of the respective townships. Besides this, to this State 
were given two entire townships for the use of a State Seminary, 
to be under the control of the Legislature. Also, the State con- 
stitution provides that all fines for the breach of law and all com- 
mutations for militia service be appropriated to the use of county 
seminaries. In 1825 the common-school lands amounted to 
680,207 acres, estimated at $2 an acre, and valued therefore at 

[,216,044. At this time the seminary at Bloomington, supported 
in part hy one of these township grants, was very fiourishing. The 
common schools, however, were in rather a poor condition. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

In 1852 the free-school system was fully established, which has 
resulted in placing Indiana in the lead of this great nation. Al- 
though this is a pleasant subject, it is a very large one to treat in 
a condensed notice, as this has to be. 

The free-school system of Indiana first became practically oper- 
ative the first Monday of April, 1853, when the township trustees 

is 






216 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



for school purposes were elected through the State. The law com- 
mitted to them the charge of all the educational affairs in their 
respective townships. As it was feared by the opponents of the 
law that it would not be possible to select men in all the town- 
ships capable of executing the school laws satisfactorily, the 
people were thereby awakened to the necessity of electing their 
very best men ; and although, of course, many blunders have been 
made by trustees, the operation of the law has tended to elevate the 
adult population as well as the youth; and Indiana still adheres to 
the policy of appointing its best men to educational positions. 
The result is a grand surprise to all old fogies, who indeed scarcely 
dare to appear such any longer. 

To instruct the people in the new law and set the educational 
machinery going, a pamphlet of over 60 pages, embracing the law, 
with notes and explanations, was issued from the office of a super- 
intendent of public instruction, and distributed freely throughout 
the State. The first duty of the Board of Trustees was to establish 
and conveniently locate a sufficient number of schools for the edu- 
cation of all the children of their township. But where were the 
school -houses, and what were they? Previously they had been 
erected by single districts, but under this law districts were abol- 
ished, their lines obliterated, and houses previously built by dis- 
tricts became the property of the township, and all the houses were 
to be built at the expense of the township by an appropriation of 
township funds by the trustees. In some townships there was not 
a single school-house of any kind, and in others there were a few 
old, leaky, dilapidated log cabins, wholly unfit for use even in sum- 
mer, and in " winter worse than nothing." Before the people could 
be tolerably accommodated with schools at least 3,500 school-houses 
had to be erected in the State. 

By a general law, enacted in conformity to the constitution of 
1852, each township was made a municipal corporation, and every 
Toter in the township a member of the corporation ; the Board of 
Trustees constituted the township legislature as well as the execu- 
tive body, the whole body of voters, however, exercising direct con- 
trol through frequent meetings called by the trustees. Special 
taxes and every other matter of importance were directly voted 
UDon. 

1. 

Some tax-payers, who were opposed to special townships' taxes, 
retarded the progress of schools by refusing to pay their assess- 
ment. Contracts for building school-houses were given up, houses 



•i^ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 217 

half finished were abandoned, and in many townships all school 
operations were suspended. In some of them, indeed, a rumor was 
circulated bj the enemies of the law that the entire school law from 
beginning to end had been declared by the Supreme Court uncon- 
stitutional and void; and the Trustees, believing this, actually dis- 
missed their schools and considered themselves out of office. Hon. 
"W. C. Larrabee, the (first) Superintendent of Public Instruction, 
corrected this error as soon as possible. 

But while the voting of special taxes was doubted on a constitu- 
tional point, it became evident that it was weak in a practical point; 
for in many townships the opponents of the system voted down every 
proposition for the erection of school-houses. 

Another serious obstacle was the great deficiency in the number 
of qualified teachers. To meet the newly created want, the law 
authorized the appointment of deputies in each county to examine 
and license persons to teach, leaving it in their judgment to lower 
the standard of qualification sufficiently to enable them to license 
as many as were needed to supply all the schools. It was therefore 
found necessary to employ many "unqualified " teachers, especially 
in the remote rural districts. But the progress of the times 
enabled the Legislature of 1853 to erect a standard of qualifica- 
tion and give to the county commissioners the authority to license 
teachers; and in order to supply every school with a teacher, while 
there might not be a suflficient number of properly qualified teach- 
ers, the commissioners were authorized to grant temporary licenses 
to take charge of particular schools not needing a high grade of 
teachers. 

In 1854 the available common-school fund consisted of the con- 
gressional township fund, the surplus revenue fund, the saline 
fund, the bank tax fund and miscellaneous fund, amounting in all 
to $2,460,G00. This amount, from many sources, was subsequently 
increased to a very great extent. The common-school fund was 
intrusted to the several counties of the State, which were held 
responsible for the preservation thereof and for the payment of the 
annual interest thereon. The fund was managed bv the auditors 
and treasurers of the several counties, for which these officers were 
allowed one-tenth of the income. It was loaned out to the citizens 
■of the county in sums not exceeding $300, on real estate securitj'^. 
The common-school fund was thus consolidated and the proceeds 
equally distributed each year to all the townships, cities and towns 



< <5 »- ^'•^ a »v 



♦- 



<2_ 



218 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

of the State, in proportion to the number of children. This phase 
of the law met with considerable opposition in 1854. 

The provisions of the law for the establishment of township 
libraries was promptly carried into effect, and much time, labor 
and thought were devoted to the selection of books, special atten- 
tion being paid to historical works. 

The greatest need in 1854 was for qualified teachers; but never- 
theless the progress of public education during this and following 
years was very great. School-houses were erected, many of theni 
being fine structures, well furnished, and the libraries were consid- 
erably enlarged. 

The city school system of Indiana received a heavy set-back in 
1858, by a decision of the Supreme Court of the State, that the 
law authorizing cities and townships to levy a tax additional to the 
State tax was not in conformity with that clause in the Constitu- 
tion which required uniformity in taxation. The schools were 
stopped for want of adequate funds. For a few weeks in each year 
thereafter the feeble " uniform " supply from the State fund en- 
abled the people to open the schools, but considering the returns 
the public realizes for so small an outlay in educational matters, 
this proved more expensive than ever. Private schools increased, 
but the attendance was small. Thus the interests of popular edu- 
cation languished for years. But since the revival of the free 
schools, the State fund has grown to vast proportions, and the 
schools of this intelligent and enterprising commonwealth compare 
favorably with those of any other portion of the United States. 

There is no occasion to present all the statistics of school prog- 
ress in this State from the first to the present time, but some 
interest will be taken in the latest statistics, which we take from the 
9th Biennial Report (for ]877-'8) by the State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, Hon. James H. Smart. This report, by the 
way, is a volume of 480 octavo pages, and is free to all who desire 
a copy. 

The rapid, substantia] and permanent increase which Indiana 
enjoys in her school interests is thus set forth in the above report. 

Length 

of School No of 

Year. In Days. Teachers. 

1855 61 4,016 

1860 65 7,649 

1865 66 9,493 

1870 97 11,826 

1875 130 13,133 

1878 139 13,676 













Total 


Attendance 


School 


Am't Paid 


at School. 


Enumeration. 


Teachers. 


206,994 


445,791 


$ 239.924 


303,744 


495,019 


481,020 


402,812 


557,092 


1,020,440 


462,527 


619.627 


1,810,866 


502,362 


667,736 


2,830,747 


512,535 


699,153 


8,065,968 



\ 



\ 



J- 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 219 

The increase of school population during the past ten years baa 
been as follows: 

Total in 1868, 592,865. 

Increase for year ending Increase for year ending 
Qp^t 1 18fiQ 17,699 May 1,1874 13,922 

^'?S'i8?o :::;::■.::: 9063 -1,1875 13.373 

a 1 1Q71 .. . 3,101 " 1,1876 11,494 

" }'i872""":.';:::.":'..:... 8;8ii -1,1877 15,476 

May i;i873'(8 months) 8,903 " 1,1878 ^,447 

Total, 1878 699,153 

699,153 

Twenty- nine per cent, of the above are in the 49 cities and 212 
incorporated towns, and 71 per cent, in the 1,011 townships. 

The number of white males enrolled in the schools in 1878 was 
267,315, and of white females, 237,739; total, 505,054; of colored 
males, 3,794; females, 3,687; total, 7,481; grand total, 512,535. 

The average number enrolled in each district varies from 51 to 56, 
and the average daily attendance from 32 to 35; but many children 
reported as absent attend parochial or private schools. Seventy- 
three per cent, of the white children and 63 per cent, of the colored, 
in the State, are enrolled in the schools. 

The number of days taught vary materially in the different town- 
ships, and on this point State Superintendent Smart iterates: " As 
lono- as the schools of some of our townships are kept open but 60 
da>^s and others 220 days, we do not have a uniform system,— such 
as was contemplated by the constitution. The school law requires 
the trustee of a township to maintain each of the schools m his 
corporation an equal length of time. This provision cannot be so 
easily applied to the various counties of the State, for the reason 
that there is a variation in the density of the population, m the 
wealth of the people, and the amount of the township funds, i 
think, however, there is scarcely a township trustee in the State 
who cannot, under the present law, if he chooses to do so, bring his 
schools up to an average of six months. I think it would be wise 
to require each township trustee to levy a sufhcient local tax to 
maintain the schools at least six months of the year, provided this 
can be done without increasing the local tax beyond the amount 
now permitted by law. This would tend to bring the poorer schools 
np to the standard of the best, and would thus unify the system, 
and make it indeed a common-school system." 



^9 






J- 



220 HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 

The State, however, averages six and a half months school per 
year to each district. 

The number of school districts in the State in 1878 was 9,380, in 
all but Si of which school was taught during that year. There are 
396 district and 151 township graded schools. Number of white 
male teachers, 7,977, and of female, 5,699; colored, male, 62, and 
female, 43; grand total, 13,781. For the ten years ending with 
1878 there was an increase of 409 male teachers and 811 female 
teachers. All these teachers, except about 200, attend normal 
institutes, — a showing which probably surpasses that of any other 
State in this respect. 

The average daily compensation of teachers throughout the 
State in 1878 was as follows: In townships, males, $1.90; females, 
$1.70; in towns, males, $3.09; females, $1.81; in cities, males, 
$4.06; females, $2.29. 

In 1878 there were 89 stone school -houses, 1,724 brick, 7,608 
frame, and 124 log; total, 9,545, valued at $11,536,647.39. 

And lastly, and best of all, we are happy to state that Indiana has 
a larger school fund than any other State in the Union. In 1872, 
according to the statistics before us, it was larger than that of any 
other State by $2,000,000 ! the figures being as follows : 

Indiana $8,437,593.47 Michigan $2,500,214.91 

Oliio 6,614,816.50 Missouri 2,525,252.52 

Illinois 6,348,538.33 Minnesota 2,471,199.31 

New York 2,880,017.01 Wisconsin 2,237,414.37 

Connecticut 2,809,770.70 Massachusetts 2,210,864.09 

Iowa 4,274.581.93 Arkansas 2,000,000.00 

Nearly all the rest of the States have less than a million dollars 
in their school fund. 

In 1872 the common-school fund of Indiana consisted of the 
following: 

Non-negotiable bonds $3,591,316.15 Escheated estates 17.866.55 

Common-school fund, 1,666,^24.50 Sinking fund, last distrib- 

Sinking fund, at 8 per cent 569,139.94 ution 67,068.72 

Congressional township Sinking fund undistrib- 

fund 2,281,076.69 uted 100,165.92 

Value of unsold Congres- Swamp land fund 42,418.40 

sional township lands.. 94,245.00 



Saline fund 5,727.66 $8,437,593 47 

Bank tax fund 1,744.94 

In 1S78 the grand total was $8,974,455.55. 

The origin of the respective school funds of Indiana is as follows: 

1. The " Congressional township " fund is derived from the 

proceeds of the 16th sections of the townships. Almost all of these 

a ' — — — _ ! to 



■<' 



J \^ 



10 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 221 

have been sold and the money put out at interest. The amount of 
this fund in 1877 was $2,452,936.82. 

2. The "saline" fund consists of the proceeds of the sale of 
salt springs, and the land adjoining necessary for working them to 
the amount of 36 entire sections, authorized by the original act of 
Congi;ess. By authority of the same act the Legislature has made 
these proceeds a part of the permanent school fund. 

3. The " surplus revenue '° fund. Under the administration of 
President Jackson, the national debt, contracted by the Revolutionary 
war and the purchase of Louisiana, was entirely discharged, and a 
large surplus remained in the treasury. In June, 1836, Congress 
distributed this money amcng the States in the ratio of their repre- 
sentation in Congress, subject to recall, and Indiana's share was 
$860,254. The Legislature subsequently set apart $573,502.96 of 
this amount to be a part of the school fund. It is not probable that 
the general Government will ever recall this money. 

4. " Bank tax " fund. The Legislature of 1834 chartered a State 
Bank, of which a part of the stock was owned by the State and a 
part by individuals. Section 15 of the charter required an annual 
deduction from the dividends, equal to 12|^ cents on each share not 
held by the State, to be set apart for common-school education. 
This tax finally amounted to $80,000, which now bears interest in 
favor of education. 

5. " Sinking " fund. In order to set the State bank under 
good headway, the State at first borrowed $1,300,000, and out of 
the unapplied balances a fund was created, increased by unapplied 
balances also of the principal, interest and dividends of the amount 
lent to the individual holders of stock, for the purpose of sinking 
the debt of the bank; hence the name sinking fund. The 114th 
section of the charter provided that after the full payment of the 
bank's indebtedness, principal, interest and incidental expenses, the 
residue of said fund should be a permanent fund, appropriated to 
the cause of education. As the charter extended through a period 
of 25 years, this fund ultimately reached the handsome amount of 
$5,000,000. 

The foregoing are all interest-bearing funds; the following are 
additional school funds, but not productive: 

6. " Seminary " fund. By order of the Legislature in 1852, all 
county seminaries were sold, and the net proceeds placed in the 
common-school fund. 






~s 



222 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

7. All fines for the violation of the penal laws of the State are 
placed to the credit of the common-school fund 

8. All recognizances of witnesses and parties indicted for crime, 
when forfeited, are collectible bj law and made a part of the 
school fund. These are reported to the office of the State Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction annually. For the five years ending 
with 1872, they averaged about $34,000 a year. 

9. Escheats. These amount to $17,865.55, which was still in 
the State treasury in 1872 and unapplied. 

10. The "swamp-land" fund arises from the sale of certain 
Congressional land grants, not devoted to any particular purpose 
by the terms of the grant. In 1872 there was $42,418.40 of this 
money, subject to call by the school interests. 

11. Taxes on corporations are to some extent devoted by the 
Constitution to school purposes, but the clause on this subject is 
somewhat obscure, and no funds as yet have been realized from this 
source. It is supposed that several large sums of money are due 
the common-school fund from the corporations. 

Constitutionally, any of the above funds may be increased, but 
never diminished. 

INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. 

So early as 1802 the U. S. Congress granted lands and a charter 
to the people of that portion of the Northwestern Territory resid- 
ing at Vincennes, for the erection and maintenance of a seminary 
of learning in that early settled district; and five years afterward 
an act incorporating the Vincennes CTniversity asked the Legisla- 
ture to appoint a Board of Trustees for the institution and order the 
sale of a single township in Gibson county, granted by Congress in 
1802, so that the proceeds might be at once devoted to the objects 
of education. On this Board the following gentlemen were ap- 
pointed to act in the interests of the institution: William H. Har- 
rison, John Gibson, Thomas H. Davis, Henry Vanderburgh, Wal- 
ler Taylor, Benjamin Parke, Peter Jones, James Johnson, John 
Eice Jones, George Wallace, William Bullitt, Elias McNamee, 
John Badolett, Henry Hurst, Gen. W. Johnston, Francis Vigo, 
Jacob Kuykendall, Samuel McKee, Nathaniel Ewing, George 
Leech, Luke Decker, Samuel Gwathraey and John Johnson. 

The sale of this land was slow and the proceeds small. The 
members of the Board, too, were apathetic, and failing to meet, the 
institution fell out of existence and out of memory. 



•sjs 



<S\ 



r9 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



223 



In 1816 Congress granted another township in Monroe county, 
located within its present limits, and the foundation of a university 
was laid. Four years later, and after Indiana was erected into a 
State, an act of the local Legislature appointing another Board of 
Trustees and authorizing them to select a location for a university 
and to enter into contracts for its construction, was passed. The 
new Board met at Bloomington and selected a site at that place for 
the location of the present building, entered into a contract for the 
erection of the same in 1822, and in 1825 had the satisfaction of being 
present at the inauguration of the university. The first session was 
commenced under the Kev. Baynard R. Hall, with 20 students, and 
when the learned professor could only boast of a salary of $150 a 
year; yet, on this very limited sum the gentleman worked with 
energy and soon brought the enterprise through all its elementary 
stages to the position of an academic institution. Dividing the 
year into two sessions of five months each, the Board acting under 
his advice, changed the name to the " Indiana Academy," under 
which title it was duly chartered. In 1827 Prof. John H. Harney 
was raised to the chairs of mathematics, natural philosophy and 
astronomy, at a salary of $300 a year; and the salary of Mr. Hall 
raised to $400 a year. In 1828 the name was again changed by the 
Legislature to the " Indiana College," and the following professors 
appointed over the difi'erent departments; Rev. Andrew Wylie, 
D. D., Prof, of mental and moral philosophy and belles lettres; 
John H. Harney, Prof, of mathematics and natural philosophy ; and 
Rev. Bayard R. Hall, Prof, of ancient languages. This year, also, 
dispositions were made for the sale of Gibson county lands and for 
the erection of a new college building. This action was opposed 
by some legal difficulties, which after a time were overcome, and 
the new college building was put under construction, and continued 
to prosper until 1854, when it was destroyed by fire, and 9,000 
volumes, with all the apparatus, were consumed The curriculum 
was then carried out in a temporary building, while a new struct- 
ure was going up. 

In 1873 the new college, with its additions, was completed, and 
the routine of studies continued. A museum of natural history, 
a laboratory and the Owen cabinet added, and the standard of the 
studies and morale generally increased in excellence and in strict- 
ness. 

Bloomington is a fine, healthful locality, on the Louisville, New 
Albany & Chicago railway. The University buildings are in the 



■7" 



^FT 



\ 



tw 



224 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



collegiate Gothic style, simply and truly carried out. The building, 
frontins: Colleo-e avenue is 145 feet in front. It consists of a 
central building 60 feet by 53, with wings each 38 feet by 26, and 
the whole, three stories high. The new building, fronting the 
west, is 130 feet by 50. Buildings lighted by gas. 

The faculty numbers thirteen. Number of students in the col- 
legiate department in 1879-'80, J83; in preparatory, 169; total, 
349, allowing for three counted twice. 

The university may now be considered on a fixed founaation, car- 
rying out the intention of the President, who aimed at scholarship 
rather than numbers, and demands the attention of eleven pro- 
fessors, together with the State Geologist, who is ex-officio member 
of the faculty, and required to lecture at intervals and look after 
the geological and mineralogical interests of the institution. The 
faculty of medicine is represented by eleven leading physicians 
of the neighborhood. The faculty of law requires two resident 
professors, and the other chairs remarkably well represented. 

The university received from the State annually about $15,000, 
and promises with the aid of other public grants and private dona- 
tions to vie with any other State university within the Republic. 

PURDUE UNIVERSITY. 

This is a " college for the benefit of agricultural and the mechanic 
arts," as provided for by act of Congress, July 2, 1862, donating 
lands for this purpose to the extent of 30,000 acres of the public 
domain to each Senator and Representative in the Federal assem- 
bly. Indiana having in Congress at that time thirteen members, 
became entitled to 390,000 acres; but as there was no Congress 
land in the State at this time, scrip had to be taken, and it was 
upon the following condition (we quote the act): 

" Section 4, That all moneys derived from the sale of land 
scrip shall be invested in the stocks of the United States, or of 
some other safe stocks, yielding no less than five per centum upon 
the par value of said stocks; and that the moneys so invested shall 
constitute a perpetual fund, the capital of which shall remain undi- 
minished, except so far as may be provided in section 5 of this act, 
and the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated by each 
State, which may take and claim the benefit of this act, to the 
endowment, support and maintenance of at least one college, where 
the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and 






^ 
^V" 



:^t 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 225 

classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such 
branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic 
arts, in such a manner as the Legislatures of the States may re- 
spectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical 
education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and pro- 
fessions of life. 

" Sec. 5. That the grant of land and land scrip hereby author- 
ized shall be made on the following conditions, to which, as well as 
the provision hereinbefore contained, the previous assent of the 
several States shall be signified by Legislative act: 

"■ First. If any portion of the funds invested as provided by the 
foregoing section, or any portion of the interest thereon, shall by 
any action or contingency be diminished or lost, it shall be replaced 
by the State to which it belongs, so that the capital of the fund 
shall remain forever undiminished, and the annual interest shall be 
regularly applied, without diminution, to the purposes mentioned 
in the fourth section of this act, except that a sum not exceeding ten 
per centum upon the amount received by any State under the pro- 
visions of this act may be expended for the purchase of lands for 
sites or experimental farms, whenever authorized by the respective 
Legislatures of said States. 

" Second. No portion of said fund, nor interest thereon, shall 
be applied, directly or indirectly, under any pretence whatever, to 
the purchase, erection, preservation or repair of any building or 
buildings. 

" Third. Any State which may take and claim the benefit of 
the provisions of this act, shall provide, within five years at least, 
not less than one college, as provided in the fourth section of this 
act, or the grant to such State shall cease and said State be bound 
to pay the United States the amount received of any lands pre- 
viously sold, and that the title to purchase under the States shall 
be valid. 

" Fourth. An annual report shall be made regarding the prog- 
ress of each college, recording any improvements and experiments 
made, with their cost and result, and such other matter, including 
State industrial and economical statistics, as may be supposed use- 
ful, one copy of which shall be transmitted by mail free, by each, 
to all other colleges which may be endowed under the provisions 
of this act, and also one copy to the Secretary of the Interior. 

"Fifth. When lands shall be selected from those which have 
been raised to double the minimum price in consequence of railroad 



"71 



^^ 




<5l 



226 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



grants, that they shall be computed to the States at the maximum 
price, and the number of acres proportionately diminished. 

"Sixth. No State, while in a condition of rebellion or insur- 
rection against the Government of the United States, shall be 
entitled to the benefits of this act. 

"Seventh. No State shall be entitled to the benefits of this act 
unless it shall express its acceptance thereof by its Legislature 
within two years from the date of its approval by the President." 

The foregoing act was approved by the President, July 2, 1862. 
It seemed that this law, amid the din of arms with the great Rebel- 
lion, was about to pass altogether unnoticed by the next General 
Assembly, January, 1863, had not Gov. Morton's attention been 
called to it by a delegation of citizens from Tippecanoe county, who 
visited him in the interest of Battle Ground. He thereupon sent 
a special message to the Legislature, upon the subject, and then 
public attention was excited to it everywhere, and several localities 
competed for the institution; indeed, the rivalry was so great that 
this session failed to act in the matter at all, and would have failed 
to accept of the grant within the two years prescribed in the last 
clause quoted above, had not Congress, by a supplementary act, 
extended the time two years longer. 

March 6, 1865, the Legislature accepted the conditions ot the 
national gift, and organized the Board of " Trustees of the Indiana 
Agricultural College." This Board, by authority, sold the scrip 
April 9, 186Y, for $212,238.50, which sum, by compounding, has 
increased to nearly $400,000, and is invested in IT. S. bonds. Not 
until the special session of May, 1869, was the locality for this col- 
lege selected, when John Purdue, of Lafayette, ofiered $150,000 
and Tippecanoe county $50,000 more, and the title of the institution 
changed to " Purdue University." Donations were also made by 
the Battle Ground Institute and the Battle Ground Institute of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The building was located on a 100-acre tract near Chauncey, 
which Purdue gave in addition to his magnificent donation, and to 
which 86^ acres more have since been added on the north. The 
boarding-house, dormitory, the laboratory, boiler and gas house, 
a frame armory and gymnasium, stable with shed and work-shop 
are all to the north of the gravel road, and form a group of build- 
ings within a circle of 600 feet. The boiler and gas house occupy 
a rather central position, and supply steam and gas to the boarding- 
house, dormitory and laboratory. A description of these buildings 

W 



k 



\\ 9 >.- 

G\ I ' 1'^ 

HISTORY OF INDIANA. 227 

may be apropos. The boarding-house is a brick structure, in the 
modern Italian style, planked by a turret at each of the front angles 
and measuring 120 feet front by 68 feet deep. The dormitory is a 
quadrangular edifice, in the plain Elizabethan style, four stories 
high, arranged to accommodate 125 students. Like the other build- 
ings, it is heated by steam and lighted by gas. Bathing accommo- 
dations are in each end of all the stories. The laboratory is almost 
a duplicate of a similar department in Brown University, R. I. It 
is a much smaller building than the boarding-house, but yet suffi- 
ciently large to meet the requirements. A collection of minerals, 
fossils and antiquities, purchased from Mr. Richard Owen, former 
President of the institution, occupies the temporary cabinet or 
museum, pending the construction of a new building. The military 
hall and gymnasium is 100 feet frontage by 50 feet deep, and only 
one story high. The uses to which this hall is devoted are exer- 
cises in physical and military drill. The boiler and gas house is an 
establishment replete in itself, possessing every facility for supply- 
ing the buildings of the university with adequate heat and light. 
It is further provided with pumping works. Convenient to this 
department is the retort and great meters of the gas house, capable 
of holding 9,000 cubic feet of gas, and arranged upon the principles 
of modern science. The barn and shed form a single building, 
both useful, convenient and ornamental. 

In connection with the agricultural department of the university, 
a brick residence and barn were erected and placed at the disposal 
of the farm superintendent, Maj. L. A. Burke. 

The buildings enumerated above have been erected at a cost 
approximating the following: boarding-house, $37,807.07; labora- 
tory, $15,000; dormitory, $32,000; military hall and gymnasium, 
$6,410.47; boiler and gas house, $1,814; barn and shed, $1,500; 
work-shop, $1,000; dwelling and barn, $2,500. 

Besides the original donations, Legislative appropriations, vary- 
ing in amount, have been made from time to time, and Mr. Pierce, 
the treasurer, has donated his official salary, $600 a year, for the time 
he served, for decorating the grounds, — if neoessary. 

The opening of the university was, owing to varied circumstan- 
ces, postponed from time to time, and not until March, 1874, was a 
class formed, and tMs only to comply with the act of Congress in 
that connection in its relation to the university. However, in 
September following a curriculum was adopted, and the first regu- 
lar term of the Purdue University entered upon. This curriculum. 



^^ 



228 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

comprises the varied subjects generally pertaining to a first-class, 
university course, namely: in the school of natural science — 
physics and industrial mechanics, chemistry and natural history; 
in the school of engineering — civil and mining, together with the 
principles of architecture; in the school of agriculture — theoret- 
ical and practical agriculture, horticulture and veterinary science; 
in the military school — the mathematical sciences, German and 
French literature, free-hand and mechanical drawing, with all the 
studies pertaining to the natural and military sciences. Modern 
languages and natural history embrace their respective courses ta 
the fullest extent. 

There are this year (1880) eleven members of the faculty, 86 
students in the regular courses, and 117 other students. In respect 
to attendance there has been a constant increase from the first. 
The first year, 1874-'5, there were but 64 students. 

INDIANA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 

This institution was founded at Terre Haute in 1870, in accord- 
ance with the act of the Legislature of that year. The building is 
a large brick edifice situated upon a commanding location and 
possessing some architectural beauties. From its inauguration 
many obstacles opposed its advance toward efficiency and success; 
but the Board of Trustees, composed of men experienced in edu- 
cational matters, exercised their strength of mind and body to 
overcome every difficulty, and secure for the State Normal School 
every distinction and emolument that lay within their power, 
their efibrts to this end being very successful; and it is a fact that 
the institution has arrived at, if not eclipsed, the standard of their 
expectations. Not alone does the course of study embrace the 
legal subjects known as reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, 
geograph}', United States history, English grammar, physiology, 
manners and ethics, but it includes also universal history, the 
mathematical sciences and many other subjects foreign- to older 
institutions. The first studies are prescribed by law and must be 
inculcated; the second are optional with the professors, and in the 
case of Indiana generally hold place in the curriculum of the nor- 
mal school. 

The model, or training school, specially designed for the training 
of teachers, forms a most important factor in State educational 
matters, and prepares teachers of both sexes for one of the most 
important positions in life; viz., that of educating the youth of the 

* % , [ _ , ^^-t r-^ 



• y s' ^ 

t HISTORY OF INDIANA. 229 

State. The advanced course of studies, toorether with the hio-her 
studies of the normal school, embraces Latin and German, and pre- 
pares young men and women for entrance to the State University. 

The efficiency of this school may be elicited from the following 
facts, taken from the official reports: out of 41 persons who had 
graduated from the elementary course, nine, after teaching success- 
fully in the public schools of this State from two terms to two 
years, returned to the institution and sought admission to the 
advanced classes. They were admitted; three of them were gentle- 
men and six ladies. After spending two years and two terms in the 
elementary course, and then teaching in the schools during the 
time already mentioned they returned to spend two and a half or 
three years more, and for the avowed purpose of qualifying them- 
selves for teaching in the most responsible positions of the public 
school service. In fact, no student is admitted to the school who 
does not in good faith declare his intention to qualify himself for 
teaching in the schools of the State. This the law requires, and 
the rule is adhered to literally. 

The report further says, in speaking of the government of the 
school, that the fundamental idea is rational freedom, or that free- 
dom which gives exemption from the power of control of one over 
another, or, in other words, the self-limiting of themselves, in their 
acts, by a recognition of the rights of others who are equally free. 
The idea and origin of the school being laid down, and also the 
means by which scholarship can be realized in the individual, the 
student is left to form his own conduct, both during session hours 
and while away from school. The teacher merely stands between 
this scholastic idea and the student's own partial conception of it, 
as expositor or interpreter. The teacher is not legislator, executor 
or police officer; he is expounder of the true idea of school law, so 
that the only test of the student's conduct is obedience to, or 
nonconformity with, that law as interpreted by the teacher. This 
idea once inculcated in the minds of the students, insures industry, 
punctuality and order. 

NORTHERN INDIANA NORMAL SCHOOL AND BUSINESS INSTITUTE, 

VALPARAISO, 

This institution was organized Sept. 16, 1873, with 35 students 
in attendance. The school occupied the building known as the 
Valparaiso Male and Female College building. Four teachers 

^ e) 1 1 1 1 Is 

' ^ « ^ -^ ® \ 



-«■ 



230 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

were employed. The attendance, so small at first, increased rap- 
idly and steadily, until at the present writing, the seventh year 
in the history of the school, the yearly enrollment is more than 
three thousand. The number of instructors now employed is 23. 

From time to time, additions have been made to the school 
buildings, and numerous boarding halls have been erected, so that 
now the value of the buildings and grounds owned by the school 
is one hundred thousand dollars. 

A large library has been collected, and a complete equipment of 
philosophical and chemical apparatus has been purchased. The 
department of physiology is supplied with skeletons, manikins, 
and everything necessary to the demonstration of each branch of 
the subject. A large cabinet is provided for the study of geology. 
In fact, each department of the school is completely furnished 
with the apparatus needed for the most approved presentation of 
every subject. 

There are 15 chartered departments in the institution. These 
are in charge of thorough, energetic, and scholarly instructors, and 
send forth each year as graduates, a large number of finely cultured 
young ladies and gentlemen, living testimonials of the efliciency 
of the course of study and the methods used. 

The Commercial College in connection with the school is in itself 
a great institution. It is finely fitted up and furnished, and ranks 
foremost among the business colleges of the United States. 

The expenses for tuition, room and board, have been made so 
low that an opportunity for obtaining a thorough education is 
presented to the poor and the rich alike. 

All of this work has been accomplished in the short space of 
seven years. The school now holds a high place among educational 
institutions, and is the largest normal school in the United States. 

This wonderful growth and development is wholly due to the 
energy and faithfulness of its teachers, and the unparalleled exec- 
utive ability of its proprietor and principal. The school is not 
endowed. 

DENOMINATIONAL AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. 

Nor is Indiana behind in literary institutions under denomina- 
tional auspices. It is not to be understood, however, at the present 
day, that sectarian doctrines are insisted upon at the so-called 
" denominational" colleges, universities and seminaries; the youth at 
these places are influenced only by Christian example. 

\ 



-«.,|,5 



k. 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 231 

Notre Dame University, near South Bend, is a Catholic institu- 
tion, and is one of the most noted in the United States. It was 
founded in 1842 by Father Sorin. The first building was erected 
in 1843, and the university has continued to grow and prosper until 
the present time, now having 35 professors, 26 instructors, 9 tutors, 
213 students and 12,000 volumes in library. At present the main 
building has a frontage of 224 feet and a depth of 155. Thousands 
of young people have received their education here, and a large 
number have been graduated for the priesthood. A chapter was 
held here in 1872, attended by delegates from all parts of the world. 
It is worthy of mention that this institution has a bell weighing 
13,000 pounds, the largest in the United States and one of the finest 
in the world. 

The Indiana Ashury University, at Greencastle, is an old and 
well-established institution under the auspices of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, named after its first bishop, Asbury. It was 
founded in 1835, and in 1872 it had nine professors and 172 
students. 

Howard College, not denominational, is located at Kokomo, and 
was founded in 1869. In 1872 it had five professors, four instructors, 
and 69 students. 

Union Christian College, Christian, at Merom, was organized in 
1858, and in 1872 had four resident professors, seven instructors 
and 156 students. 

Moore'' s Hill College, Methodist Episcopal, is situated at Moore's 
Hill, was founded in 1854, and in 1872 had five resident professors, 
five instructors, and 142 students. 

EarlhanCs College, at Richmond, is under the management of 
the Orthodox Friends, and was founded in 1859. In 1872 they 
had six resident professors and 167 students, and 3,300 volumes in 
library. 

Wahash College, at Crawfordsville, was organized in 1834, and 
had in 1872, eight professors and teachers, and 231 students, with 
about 12,000 volumes in the library. It is under Presbyterian 
management. 

Concordia College, Lutheran, at Fort "Wayne, was founded in 
1850; in 1872 it had four professors and 148 students: 3,000 volumes 
in library, 

Hanover College, Presbyterian, was organized in 1833, at Han- 
over, and in 1872 had seven professors and 118 students, and 7,000 
volumes in library. 



4. 



2)2 HISTORY OF INDIANA. ♦ 

Hartsville University, United Brethren, at Hartsville, was 
founded in 1854, and in 1872 had seven professors and 117 students. 

Northwestern Christian University, Disciples, is located at 
Irvington, near Indianapolis. It was founded in 1854, and by 
1872 it had 15 resident professors, 181 students, and 5,000 volumes 
in library. 

BENEYOLENT AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS. 

By the year 1830, the influx of paupers and invalid persons was 
80 great that the Governor called upon the Legislature to take 
steps toward regulating the matter, and also to provide an asylum 
for the poor, but that body was very slow to act on the matter. 
At the present time, however, there is no State in the Union which 
can boast a better system of benevolent institutions. The Benevo- 
lent Society of Indianapolis was organized in 1843. It was a 
pioneer institution; its field of work was small at first, but it has 
grown into great usefulness. 

INSTITUTE FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND. 

In behalf of the blind, the first efibrt was made by James M. Ray, 
about 1846. Throuo-h his efforts William H. Churchman came 
from Kentucky with blind pupils and gave exhibitions in Mr. 
Beecher's church, in Indianapolis. These entertainments were 
attended by members of the Legislature, for whom indeed they 
were especially intended; and the effect upon them was so good, 
that before they adjourned the session they adopted measures to es- 
tablish an asylum for the blind. The commission appointed to carry 
out these measures, consisting of James M. Ray, Geo. W. Mears, 
and the Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor of State, engaged Mr. 
Churchman to make a lecturing tour through the State and collect 
statistics of the blind population. 

The " Institute for the Education of the Blind " was founded by 
the Legislature of 1847, and first opened in a rented building Oct. 
1, of that year. The permanent buildings were opened and occu- 
pied in Februar}', 1853. The original cost of the buildings and 
ground was $110,000, and the present valuation of buildings and 
grounds approximates $300,000. The main building is 90 feet 
long by 61 deep, and with its right and left wings, each 30 feet in 
front' and 83 in depth, give an entire frontage of 150 feet. The 
main building is five stories in height, surmounted by a cupola of 



-f' 



* 

v" 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



235 



the Corinthian style, while each wing is similarly overcapped 
The porticoes, cornices and verandahs are gotten up with exquisite 
taste, and the former are molded after the principle of Ionic archi- 
tecture. The building is very favorably situated, and occupies a 
space of eight acres. 

The nucleus of a fund for supplying indigent graduates of the 
institution with an outfit suitable to their trades, or with money in 
lieu thereof, promises to meet with many additions. The fund is 
the out-come of the benevolence of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, a resident of 
Delaware, in this State, and appears to be suggested by the fact 
that her daughter, who was smitten with blindness, studied as a 
pupil in the institute, and became singularly attached to many of 
its inmates. The following passage from the lady's will bears 
testimony not only to her own sympathetic nature but also to the 
efficiency of the establishment which so won her esteem. "I give 
to each of the following persons, friends and associates of my blind 
daughter, Margaret Louisa, the sum of $100 to each, to wit, viz: 
Melissa and Phoebe Garrettson, Frances Cundiif, Dallas Newland, 
Naomi Unthunk, and a girl whose name before marriage was 
Kachel Martin, her husband's name not recollected. The balance 
of my estate, after paying the expenses of administering, I give to 
the superintendent of the blind asylum and his successor, in trust, 
for the use and benefit of the indigent blind of Indiana who may 
attend the Indiana blind asylum, to be given to them on leaving 
in such sums as the superintendent may deem proper, but not more 
than $50 to any one person. I direct that the amount above direct- 
ed be loaned at interest, and the interest and principal be distributed 
as above, agreeably to the best judgment of the superintendent, 
so as to do the greatest good to the greatest number of blind 
persons." 

The following rules, regulating the institution, after laying down 
in preamble that the institute is strictly an educational estab- 
lishment, having its main object the moral, intellectual and phys- 
ical training of the young blind of the State, and is not an asylum 
for the aged and helpless, nor an hospital wherein the diseases of 
the eye may be treated, proceed as follows : 

1. The school year commences the first Wednesday after the 
15th day of September, and closes on the last Wednesday in June, 
showing a session of 40 weeks, and a vacation term of 84 days. 

2. Applicants for admission must be from 9 to 21 years of age; 
but the trustees have power to admit blind students under 9 or 



•<" 



Is 



< * — — hr- 

230 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

over 21 years of age; but this power is extended only in very 
extreme cases. 

3. Imbecile or unsound persons, or confirmed imraoralists, 
cannot be admitted knowingly; neither can admitted pupils who 
prove disobedient or incompetent to receive instruction be retained 
on the roll. 

4. No charge is made for the instruction and board given to 
pupils from the State of Indiana; and even those without the State 
have only to pay $200 for board and education during the 40 weeks' 
session. 

5. An abundant and good supply of comfortable clothing for 
both summer and winter wear, is an indispensable adjunct of the 
pnpil. 

6. The owner's name must be distinctly marked on each article 
of clothing. 

7. In cases of extreme indigence the institution may provide 
clothing and defray the traveling expenses of such pupil and levy the 
amount so expended on the county wherein his or her home is 
situated. 

8. The pupil, or friends of the pupil, must remove him or her 
from the institute during the annual vacation, and in case of their 
failure to do so, a legal provision enables the superintendent to 
forward such pupil to the trustee of the township where he or she 
resides, and the expense of such transit and board to be charged to 
the county. 

9. Friends of the pupils accompanying them to the institution, 
or visiting them thereat, cannot enter as boarders or lodgers. 

10. Letters to the pupils should be addressed to the care of the 
Superintendent of the Institute for the Education of the Blind, so as 
the better to insure deliverv. 

11. Persons desirous of admission of pupils should apply to the 
superintendent for a printed copy of instructions, and no pupil 
should be sent thereto until the instructions have been complied 
with. 

INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. 

In 1843 the Governor was also instructed to obtain plans and 
information respecting the care of mutes, and the Legislature also 
levied a tax to provide for them. The first one to agitate the subject 
was William Willard, himself a mute, who visited Indiana in 1843, 
and opened a school for mutes on his own account, with 16 pupils. 



a 



^ 



k^ 



f> 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



-37 



The next year the Legislature adopted this school as a State insti- 
tution, appointing a Board of Trustees for its management, consist- 
ing of the Governor and Secretary of State, ex-officio,and Revs. Henry 
Ward Beecher, Phineas D. Gurley, L. H. Jameson, Dr. Dunlap, 
Hon. James Morrison and Rev. Matthew Simpson. They rented the 
large building on the southeast corner of Illinois and Maryland 
streets, and opened the first State asylum there in 1844; but in 1846, 
a site for a permanent building just east of Indianapolis was selected, 
consisting first of 30 acres, to which 100 more have been added. 
On this site the two first structures were commenced in 1849, and 
completed in the fall of 1850, at a cost of $30,000. The school 
was immediately transferred to the new building, where it is still 
fiourishing, with enlarged buildings and ample facilities for instruc- 
tion in agriculture. In 1869-70, another building was erected, 
and the three together now constitute one of the most benefi- 
cent and beautiful institutions to be found on this continent, at 
an aggregate cost of $320,000. The main building has a fagade of 
260 feet. Here are the offices, study rooms, the quarters of officers 
and teachers, the pupils' dormitories and the library. The center 
of this building has a frontage of eighty feet, and is five stories high, 
with wings on either side 60 feet in frontage. In this Central 
structure are the store rooms, dining-hall, servants' rooms, hospital, 
laundry, kitchen, bakery and several school-rooms. Another struct- 
ure known as the " rear building " contains the chapel and another 
set of school-rooms. It is two stories high, the center being 50 feet 
square and the wings 40 by 20 feet. In addition to these there are 
many detached buildings, containing the shops of the industrial 
department, the engine-house and wash-house. 

The grounds comprise 105 acres, which in the immediate vicinity 
of the buildings partake of the character of ornamental or pleasure 
gardens, comprising a space devoted to fruits, flowers and veget- 
ables, while the greater part is devoted to pasture and agriculture. 
The first instructor in the institution was Wm. Willard, a deaf 
mute, who had up to 1844 conducted a small school for the instruc- 
tion of the deaf at Indianapolis, and now is employed by the State, 
at a salary of $800 per annum, to follow a similar vocation in its 
service. In 1853 he was succeeded by J. S. Brown, and subse- 
quently by Thomas Mclutire, who continues principal of the 
institution. 



'7'; 



►IV" 



\ 



338 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



HOSPITAL FOB THE INSANE. 



The Legislature of 1832-'3 adopted measures providing for a 
State hospital for the insane. This good work would have been 
done much earlier had it not been for the hard times of 1837, 
intensified by the results of the gigantic scheme of internal improve- 
ment. In order to survey the situation and awaken public sympa- 
thy, the county assessors were ordered to make a return of the 
insane in their respective counties. During the year 1842 the 
Governor, acting under the direction of the Legislature, procured 
considerable information in regard to hospitals for the insane in 
other States; and Dr. John Evans lectured before the Legislature 
on the subject of insanity and its treatment. As a result of these 
efforts the authorities determined to take active steps for the estab- 
lishment of such a hospital. Plans and suggestions from the 
superintendents and liospitals of other States were submitted to the 
Legislature in 1844, which body ordered the levy of a tax of one 
cent on the $100 for the purpose of establishing the hospital. In 
1845 a commission was appointed to obtain a site not exceeding 
200 acres. Mount Jackson, then the residence of Nathaniel Bolton, 
was selected, and the Legislature in 1846 ordered the commissioners 
to proceed with the erection of the building. Accordingly, in 
1847, the central building was completed, at a cost of $75,000. It 
has since been enlarged by the addition of wings, some of which 
are larger than the old central building, until it has become an 
immense structure, having cost over half a million dollars. 

The wings of the main building are four stories high, and entirely 
devoted to wards for patients, being capable of accommodating 
500. 

The grounds of the institution comprise 160 acres, and, like 
those of the institute for the deaf and dumb, are beautifully laid 
out. 

This hospital was opened for the reception of patients in 1848. 
The principal structure comprises what is known as the central 
building and the right and left wings, and like the institute for the 
deaf and dumb, erected at various times and probably under various 
adverse circumstances, it certainly does not hold the appearance of 
any one design, but seems to be a combination of many. ISTot- 
withstanding these little defects in arrangement, it presents a very 
imposing appearance, and shows what may be termed a frontage 






M^ 



A 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 239 

of 624 feet. The central building is five stories in height and con- 
tains the store-rooms, offices, reception parlors, medical dispensing 
rooms, mess-rooms and the apartments of the superintendent and 
other officers, with those of the female employes. Immediately 
ia the rear of the central building, and connected with it by a 
corridor, is the chapel, a building 50 by 60 feet. This chapel 
occupies the third floor, while the under stories hold the kitchen, 
bakery, employes' dining-room, steward's office, employes' apart- 
ments and sewing rooms. In rear of this again is the engine- 
house, 60 by 50 feet, containing all the paraphernalia for such an 
establishment, such as boilers, pumping works, fire plugs, hose, 
and above, on the second floor, the laundry and apartments of male 
employes. 

THE STATE PKISON SOUTH. 

Theflrst penal institution of importance is known as the "State 
Prison South," located at Jefiersonville, and was the only prison 
until 1859. It was established in 1821. Before that time it was 
customary to resort to the old-time punishment of the whipping- 
post. Later the manual labor system was inaugurated, and the 
convicts were hired out to employers, among whom were Capt. 
Westover, afterward killed at Alamo, Texas, with Crockett, James 
Keigwin, who in an aff'ray was fired at and severely wounded by a 
convict named Williams, Messrs. Patterson Hensley, and Jos. 
E. Pratt. During the rule of the latter of these lessees, the atten- 
tion of the authorities was turned to a more practical method of 
utilizing convict labor; and instead of the prisoners being per- 
mitted to serve private entries, their work was turned in the direc- 
tion of their own prison, where for the next few years they were 
employed in erecting the new buildings now known as the " State 
Prison South." This structure, the result of prison labor, stands 
on 16 acres of ground, and comprises the cell houses and work- 
shops, together with the prisoners' garden, or pleasure-ground. 

It seems that in the erection of these buildings the aim of the 
overseers was to create so many petty dungeons and unventilated 
laboratories, into which disease in every form would be apt to 
creep. This fact was evident from the high mortality character- 
izing life within the prison; and in the efforts made by the 
Government to remedy a state of things which had been permitted 
to exist far too long, the advance in prison reform has become a 
reality. From 1857 to 1871 the labor of the prisoners was devoted 






^ 



^i 



240 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

to the manufacture of wagons and farm implements; and again the 
old policy of hiring the convicts was resorted to; for in the latter 
year, 1871, the Southwestern Car Company was organized, and 
every prisoner capable of taking a part in the work of car- building 
was leased out. This did very well until the panic of 1873, when 
the company suffered irretrievable losses; and previous to its final 
down-fall in 1876 the warden withdrew convict labor a second time, 
leaving the prisoners to enjoy a luxurious idleness around the 
prison which themselves helped to raise. 

In later years the State Prison South has gained some notoriety 
from the desperate character of some of its inmates. Daring the 
civil war a convict named Harding mutilated in a most horrible 
manner and ultimately killed one of the jailors named Tesley. In 
1874, two prisoners named Kennedy and Applegate, possessing 
themselves of some arms, and joined by two other convicts named 
Port and Stanley, made a break for freedom, swept past the guard, 
Chamberlain, and gained the fields. Chamberlain went in pursuit 
but had not gone very far when Kennedy turned on his pursuer, 
fired and killed him instantly. Subsequently three of the prisoners 
were captured alive and one of them paid the penalty of death, 
while Kennedy, the murderer of Chamberlain, failing committal for 
murder, was sent back to his old cell to spend the remainder of his 
life. Bill Rodifer, better known as "The Iloosier Jack Sheppard," 
effected his escape in 1875, in the very presence of a large guard, 
but was recaptured and has since been kept in irons. 

This establishment, owing to former mismanagement, has fallen 
very much behind, financially, and has asked for and received an 
appropriation of $20,000 to meet its expenses, while the contrary 
is the case at the Michigan City prison. 

THE STATE PRISON NORTH. 

In 1859 the first steps toward the erection of a prison in the 
northern part of the State were taken, and by an act of the Legis- 
lature approved March 5, this -year, authority was given to construct 
prison buildings at some point north of the National road. For this 
purpose $50,000 were appropriated, and a large number of convicts 
from the Jeffersonville prison were transported northward to 
Michigan City, which was just selected as the location for the new 
penitentiary. The work was soon entered upon, and continued to 
meet with additions and improvements down to a very recent 
period. So late as 1875 the Legislature appropriated $20,000 



»V" 



\ 
s. 



Si 



*• 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 24X 

toward the construction of new cells, and in other directions also 
the work of improvement has been going on. The system of 
government and discipline is similar to that enforced at the Jeffer- 
sonville prison; and, strange to say, by its economical working has 
not only met the expenses of the administration, but very recently 
had amassed over $11,000 in excess of current expenses, from its 
annual savings. This is due almost entirely to the continual 
employment of the convicts in the manufacture of cigars and 
chairs, and in their great prison industry, cooperage. It differs 
widely from the Southern, insomuch as its sanitary condition has 
been above the average of similar institutions. The strictness of its 
silent system is better enforced. The petty revolutions of its 
inmates have been very few and insignificant, and the number of 
punishments inflicted comparatively small. From whatever point 
this northern prison may be looked at, it will bear a very favorable 
comparison with the largest and best administered of like establish- 
ments throughout the world, and cannot fail to bring high credit to 
its Board of Directors and its able warden. 

FEMALE PRISON AND REFORMATORY. 

The prison reform agitation which in this State attained telling 
proportions in 1869, caused a Legislative measure to be brought 
forward, which would have a tendency to ameliorate the condition 
of female convicts. Gov. Baker recommended it to the General 
Assembly, and the members of that body showed their appreciation 
of the Governor's philanthropic desire by conferring upon the bill 
the authority of a statute; and further, appropriated $50,000 to aid 
in carrying out the objects of the act. The main provisions con- 
tained in the bill may be set forth in the following extracts from 
the proclamation of the Governor: 

"Whenever said institution shall have been proclaimed to be 
open for the reception of girls in the reformatory department 
thereof, it shall be lawful for said Board of Managers to receive 
them into their care and management, and the said reformatory 
department, girls under the age of 15 years who may be committed 
to their custody, in either of the following modes, to- wit: 

" 1. When committed by any judge of a Circuit or Common 
Pleas Court, either in term time or in vacation, on complaint and 
due proof by the parent or guardian that by reason of her incorrig- 
ible or vicious conduct she has rendered her control beyond the 
power of such parent or guardian, and made it manifestly requisite 



-71- 



\ 



242 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

that from regard to the future welfare of such infant, and for the 
protection of society, she should be placed under such guardianship. 

"2. "When such infant has been committed by such judge, as 
aforesaid, upon complaint by any citizen, and due proof of such 
complaint that such infant is a proper subject of the guardianship 
of such institution in consequence of her vagrancy or incorrigible 
or vicious conduct, and that from the moral depravity or other- 
wise of her parent or guardian in whose custody she may be, 
such parent or guardian is incapable or unwilling to exercise the 
proper care or discipline over such incorrigible or vicious infant. 

"3. When such infant has been committed by such judge as 
aforesaid, on complaint and due proof thereof by the township 
trustee of the township where such infant resides, that such infant 
is destitute of a suitable home and of adequate means of obtaining 
an honest living, or that she is in danger of being brought up to 
lead an idle and immoral life." • 

In addition to these articles of the bill, a formal section of 
instruction to the wardens of State prisons was embodied in the 
act, causing such wardens to report the number of all the female 
convicts under their charge and prepare to have them transferred 
to the female reformatory immediately after it was declared to be 
ready for their reception. After the passage of the act the 
Governor appointed a Board of Managers, and these gentlemen, 
securing the services of Isaac Hodgson, caused him to draft a plan 
of the proposed institution, and further, on his recommendation, 
asked the people for an appropriation of another $50,000, which 
the Legislature granted in February, 1873. The work of construc- 
tion was then entered upon and carried out so steadily, that on the 
6th of September, 1873, the building was declared ready for the 
reception of its future inmates. Gov. Baker lost no time in 
proclaiming this fact, and October 4 he caused the wardens of the 
State prisons to be instructed to transfer all the female convicts in 
their custody to the new institution which may be said to rest on 
the advanced intelligence of the age. It is now called the 
" Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls." 

This building is located irariiediately north of the deaf and 
dumb asylum, near the arsenal, at Indianapolis. It is a three- 
story brick structure in the French style, and shows a frontage of 
174 feet, comprising a main building, with lateral and transverse 
wings. In front of the central portion is the residence of the 
superintendent and his associate reformatory officers, while in the 

■*7 s •- ^- s\ 



HISTORY OF INDIANA. 243 

rear is the engine house, with all the ways and means for heating 
the buildings. Enlargements, additions and improvements are 
still in progress. There is also a school and library in the main 
building, which are sources of vast good. 

October 31, 1879, there were 66 convicts in the " penal" depart- 
ment and 147 in the " girls' reformatory " department. The 
" ticket-of-leave " system has been adopted, with entire satisfaction, 
and the conduct of the institution appears to be up with the 
times. 

INDIANA HOUSE OF REFUGE. 

In 1867 the Legislature appropriated $50,000 to aid in the 
formation of an institution to be entitled a house for the correction 
and reformation of juvenile defenders, and vested with full powers 
in a Board of Control, the members of which were to be appointed 
by the Governor, and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
This Board assembled at the Governor's house at Indianapolis, 
April 3, 1867, and elected Charles F. CoflBn, as president, and 
visited Chicago, so that a visit to the reform school there might 
lead to a fuller knowledge and guide their future proceedings. 
The House of Kefuge at Cincinnati, and the Ohio State Eeform 
school were also visited with this design; and after full consider- 
ation of the varied governments of these institutions, the Board 
resolved to adopt the method known as the " family " system, 
which divides the inmates into fraternal bodies, or small classes, 
each class having a separate house, house father and family oflBces, 
— all under the control of a general superintendent. The system 
being adopted, the question of a suitable location next presented 
itself, and proximity to a large city being considered rather 
detrimental to the welfare of such an institution. Gov. Baker 
selected the site three-fourths of a mile south of Plainfield, and 
about fourteen miles from Indianapolis, which, in view of its 
eligibility and convenience, was fully concurred in by the Board 
of Control. Therefore, a farm of 225 acres, claiming a fertile soil 
and a most picturesque situation, and possessing streams of running 
water, was purchased, and on a plateau in its center a site for the 
proposed house of refuge was fixed. 

The next movement was to decide upon a plan, which ultimately 
met the approval of the Governor. It favored the erection of one 
principal building, one house for a reading-room and hospital, two 
large mechanical shops and eight family houses. January 1, 1868, 



^ 






\ Q_ 



244 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

three family houses and work-shop were completed; in 1869 the 
main building, and one additional family house were added; but 
previous to this, in August, 1867, a Mr. Frank P. Ainsworth and 
his wife were appointed by the Board, superintendent and matron 
respectively, and temporary quarters placed at their disposal. In 
1869 they of course removed to the new building. This is 64 by 
128 feet, and three stories high. In its basement are kitchen, 
laundry and vegetable cellar. The first floor is devoted to offices, 
visitors' room, house father and family dining-room and store- 
rooms. The general superintendent's private apartments, private 
offices and five dormitories for officers occupy the second floor; 
while the third floor is given up to the assistant superintendent's 
apartment, library, chapel and hospital. 

The family houses are similar in style, forming rectangular build- 
ings 36 by 58 feet. The basement of each contains a furnace 
room, a store-room and a large wash-room, which is converted into 
a play-room during inclement weather. On the first floor of each 
of these buildings are two rooms for the house father and his 
family, and a school-room, which is also convertible into a sitting- 
room for the boys. On the third floor is a family dormitory, a 
clothes-room and a room for the " elder brother," who ranks next 
to the house father. And since the reception of the first boy, from 
Hendricks county, January 23, 1868, the house plan has proved 
equally convenient, even as the management has proved efficient. 

Other buildings have since been erected. 





^ (5 ^ ■"■ & V 



J3 







1 



il j ^l 

Vcfvo]LiCr?4fifei|| 





J^^J 



) 



T 




HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



If- 



Importance of Local History. — Life in the Backwoods. — Cour- 
age OF THE Pioneers. — Their Labor and Rewards, — Change 
of Fifty Years. — Integrity and Generosity of the Early 
Settlers. — Grand Ac hievements. 

All history is essentially local. No record of events, however 
important, can make a vivid or lasting impression upon a reader's 
mind if the locality of the occurrences is not given due prominence. 
By association the scenes of great events become sanctified and 
endeared in the hearts of a people. Who, for instance, can gaze 
unmoved upon the house which was the home or the birthplace of 
an illustrious man? Who can give expression to his emotions as 
he stands upon the ground where some decisive struggle for liberty 
took place? 

Even the most prosaic places, even the simplest of every-day 
occurrences, are sometimes elevated beyond their natural condition, 
becoming illustrious and important on account of the memories 
which surrounded them. And even within the narrow limits of a 
county, events, perhaps of little moment in themselves, are con- 
stantly transpiring, which growing venerable through age become 
invested with peculiar interest, and are rightfully worthy of perpet- 
ual remembrance. A small community has its place in history as 
well as a large one. Every intelligent and public-spirited citizen 
feels a degree of pride in the achievements, the industrial growth 
the religious, social, and intellectual progress of his county. 

Thus it is that in almost every section of the Union efforts are 
now being made to perpetuate local history. No cause is more 
worthy of popular attention. Centuries hence, when a history ot 
the American people shall be written, the historian will gather his 
data largely from the facts which are now being collected and put 
16 (245) 



^•^ 



i^^ 



246 HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

in preservable form. But the greatest importance of local history 
lies in the interest which we may expect posterity to entertain for 
it. The work of the pioneers— humble in its details yet magnifi 
cent in its results; the first rudely built church or school-house; 
the founding of a village; the inception of an industry— each mark 
an epoch in the history of any locality. The nationality and char- 
acteristics of the early settlers; their lives, adventures and hard- 
ships; the part performed by them in civil, judicial or military 
affairs— all these are topics in which their descendants can never 
cease to have an interest. 

LIFE IN THE BACKWOODS. 

The life of the pioneer is humble yet glorious. He prepares the 
way for advancing civilization, endures poverty and hardship, toils 
without recompense, that his posterity may enjoy the full fruition 
of his labors. He is the adventurer in fields untried, the path- 
finder, the discoverer, the advance agent leading others to a land 
of promise. In all ages and countries he has been honored and 
remembered on account of his self-sacrificing labor. 

Pioneer life in Steuben County finds its almost exact counter- 
part in every part of the West. When the first settlers arrived 
here, they found a fair and beautiful region, but just left by the 
aboriginal inhabitants. Forests were to be felled, prairies broken 
cabins built, mills, school-houses, churches, roads— the labor of a 
lifetime rose before them. But were these bold spirits dismayed? 
Not they! They had journeyed from their far distant homes, 
through a rough country, over bad roads, rivers, swamps and 
marshes, passing nights with no shelter above them, and toiling 
forward by day, meeting new obstacles ever and anon. Now they 
had reached the land for which they had started, and fair and 
pleasant was the prospect. 

In Steuben County the settlement is of so recent date that al- 
most every one is familiar with pioneer ways either from actual 
experience or from hearsay. Nevertheless, for the benefit of pos- 
terity, who may be interested in knowing what was the real nature 
of pioneer life and the character of the work of the early settlers 
we devote a portion of this chapter to a description of primitive 
manners, customs and labor. 

Such has been the change since the days of our fathers and 
grandfathers in this State, it is almost as though a new race of 
beings had come into possession of the land. Clothing, diet, 






\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY . 247 

dwellings, social customs, individual habits, have all been trans- 
formed. Old ways are notour ways; but they were good ways, 
and served their purpose admirably, and the memory of them is 
full of tender interest to us. The earliest settlers, upon their ar- 
rival, constructed hastily what they called " three-faced camps; " 
that is, buildings with three walls, and the front open. These 
camps were usually about seven feet high, without floors, and 
roofed with poles upon which bark or shingles lay, held in place 
by weight-poles. No windows, doors or chimneys were needed in 
these dwellings, which were not built for temporary residences, 
but usually merely to serve as shelter while the cabin was being 
constructed. 

The cabin of round logs was a material advance upon the camp. 
The interstices between the logs were filled with chips, or sticks, 
then daubed abundantly with clay mortar. A log "house" — in 
distinction from a cabin — was constructed of hewed logs, and was 
the prevailing style of residence for rich and poor. The building 
was often without a floor, but more commonly one was built of 
" puncheons," or split logs, made smooth as possible on one side 
by the adze or the ax. The roof was covered with lone: shingles. 
or " shakes," held in place by weight-poles. For a flre-place, a 
space about six feet long was cut out of the logs at one end of the 
room, and three sides were built up with logs, making an offset in 
the wall. This was lined with stone when convenient, and plenti- 
fully daubed with clay. The chimney was built of small split 
sticks, plastered together with clay, and rose but little above the 
roof. 

A space for a doorway was cut in one side of the cabin, and in 
it was hung a door made of split shingles or puncheons, fastened 
together with cleats and wooden pins. The hinges were also of 
wood, and the latch. The latch-string was of leather, extending 
through a hole a few inches above the latch, to the outside, so that 
a pull lifted the latch from the catch enabling the door to open. 
It was only necessary for those inside to pull the latch-string in to 
lock the door securely against all comers. 

The living-room was of good size, as it ought to be — for it was 
parlor, dining-room, sitting-room, kitchen, pantry and bed-room, 
all in one. The rafters were usually adorned with flitches of bacon 
or festoons of dried pumpkins. In one corner of the apartment 
were seen the loom and, perhaps, the spinning wheel, while the 
kitchen utensils were grouped about the ample fire-place. One 



~B 



K 



»*~J ----- ■ ■ " " ~~ 

248 HisTOKi: OF steuben county. 

side of the room was devoted to the family wardrobe, which hung 
suspended from pegs driven into the wall. 

The trusty rifle usually hung of er the door, and near it the 
powder-horn and hunting-pouch. Well-to-do families had a spare 
room for guests — that is, a space in the loft of sufficient size to contain 
a bed, besides serving usually the purpose of a lumber-room. The loft 
was reached by a ladder from the main room . Sleeping apartments 
were sometimes separated from the sitting-room by partitions made 
by suspending quilts, coverlets or sheets from the upper floor. 

This mode of living was not so irksome as might be supposed. 
People soon became accustomed to it, and patiently put up with it 
until their means had increased sufficiently to enable them to enlarge 
their domicile by a lean-to, or, better yet, to construct a double log 
cabin — a happy distinction to which only the wealthy could attain. 
The furniture of the cabin was as primitive as the house itself. 
Bedsteads, chairs and tables were of home manufacture, and the 
makers were not always skilled workmen. The articles used in the 
kitchen were few and simple ; a " Dutch oven," a skillet, or long- 
handled frying pan, an iron pot or kettle, and sometimes a coffee- 
pot were all that the best furnished kitchen contained. When a 
stone-wall formed the base of the fire-place a long iron crane on which, 
attached to a pot-hook, hung a large pot or kettle, was one of the 
indispensable features. The style of cooking was necessarily sim- 
ple, as all of it had to be done at the fire-place and in the fire. Corn 
meal, cooked in various forms, such as "mush," " Johnnycake," 
" hoe-cake" and " pone," was one of the staple articles of diet. 
The "pone'' and "corn-dodger" were cooked in the Dutch oven, 
set upon a bed of glowing coals. The oven being filled with dough, 
the cover, already heated on the fire, was placed over it and cov- 
ered with hot embers. After the bread was cooked, it was taken 
from the oven and placed near the fire to keep it warm, while the 
oven was again pressed into use in the preparation of some other 
article of food. The "hoe-cake" was cooked upon a board or flat 
stone placed in front of the fire, a thick dough of meal and water 
having first been prepared. Cooked pumpkin was sometimes added 
to the dough to give it richness and flavor. Venison or ham was 
fried in the Dutch oven. Hominy or hulled corn was often added 
to the frugal meal. Wild honey was found in abundance; game 
was plenty, and although flour was at first scarce, the pioneer's 
bill of fare was usually a good one, containing a plenty, if not a 
variety, of good wholesome food, well cooked. 



"S \ 



^3 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 249 

The pioneers were true-hearted and hospitable. Strangers were 
never denied shelter or food, though often the family were much 
discommoded by furnishing such entertainment. The early set- 
tlers of Steuben County were mainly from the older States of the 
Union — New Tork, the New England States and Virginia — though 
there were some English and Irish. They were generally poor, and 
understanding the hardships and disadvantages of poverty them" 
selves, they sympathized with, and aided the more readily, those 
whom they found in need of assistance. Selfishness was not in 
their nature. They were bold, brave, free-hearted, and led useful and 
upright lives. Of course there were exceptions — now and then a self- 
ish man, and once in a great while a rascal — but the great body of the 
early settlers was composed of men fearless in the right, honest, 
generous, truthful, and independent even though they were poor- 
Their situation was one calculated to beget feelings of friendliness 
and helpfulness. They were all situated alike; all had left the asso- 
ciations and the friends of other days, and were seeking the accom- 
plishment of a difficult task. There was no room for idlers, but 
newcomers were looked upon as helpers, and the watch-word ap- 
peared to be, "The more the merrier." Says an early writer: 
" Men must cleave to their kind and must be dependent upon each 
other. Pride and jealousy give way to the natural yearnings of 
the human heart for society. They begin to rub off the neutral 
prejudices; one takes a step and then the other; they meet half 
way and embrace, and the society thus newly organized and con- 
stituted is more liberal, enlarged, unprejudiced, and, of course, more 
affectionate than a society of people of like birth and character who 
bring all their early prejudices as a common stock to be transmitted 
as an inheritance to posterity." 

The life of toil and hardship was one well calculated to develop 
a strong character and a self-reliant, trustful spirit. Many men of 
eminence have risen from humble homes; have studied by the fire- 
light, or in the old-fashioned log school-houses, and become distin- 
guished far above those reared in homes of luxury and schooled in 
aftiuence. The best citizens of Steuben County to day are those 
who have cleared the forests and subdued the prairies, or the 
descendants of these early settlers. The boys in early times were 
early taught to put their hands to every kind of farm work; they 
plowed and grubbed; pulled flax, broke and " hackled" it; wore tow 
shirts, coon-skin caps; picked and carded wool; and " spooled" and 
carded wool. The girls were taught to make and mend their own 



_2_ 






(^-^ 



250 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

clothes; to cook, wash and scrub; to lend a hand in the harvest field 
if necessary. They were not injured by the exercise. It gave 
them strength and muscle, and fitted them for useful wives and 
mothers. 

Such industry, coupled necessarily with energy and frugality, 
brought its own certain reward. The men grew prematurely old 
while sustaining their burdens, but they saw the forests pass away 
and beautiful fields of grain take their place. Marvelous indeed 
has been the change wrought in a half century. Many an aged pi- 
oneer, as he sits in his easy chair and overlooks the past, involun- 
tarily exclaims, "Is it possible that all these things have been 
wrought by the hand of man within the space of one life-time?'' 

" The voice of Nature's very self drops low, 
As though she whispered of the long ago, 
When down the wandering stream the rude canoe 
Of some lone trapper glided into view 
And loitered down the watery path that led 
Thro' forest depths that only knew the tread 
Of savage beasts and wild barbarians 
That skulked about with blood upon their hands 
And murder in their hearts. The light of day 
■ Might barely pierce the gloominess that lay 
Like some dark pall across the water's face 
And folded all the land in its embrace. 
The panther's screaming and the bear's low growl, 
The snake's sharp rattle and the wolfs wild howl, 
The owl's grim chuckle, as it rose and fell 
In alternation with the Indian's yell. 
Made fitting prelude for the gory plays 
That were enacted in the early days. 

" Now o'er the vision like a mirage, falls 
The old log cabin with its dingy walls 
And crippled chimney, with the crutch-like prop 
Beneath, a sagging shoulder on the top. 
The 'coon-skin battened fast on either side ; 
The whisps of leaf tobacco, cut and dried; 
The yellow strands of quartered apples hung 
In rich festoons, that tangle in among 
The morning-glory vines that clamber o'er 
The little clapboard rcof above the door; 
Again through mists of memory rise 
The simple scenes of home before the eyes : 
The happy mother, humming with her wheel 
The dear old melodies that used to steal 
So drowsily upon the summer air; 
The house-dog hid his bone, forgot his care 



"Tp 



■^ 



(O 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 251 

And nestled at her feet, to dream, perchance, 

Some cooling dream of winter-time romance. 

The square of sunshine through the open door 

That notched its edge across the puncheon floor, 

And made a golden coverlet, whereon 

The god of slumber had a picture drawn 

Of babyhood, in all the loveliness 

Of dimpled cheek and limb and linsey dress. 

The bough-filled fire-place and the mantle wide, 

Its fire-scorched ankles stretched on either side, 

Where, perchance upon its shoulders neath the joists 

The old clock hiccoughed, harsh and husky-voiced; 

Tomatoes red and yellow, in a row, 

Preserved not then for diet, but for show ; 

The jars of jelly, with their dainty tops ; 

Bunches of pennyroyal and cordial drops ; 

The flask of camphor and vial of squills, 

The box of buttons, garden seeds and pills. 

And thus the pioneer and helpsome, aged wife 

Reflectively review the scenes of early life." 

The clothing of the early settlers was simple, being usually en- 
tirely of home manufacture. The supply brought with the family 
into the new country was made to serve until flax could be raised 
from which to make more. It was with difiiculty that sheep could 
be kept, owing to the prairie wolves; but after sheep had been in 
troduced and flax and hemp raised in sufiicient quantities, it still 
remained a difficult task for the women of the household to make 
cloth and fashion clothing for the entire family. Flannel and lin- 
sey were woven and made into garments for women and children, 
and jeans for the men. The wool was usually colored with wal- 
nut or some other kind of bark; or else black and white wool mixed 
made "pepper and salt" cloth. Every household was a factory in 
which every branch of clothing manufacture was carried on — card- 
ing, spinning, weaving, cutting and sewing. Before carding ma- 
chines were introduced all the wool used was carded by hand on 
cards about four inches wide and eight or ten inches long. Flax, 
after being dried, broken and "scutched," was spun on a small 
wheel, worked by a treadle, such as may now be seen once in a 
while among the lumber of an ancient garret. Tow and linen 
cloth was worked into shirts and dresses, or pantaloons for summer 
wear. Tow, the coarse part of flax, formed the filling of the cloth, 
the strong linen threads being the warp. A tow and linen shirt 
was not a thing of beauty, and it had a tendency to irritate the 
skin, but the boys of that day were satisfied with it. 



& 



\ 






-'^U> 



CHAPTER II. 



SCIENTIFIC. 



Geography and Topography. — Geology. — ^Zoology. 

Steuben is smaller than a " model" county of sixteen townships, 
such as is frequently the size of the new counties in the West 
made by legislators with the aid of a map and pocket rule. It 
comprises six whole and six fractional congressional townships, 
or scarcely more than ten townships altogether. The county lies 
just in the northeastern corner of Indiana, and is bounded as 
follows : On the north by Branch and Hillsdale counties, Mich., 
on the east by Hillsdale County, Mich., and Williams County, 
Ohio; on the south by De Kalb County, Ind., and on the west 
by Lagrange County, Ind. The county contains the usual 
physical characteristics of the Northwestern States, having a 
gently rolling surface, originally covered with hard-wood timber. 
It is situated on the "divide" between the tributaries of the 
Mississippi and those of Lake Erie. Within the borders of 
Steuben County are between sixty and seventy clear water lakes, 
most of them having gravelly or sandy bottoms and fine beaches, 
and it is safe to say that no county in the Northwest offers greater 
advantages to the sportsman or to the weary city family seeking 
rest from their hot and dusty homes. All that this county needs 
is advertising. But one lake in the county has ever been adver- 
tised to any great extent, and that is hardly known outside of 
Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. That is Pleasant Lake, 
which for two or three years past has attracted a large number of 
persons, and become a favorite resort of excursionists. Owing to 
the scarcity of hotel accommodations, very few have remained 
more than a day or two, but if plans recently formed be carried 
out it will doubtless become in the course of a few years a popular 
place for summer gatherings. The village of Pleasant Lake is 
situated between two bodies of water — Pleasant and Long lakes. 
It is proposed to dredge the channel connecting these lakes with 
Golden, Hogback and Silver, thus enabling steamers to pass from 

(252) 



'V 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 253 

one to another with perfect freedom. The shores of all these 
lakes are quite bold and afford many beautiful sites for the build- 
ing of cottages and club-houses. All of these bodies of water are 
plentifully stocked with fish, such as pickerel, black bass, rock 
bass, perch, etc. Disciples of Kimrod can find no better place 
for their sport than in this vicinity, game such as ducks, quails, 
etc., being very plentiful. 

Six miles southeast of Pleasant Lake is Fish Lake, which has the 
reputation of containing as fine specimens of the finny tribe as 
can be found anywhere. Being situated several miles from a 
railroad, it is not so well known as many other lakes, but in case 
a railroad is ever completed on the Canada Southern grade, it 
would doubtless be within about two-hours ride of Toledo, and 
five ot Chicago. There are many beautiful building places on its 
banks, all of which will be utilized sometime when the communi- 
cation with the outside world is improved. 

In the extreme northeastern corner of the county is situated 
Clear Lake, which, next to Pleasant, is the best known of any ot 
the lakes of the county. It is situated two and a half miles from 
Ray station, on the Fort Wayne branch of the Lake Shore Road. 
There has been some talk of building a railroad from the nearest 
point on the Lake Shore, but the prospect has seemingly been 
abandoned. 

Lake George, situated near the village of Jamestown, part of 
the lake being in the State of Michigan, is a favorite resort for 
parties who desire to spend a few days camping out and fishing. 
The water is clear, and experienced anglers claim to have better 
luck here than at any other place. 

Of all the lakes in the county, James and Crooked are the 
largest, and were they nearer a railroad, would present unrivaled 
attractions; and, as it is, they will doubtless within a few years 
have their banks dotted with summer residences and club-houses, 
negotiations having already been entered into by Fort Wayne parties 
for the purchase of building sites on the banks of Crooked Lake. 

Of the dozens of lovely lakes in the county, it is probable that, 
all things considered, Lake Gage, eleven miles northwest of 
Angola and five miles from Orland, presents the most attractions 
and never fails to excite the unqualified admiration of visitors. 
Being surrounded on every side but one with high gravel banks 
and entirely free from marshes, it presents an appearance which 
can find few equals anywhere. 

"71 s »~ ^^ ©Pv^ 



A, 



v> 



254r HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

There are many other bodies of water in the county deserving 
of note. The water found in these lakes is remarkably free from 
mineral matter. A few years ago the State Geologist made an 
analysis of the water in Lake James, and in an imperial gallon 
found only ten and one-half grains of mineral substance, there 
being of bicarbonate of lime seven grains; iron, alumina and 
silica, two and one-tenth grains, and magnesia one and four-tenths 
grains. From the bottom of any of the lakes, water may be 
drawn in the middle of summer with a temperature of fifty degrees 
Fahrenheit. 

The ancient shores of many of these lakes are composed of 
carbonate of lime, which is of a creamy tint, almost white. The 
water area of these lakes is constantly diminishing, thus adding 
to the agricultural surface. The carbonate of lime is due to or- 
ganic matter, since it contai ns only a trace of oxide of iron, and 
the discoloration disappears when it is burned. At one time this 
chalk was in common use for the manufacture of quick-lime, for 
which purpose it answers very well. Samples of this fresh-water 
chalk have been collected from various localities by members of 
the geological survey corps. An analysis of a sample taken from 
section 4, township 37, range 13, resulted as follows : 

Water at 212° F , . 8.00 per cent. 

Carbonic Acid and Combined Acid 41.50 " 

Insoluble Silicates .30 " 

Oxid of Iron, a trace 

Alumina 1.50 " 

Lime , 45.36 " 

Magnesia 3.42 " 

Sulphuric Acid , 10 " 

Phosphoric Acid 38 " 

Total 100.56 " 

A heavy deposit of lime or marl lies along the west margin of 
James Lake, and in the early settlement of the region it was 
worked for lime for making mortar, the pits being still visible. 
Aquatic plants are now encroaching on the water in almost all di- 
rections, which give the margins a marshy appearance. 

Coal has been discovered in one or two places in Steuben County, 
and indications exist in other localities; but it is not likely that 
much can be found in the way of mineral wealth. The State 
Geologist says in regard to coal and petroleum in this county that 



_J^Q- 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 255 

coal was brought down here in the early drift period by the ice 
along with the boulders and material that now enrich the soil. 
Beneath bituminous shales and deposits of the Devonian age 
there is often found a small quantity of petroleum which oozes out, 
but after a time is exhausted and ceases This is the case in all 
counties in Northern Indiana. He pronounces such discoveries 
as have been made here to be of no economic importance whatever. 

GEOLOGICAL STRUCTUKE OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 
BY T. J. SANDEBS, A. M. 

Having in mind the thousands of pupils who receive instruction 
in the excellent schools of Steuben County, and conscious that the 
greater part of those who have come to maturer years are unac- 
quainted with the subject of general geology, I desire, in the first 
place, to describe the formation of the world as a whole and give 
such an account of the great periods of the earth's history that 
we may be able to find our place in that history, and thus, as in 
locating a place upon a map first, we may be the better able after- 
ward to study it more satisfactorily and understandingly. Indeed, 
without this method of procedure, all our ideas are vague and the 
entire work unsatisfactory and unscientific. 

Omitting the nebular hypothesis, which assumes the earth, to- 
gether with all our bodies of the solar system, to have been in 
primeval times in the form of an incandescent gas of incompre- 
hensible dimensions, and the second step derived from the former, 
through long cycles of whirling motion, radiation, and condensa- 
tion, the liquid or molten earth, with its wonderful processes of 
crust formation, we begin oar brief description with the process of 

ROCK-FOBMATION. 

The first or original rock is what was first formed as a crust, igne- 
ous rock, rock without form or strata — a mere slag. The earth, 
losing heat by radiation and becoming smaller, the crust, in ac- 
commodating itself to the smaller sphere, must necessarily rise in 
some places and sink in others, just as by the shrinking of an 
orange the rind becomes wrinkled. Then the water, having been 
previously formed as the result of the great world formation, the 
residue, the ash-Aeap of the great conflagration, obeying the law of 
gravity, is gathered together into the depressed areas and thus the 
dry land, or rather the dry rock, appears. 






\ 



lW 



256 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Now, by the action of winds, rains, waves and the various chem- 
ical and mechanical agencies, tlie exposed rock is decomposed, 
carried to the sea, and deposited in horizontal strata, which, in 
process of time, becomes stratified rock, jnst as is being done at the 
mouths of the rivers and the beach and bottom of the oceans of 
to day. 

BASEMENT EOCK. 

From the. preceding, we may conclude that there is everywhere 
beneath the waters and soil of the earth's surface a basement of 
rock, sometimes called hed-rock. The outcropping of rock above 
the surface, the rocky bluiFs forming the sides of many valleys, the 
ledges projecting from the sides of mountains, and the cliffs of the 
sea-shore are portions of this rock exposed to view, Now, the 
various strata which compose the stratified rocks of the globe, 
with their included fossils, are the leaves of that great book which 
unfolds to us the history of the earth through its incomprehensibly 
long periods of time. Tlie lowest strata, of course, furnish us the 
first chapter in that history. In no part of the earth's surface is 
the record complete, but all have their long blanks — periods in 
which no strata occur. This is caused by the elevating of the 
crust above the waters of the ocean, and, when this is continental, 
■fim& is appended to the chapter and the history of the rocks is 
finished forever. 

In North America we have an excellent example of the unfold- 
ing and development of geological hist<n'y, and as the continent 
gradually emerged from the ocean, it left us the record almost 
complete. The following section is a representation of the succes- 
sive geological ages, with the corresponding formations and periods 
of the globe, by the side of which is placed that of Steuben County 
with its many and immensely long blanks between the Devonian 
and Quaternery or Psychozoic Ages. 

Thus a glance at the section will show us our place in the history 
of the formation of the globe, not the least interesting part of 
which is the long blank between the Devonian and Quarternery 
Ages, showing us conclusively that our soil rests upon the Devo- 
nian. At the close of the above-named period, all Northern Indi- 
ana and a strip extending through the central part of the State to 
the Ohio River emerged from beneath the sea and the history of 
the rocks of Steuben County was finished forever. 



o S- 






<1 VERTICAL SECTION OF THE ROCKS I> 



A gj:s. 



OF THE GLOBE. 

K O CKS. 



PERIODS. 



or STEUBEN C0UHT7. 
ROCKS. 




iW 



^ 



Pv 



■^ 



258 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



THE DEVONIAN FORMATION 



* 



So named by Sedgwick and Murchison from Devonshire, Eng- 
land, where it occurs well developed and abounds in fossils, and 
its age, the Age of Fishes, so called because in it the first known 
fishes are found, is in no part of the county exposed to view, 
neither has it been reached in the sinking of wells; hence all our 
knowledge of it must be gained from exposed areas and sections in 
other localities. Omitting the rock formation, because completely 
hidden from view, we come to the study of that wliich is apparent 
to all, that in which the farmer plows, upon which our wagon roads 
and railroads are builded, and upon which we all depend for our 
daily bread — the immense superincumbent mass of soil known as 

DRIFT. 

The farmer boy, as he walks over the meadow with its carpet of 
green and wanders beside the babbling brook, or, as with sturdy 
hand he turns the grassy sward, uncultured though he be, asks 
himself the question, "From whence came all this that is spread 
out so beautifully around me ? These huge stones which I see ly- 
ing upon the surface or imbedded within the soil, how came they 
here? Do they grow? 'The hills, rock-ribbed and ancient as the 
sun,' how were they formed? and what is their history?" Ah ! If 
they could speak and tell us what scenes they have witnessed, the 
story would be of far more interest than that of Belzoni's mummy, 
for it could tell us of the world not merely as it was " three thou- 
sand years ago," but stretching far back into the illimitable past, 
they could tell much of the Creator's plans in fitting up the earth 
as the abode of man. 

All soil, with the trifling exception of the thin stratum of vege- 
table mold that covers the ground in many localities, is formed 
from the disintegration of rocks. Now, there are two great classes 
of soil, to one of which every kind of soil may be referred, that is, 
soil formed m situ — in the place where found — and that which has 
been transported, when formed, to places more or less remote from 
the parent rock. It is to the latter of these that our soil belongs 
and hence that which we wish to treat. 

* For a description of the rocks of this age, and also of its Life-System, both 
animal and vegetable, the reader is referred to the three excellent works of Prof 
Dana, the " Geological Story," the " Text-Book," and the" Manual," the masterly 
work of Prof. Le Conte, and to the many and valuable Geological Reports of 
Ohio and Indiana. 



■^' 



>> 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 259 

Strewed all over the northern part of North America, over hill 
and dale, over field and plain, covering alike, in places, all the 
country rock to a depth of thirty to three hundred feet, thus largely 
concealing them from view, and extending in general from the 
Kocky Mountains eastward, and southward to the fortieth parallel 
of latitude, is found this peculiar surface soil or deposit. It consists 
of a heterogeneous mixture of clay, sand, gravel, pebbles, sub-an- 
gular stones of all sizes, un sorted, unsifted, unfossiliferous. The 
lowest part lying in immediate contact with the subjacent rock is 
often a stiff clay including sub-angular stones; hence this is often 
called the boulder clay or hard pan. ''These included boulders," 
says Prof. Geikie, "are scattered higgledy-piggledy, pell-mell, 
through the clay so as to give the whole deposit a highly confused 
and tumultuous appearance." On examining many of these stones, 
they will be found to be angular in shape, but the sharp corners 
and edges are invariably smoothed away, their faces will be 
smoothed and frequently grooved with parallel scratches. Indeed 
in concretionary stones and others having an egg shape, often one 
whole end has been ground off, showing conclusively its history. 
On the other hand, lying all over this drift soil, in clusters, in iso- 
lated rocks, and in belts varying in width from a single line to two 
or three miles, are found many boulders of all sizes; in some lo- 
calities they are of huge dimensions and weigh hundreds of tons. 
These unscratched, or erratic blocks, as they are sometimes called 
have attracted the attention and excited the wonder of those in the 
humblest walks of life, and since they are composed of materials 
foreign to the local geology, were regarded by them as foreigners 
which had been brought from a distance and strewed over the sur- 
face or perched upon declivities in some incomprehensible way. 
It is now very appropriate to investigate the causes for all this 
phenomena spread out before us. 

Whenever the underlying rock is of sufficient hardness to retain 
an impression, and for any cause is exposed to view, it is always 
found to be plowed and planed and grooved with long parallel 
striae and ruts. Thus, these scratches, with the superincumbent 
drift, the boulder-clay, and the surface boulders, furnish for us phe- 
nomena, the exact counterpart of which is found on a smaller scale 
in all the glaciated regions of the world to-day — Alaska, Green- 
land, Switzerland, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Antarctic 
continent. Given identical phenomena, we must conclude there 
was an identical cause. Given identical phenomena in the one 



<s- 



r 



\ 



260 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



case on a much larger and grander scale, we must conclude there 
was a cause of far greater and grander proportions. There was. 
then, a time in the past, when for hundreds of years the winters 
grew steadily both longer and colder; the equatorial current, be- 
ing pressed southward at Cape St. Eoque, was pouring more and 
more of its waters into the South Atlantic. The moisture was all 
precipitated as snow, and these all mutually reacting upon each 
other so that each effect strengthened the cause, brought about the 
period known as the great Ice Age, and formed an immense con- 
tinental ice-sheet or Polar Ice Cap which extended in general to 
the fortieth degree of latitude, with local extensions of its icy 
fingers down river valleys far to the southward. 

In the beginning of the Archaean Age, at the time of the first 
known continental emergence in the history of the world, there 
was formed a high mountain range north of the great lakes, ex- 
tending from Labrador to the Lakes of the Woods and thence north- 
ward to the Arctic Ocean, the degradation of which has furnished 
the material for the stratified rocks that surround it, and, being 
especially active in the glacial period, it also furnished the greater 
part of our drift material. Thus through the lapse of countless ages 
down to the present time, all the mountain peaks and chains of this 
Laurentian continent, as it is frequently called, have been removed 
and carried into the sea, and, as a result, there remain only the 
truncated bases of the various arches and folds to testify to their 
former existence and magnitude. Thus we see that these archtean 
mountains are the means, and the Ice Cap, together with what 
follows, the melting of the ice, are the agents in performing the 
final work in fitting up this part of our earth-home. For with its 
ponderous mass of ice a mile in thickness and constantl}^ increas- 
ing as it approaches the pole, moving southward, it gjround the 
softer rocks to powder, brought hither our soil, scooped out the 
great lakes and the multitude of smaller ones in their latitude, and 
by the retreating of the glacier, the immense floods and the conse- 
quent hosts of icebergs, the river valleys were hollowed out, the 
hills and the gravel beds formed, and the surface boulders were 
dropped by the river's side and over the fields and plains. 

The glacier in forming the Erie basin, as is indicated by the fur- 
rows made at difterent points, moved from east to west along the 
line of its way or axis. It plowed up the Huron and Erie shales, 
in the east end, to a great depth, but moving westward it came 
upon the hard floor of corniferous limestone and but a shallow basin 



■^ 



•V| g ' fc- ^ O) ^ 



Q\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 261 

was formed. Here the many beautiful and fertile islands particu- 
larly testify to the unyielding hardness of the rocks. Thence pass- 
ing southwest to New Haven and Fort Wayne, and from New 
Haven on down the Wabash Yalley, it determined the valleys of 
two rivers which would, in turn, one day, through long periods of 
time, drain the waters of Lake Erie to the gulf and convey to itself 
all of the waters of the great Maumee basin. Now, by a process the 
exact reverse of that which produced the glacial epoch, there was 
brought about a period of much warmer climate known as the 

CHAMPLAIN. 

This was characterized by melting of ice and snow, a far more 
extended and higher condition of the great lakes, by multitudes of 
icebergs floating southward over these inland seas and dropping 
their loads of earth, sand, gravel and boulders, by numerous floods 
which broadened and deepened the river valleys and the pell-mell 
dumping of gravel and stones over hills and valleys, with the strat- 
ification of whatever was deposited by the water. 

As proof of the greater extent and elevation of the lakes we have, 
for example, about Lake Erie five successive margins up to the 
elevation of 250 feet above its present level. Of these, the first 
and highest passes. from Adrian, Mich., through Fayette, Ohio, 
Hamar, West Unity, Pulaski, Bryan and Farmer Center. ' From' 
the latter place it passes into Defiance County and is divided into 
two nearly parallel lines west of Farmer Center, and continues its 
course southwesterly through Hicksville into the southeast corner 
of De Kalb County, thence on to New Haven and Fort Wayne. 
Here it forms parallel lines on the opposite sides of that old river 
which never had a name and no man ever saw; thence it passes 
eastward through Yan Wert, Delphos and Findley. 

A higher and equally continuous ridge lies back of this, passing 
from Hudson, Mich., on the left bank of the St. Joseph River, 
through Pioneer, Montpelier and Edgerton to Fort Wayne, and on 
the right bank of the St. Mary's running southeasterly to Lima 
and Kenton. 

This is not usually regarded as an old lake beach, but rather as 
a swell of the Erie clay determined by a buried moraine.* 

* The formation of the lake b aches and ridges constitute the last scenes in 
the great geological drama; nor should we look upon them as taking place in 
rapid succession, but slowly through long periods of time, just as in the near 
future, geologically speaking, the present margins of Lake Erie will be left far 
inland by the wearing away of Niagara's rocky bed and the retreating of the 
Falls. 



JLL 



•fW 



262 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

This ridge, commonly called the St. Mary's Ridge, though it 
seems to me it would better be called the St. Joseph and St. Mary's 
JRidge, exerts a very controlling influence over the drainage of the 
country; for it determines the basin of the two noble rivers, the St. 
Joseph and the St. Marj^'s. 

These properly have tributaries flowing into them from one di- 
rection only, in the St. Joseph from the right, and in the St, Mary's 
from the left, and by their confluence at Fort Wayne, the one flow- 
ing in a southwesterly course, the other in a northwesterly course, 
they form the Mauraee, which flows back to Toledo, Ohio — not the 
resultant of the two forces, but directly the opposite of it. Thus 
this system of drainage, of which Steuben County furnishes an 
honorable part, has two most interesting features, the like of which, 
except the Tiffin and Auglaize and the second lake beach, so far as 
we know, is not to be found elsewhere upon the globe. Now, if 
the reader will refer to the section, he will be able to see our place 
more clearly. Far beneath us is the original or crust rock. Super- 
imposed upon this we have formed chiefly by the degradation of 
the Laurentian Mountains, the many and diverse strata that con- 
stitute the periods of the Silurian and Devonian ages. At the close 
of the last-named age, our county arose from beneath the ancient 
sea and its rock formation was at an end. It will also be observed 
that simultaneous with these formations there were formed in Scot- 
land and Wales the strata of the Old Red Sandstone, by the study 
of which, with chisel and hammer, Hugh Miller rendered both 
them and himself immortal. Thus, with the long blanks before 
us, it would be idle to look for coal or any of the interesting and 
useful formations of the Carboniferous, Reptilian and Tertiary 
ages; but while these phenomena were taking place, our county, 
with its head above the waves, like a silent and lonely sentinel, 
gazed upon these wonderful transformations, including the emer- 
gence of the continent southward and the gradual yet wonderful 
formation of the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. After all 
this was accomplished, the ponderous and mighty glacier, moving 
southward with grandeur and irresistible force, brought hither our 
300 feet of drift-soil, rich in the elements of the old granitic rocks, 
and consisting of alternate layers of yellow and blue clay, sand and 
gravel of varying thickness. Thus there is formed for us the best 
of conditions for obtaining good water. There are three strata of 
sand with impervious clay on either side, having an average depth 
of twelve, twenty -five, and forty -five feet. This is known by the 



& 



\ 






<a_ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 263 

many excellent wells all over the country, the greater number and 
best of which are generally obtained by sinking the tube to the 
second stratum of sand, having an average depth of twenty-five 
feet. On the retiring of the glacier, tliere was left upon the sur- 
face in the northwestern part of De Kalb County numerous 
boulders which may be traced northward through Steuben County 
and the State of Michigan, increasing both in size and number to 
the place of their origin — the region beyond the lakes. About 
this time, or just subsequent to it, was formed the St. Joseph, and, 
for the first time in its history, the waters of this phenomenal river 
are coursing southward, not yet to Lake Erie, but through the chan- 
nel of the Wabash on to the Gulf. Following this began the dep- 
osition of the alluvial bottom lands on either side of the river 
and its tributaries, of which are formed our most beautiful and 
fertile farms. Now, the margins of Lake Erie crossing the south- 
eastern part of the county, through the action of winds and waves, 
formed those beautiful ridges, previously described. These, "being 
composed chiefly of sand and fine gravel with sufficient clay to pack 
well, and yet sufficiently porous to drain well," have from the first 
afforded the people in their vicinity the best of roads, known here 
and wherever found as the "Ridge E.oads." 

Proceeding from below upward in our investigations, we arrive at 
last at the thin stratum of vegetable mold, covering the drift, which 
has been formed by the annual coating of leaves for untold years. 
This, together with the pulverized and partially decomposed granitic 
rock, the enormous drift covering, furnishes for the farmer a soil that 
is^at once fertile and inexhaustible; for if he will but " plow deep, 
while sluggards sleep, he will have plenty of corn to sell and keep." 

Thus, though we are not blessed with mines of the precious 
metals, nor coal, nor iron, nor copper, yet we have in our soil an 
inexhaustible mine of true wealth, the foundation of a nation's 
true greatness, the basis, the hidden spring that sets in motion the 
wheels of trade and commerce throughout the world. And the 
farmer, in his high and time-honored calling, holds in his hand the 
electric key, by means of which he sends the thrill of life-giving 
pulsations throughout the whole world of human industry and sets 
in motion its countless spindles and wheels the sweet music of 
whose hum is heard in every clime. 

ZOOLOGY. 

Although no large body of water exists within or near the bor- 



~s 



FT 






264 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



ders of Steuben County it formerly had a respectable number of 
both species and individuals of the animal' kingdom. It afforded 
the Indian and the pioneer an abundance of wholesome wild meats, 
and in great variety, as well as a plentiful supply of useless or 
mischievous animals. According to the rule the world over, the 
larger animals disappeared first before the advancing tread of human 
occupation, and then the next in size, and so on, down to the rac- 
coon, opossum, etc., which still exist, though in diminishing num- 
bers. The buffalo and elk were the largest, and they disappeared 
on the very first approach of the white man, with his deadly rifle 
and indefatigable hound. 

ANIMALS. 

The common deer, which was abundant in pioneer times, is now 
very scarce in Indiana, being occasionally seen in some of the 
wildest portions of the State. The last one known to be in Steuben 
County was killed as much as twenty years ago. 

The panther {Felix concolor) and two species of wild cat {Lynx 
Canadensis and rufus) used to infest the woods, and render travel- 
ing somewhat dangerous to the early settler, but the last seen in 
the county were about a third of a century ago. 

The black bear, porcupine and beaver have not been seen here 
for a still longer period. 

Minks, weasels and skunks, once common, are diminishing. 
Twenty to thirty years ago there was a brisk trade here in their 
furs and other peltry which perceptibly thinned out the fur-bearing 
animals. 

Fox and gray squirrels keep up their proportion with the dimin- 
ishing forest. The gray species is the most numerous, among 
which a black specimen is occasionally met with. Flying squirrels 
are still here, but as they are entirely nocturnal in their habits 
they are seldom seen. There are also ground squirrels in abundance. 

Moles, rabbits and bats are of course still common. 

No others have been seen for many years, though they were fre- 
quent in early days. There are still a good many muskrats. 

Occasionally there is a gray fox met with, but no red foxes have 
been seen for a long time. 

Wolves, of the large gray or " timber" species, were plentiful 
in early times, and more annoying and mischievous than all other 
animals put together; but they are now, of course, extinct. 

Groundhogs, or " woodchucks," were never plentiful, and are so 
scarce now that seldom can one be found. 



v> 



yr, 



\ 



Ai 



ik. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 265 

" Wild hogs," or domestic liogs escaped and running wild, were 
abundant in pioneer times. In a few generations these animals 
became as furious and dangerous as wolves. 

BIRDS. 

Of the 250 species of birds found in Steuben County, either con- 
stantly or occasionally in emigration, the group of singers exceeds 
in number all others, though the really excellent musicians among 
them number but fifteen or twenty. The most numerously repre- 
sented division, the wood warblers {Tanagridce) are not fine singers. 
The best songsters of the forest belong to the thrush and mocking- 
bird family. 

Thrush Family. — The superior singing bird of Steuben County 
is the superior singer of all the world, namely, the wood-thrush. It 
is really more entertaining than the famous nightingale of Europe, 
Its melodious, flute-like tones are altogether "too sweet" for de- 
scription. They are grouped into short tunes of eight, ten or 
twelve notes each, and there are six or eight tunes sung by this 
bird, with intervals of five to six or seven seconds between them. 

Next to this prima donna of the forest are the olive-backed (or 
Swainson's) thrush, Wilson's thrush, the northern mocking-bird 
(or cat-bird), the brown thrush and the robin. These are all migra- 
tory birds, spending the summer here but the winter in the South. 
The robin sometimes remains all winter. The hermit and the 
olive-backed thrushes are more common in the spring and fall. 
The robin and the cat-bird frequent the orchards and gardens, nest- 
ing about the door-yards, and prefer these places to the woods, 
probably because of greater security from birds or other animals 
of prey. The brown thrush is found in the thickets of hazel-brush, 
briers, etc., which skirt old fences and the edge of woods, and gen- 
erally nests in brush heaps. The remainder of this family is con. 
fined to the woodland. Their food consists of beetles, grasshoppers, 
snails, spiders, caterpillars, etc, together with small fruits and 
berries. 

Bluebird Family. — The bluebird is the only representative of 
this family in the county. It is common from spring to fall, nest- 
ing in bird-houses, fence-posts, decayed trees, and feeds on winged 
insects, worms, grasshoppers, spiders and a scant proportion of 
berries. 

Kinglets. — The ruby-crowned and the golden-crowned kinglets 
and the blue-gray gnat-catcher are all common during the spring 



-^' 



•V 



266 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



and fall. The first-mentioned is frequently found in winter, and 
the gnat-catcher is abundant during the summer. These are con- 
fined to the woods. The kinglets nest in the lake region, but the 
gnat-catcher nests here, building a wonderful structure high up on 
the oaks. It is somewhat purse-shaped, and often at the extrem- 
ity of a bough, so as to sway with the wind, secure from enemies. 
It is placed in a concealed situation, and artistically, as well as 
substantially, finislied. 

Chickadee. — The titmouse, or black-capped chickadee, the only 
member of this family here, feeds upon insects, seeds, berries, 
crumbs, meat, etc., and generally nests in the woods, where it 
makes its home most of the year, but during the winter it is seen 
near the house, feeding upon sweepings from the table. 

NatkatGlies. — The white-bellied and the red-bellied nuthatch are 
common, especially the former. These birds are found in wood- 
lands and orchards. Their nests are built in holes in trees. Food 
— ants, eggs of insects and seeds. 

Brown Creeper. — A common spring, fall and winter resident, 
and a woodland bird, is to be mentioned in this connection. 

Wren Family. — The Carolina wren is a very rare straggler from 
the South. The house wren is common locally. The winter wren 
is a common spring and fall visitor, often remaining during the 
open winters. The long-billed marsh wren is a common summer 
resident of the marshes, building a large globular nest of coarse 
sand-grass, suspended to reeds or flag stems. The short-billed 
marsh-wren is a common summer resident, generally found on low 
meadow lands. The wrens feed on insects only. 

Larh Family. — The horned lark is a winter resident, but some- 
times breeds here. It frequents barren and gravelly fields, feed- 
ing on seeds and insects. When the ground is covered with snow 
they may be seen feeding upon the droppings of stock about the 
farm. 

The Titlark is an abundant migrant in late fall and early spring, 
frequenting the same localities and subsisting on the same food as 
the preceding. There are sometimes large flocks of this species 
of bird. 

Warblers. — These are numerous. The black and white creeper 
is a common summer resident, nesting on the ground, generally 
beside a fallen log. The blue yellow-backed warbler, a rare mi- 
gratory bird, is sometimes found in the tree-tops of the wild forest. 
The blue-winged yellow warbler is rare. The blue golden-winged 



■t 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 267 

warbler is common in spring and fall. The Nashville and Tennessee 
warblers are very common. The orange-crowned warbler is rare. 
The yellow, the black-throated green, the black-throated blue, the 
blue, the yellow-rumped, the blackburnian, the black-poll, the yellow 
red-poll, and the chestnut-sided warblers are all common — some of 
them abundant; all migrants. The bay-breasted, the Cape May, 
the prairie, the yellow-throated and Kirtland's warblers are rare. 
The golden-crowned thrush {Soiurus atiricipillus) is a common 
summer resident, frequenting low open woods. The water thrush 
(xS'. Naevius) is rare, bat breeds here. The large-billed water 
thrush is common in swampy timber lands. The Connecticut war- 
bler is rare, but may become common. It is a fine songster. The 
Mar^'land yellow-throat is found occasionally. The black-capped 
fly-catching warbler is common during the spring and autumn. 
Canada fly-catching warbler, common. Red start, very common. 

Tanagers. — The scarlet tanager is common, and the summer red- 
bird (sometimes kept in cages) rare, accidentally straying from the 
South. 

Swallow Family. — The barn, cliff or eave, white-bellied, and 
the bank or sand swallows are common. The purple martin, for- 
merly common, is being driven out by the English sparrow. The 
swallows feed exclusively upon winged insects. 

Wax-wings. — The Carolina wax-wing or cherry bird is a com- 
mon resident, breeding in August and September, and feeding on 
the cultivated fruits. 

Vireos. — There are a half-dozen species of these in this section 
of the country, inhabiting woodlands, some of them common, some 
of them rare. 

Shrikes or Butcher Birds. — The great Northern shrike is rare; 
the logger-head shrike, two varieties, is common. These form a 
small but interesting family ot bold and spirited birds, quarrel- 
some among themselves. They form a kind of connecting link 
between insect-eating birds and birds of prey. Their food con- 
sists of large insects, mice and small birds and snakes. They are 
noted for impaling their prey on thorns or sharp twigs and leaving 
it there — for what purpose is not yet known. 

Finch and Sparrow Family. — Numerous; pine grosbeak,an oc- 
casional winter visitor; purple finch, a common migrant; white- 
winged and red cross-bills, rare winter visitors; red-poll linnet, an 
irregular winter visitor; pine linnet, a rare winter visitor from the 
North; goldfinch, or yellow bird, common and well-known; has the 

' "/Is — ~^ '■ ^ g\ 



268 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



appearance of a canary; snow-bunting, a common but irregular 
winter visitor; Lapland long-spur, a common winter visitor; Savan- 
nah sparrow, a common migrant; bay-winged bunting, very com- 
mon from spring to fall; yellow-winged, Henslow's and Lincoln's 
sparrows, are summer residents; swamp and song sparrows, 
common, the latter abundant all the warm season; snow-bird, 
common in winter; mountain sparrow, common in winter; chip- 
ping and field sparrows, common in summer; white-throated 
and white-crowned sparrows, common migrants; English sparrow, 
abundant in the towns, driving out our native song-birds; fox 
sparrow, a very common spring and fall visitor; black-throated 
bunting, growing common; rose-breasted grosbeak, a common sum- 
mer resident; breeds along the water-courses in low trees and 
shrubs; indigo bird, abundant in summer, frequenting low wood- 
lands overrun with briers; towhee bunting orchewink, abundant. 

Birds of this family feed entirely upon seeds except during the 
breeding season. Those which are residents all the year and those 
which are summer residents only subsist during the breeding sea- 
son and feed their young almost exclusively upon insects. At 
other times their food consists of the seeds of grass and weeds. 

The rose-breasted grosbeak is the only bird known to feed on the 
potato bug, and the white-crowned sparrow feeds on the grape-vine 
flea-beetle. The common yellow bird, or goldfinch, prefers the 
seeds of the thistle and lettuce. The fox sparrow and chewink 
scratch the ground for hibernating insects and snails. The cross- 
bills feed on the seeds in pine cones, and the English sparrow 
feeds on the seeds contained in the droppings of animals. 

BlacJcbird Family. — Bobolink, common and well-known; a 
fine and cheerful songster; cow-bird, or cow blackbird, a summer 
visitor, frequenting old pasture land and the edge of woods; like the 
European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests 
of smaller birds, such as warblers, vireos and sparrows. Red-winged 
black-bird, abundant in summer; meadow-lark, well known; or- 
chard and Baltimore orioles are very common; rusty blackbird, or 
grackle, is common for a week or two in spring; crow blackbird, 
common and well known. 

With the exception of one or two species, this family is decidedly 
gregarious. Insects and grains constitute their food. The cow- 
bird destroys the eggs and young of other birds. The orioles feed 
largely on hairy caterpillars and also on some of the small fruits, 
green peas, etc. 



\ 



^ 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COTJNTT. 



269 



Orow Family. — The raven was common, but is now rare. The 
common crow, well-known, emigrates southward during the cold- 
est weather. Blue jay is the gayest plumaged and harshest-voiced 
bird of the American forests. Birds of this family are omnivorous. 

Fly-catcher Family. — The king-bird is abundant in summer, fre- 
quenting orchards and the edge of the woods; great crested fly- 
catcher, abundant in the forest; uses snake-skins as a part of its 
nest material; pewee, or Phcebe bird, common; wood pewee, a 
common bird of the orchard and woodland; least fly-catcher, com- 
mon in summer; yellow-bellied flj'-catcher, a common migrant, 
but rare summer resident. The king-bird and pewee frequent 
open places; the others of this family dwell in the forest. They 
all subsist upon winged insects. 

Goatsucker Family. — Whippoorwill and night-hawk, well- 
known and common. These birds are nocturnal in their habits 
and feed upon insects. 

The Chimney Swallow is the only member of the family Cypse- 
lidcB that is found in this latitude. It is sometimes seeu in large 
flocks, roosting in unused chimneys, barns and hollow trees. 

Humming-bird Family. — The ruby-throated is the only species 
found here. It feeds upon insects, which it captures within 
flowers. 

King-fifsher Family. — The belted king-fisher is a common sum- 
mer resident in suitable localities. It feeds upon small fish. 

Cuckoo Fandly. — The black-billed species is common; has been 
called "rain crow." The yellow-billed cuckoo is not common. 
Omnivorous. 

Woodpecker Family. — There are half a dozen species of wood- 
pecker found in this locality, all common, viz. : The hairy, downy, 
yellow-bellied, red-bellied, red-headed and golden-winged. Omniv- 
orous. 

Owl Family. — The great horned, the mottled, the screech, the 
long-eared and the short-eared are abundant. The barn owl is a 
rare straggler from the South. Possibly one or two other species 
may occasionally be found here. 

Hawk Family. — The marsh hawk, the sharp shinned. Cooper's, 
the sparrow, the red-tailed, the red-shouldered, the broad-winged, 
the rough-legged or black, and the fish hawks are all common. The 
white-tailed kite, the goshawk, the pigeon hawk, Swainson's hawk 
and the bald eagle are more rare. 

The Turkey Buzzard^ belonging to a distinct family, is rare. 



*^ 



■^ 



\ 



^1 



>^ 



270 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Pigeon Family. — The wild pigeon, au abundant migrant, some- 
times breeds here. The Carolina dove'is a common resident here 
most of the year. 

The Wild TuvTcey once abundant but now rare, is the only- 
member of its family native to this region. 

Grouse Family. — Prairie chicken, once occasional, none now; 
ruffed grouse, or partridge, occasional; quail, common. 

Plover Family. — The golden plover, the killdeer and the semi- 
palmated are common about unfrequented ponds. The black-bel- 
lied plover is rare, if ever seen at all. 

Sandpiper Family. — The most common species of this family 
are the semi-palmated, least, pectoral, red-breasted, Willst, solitary, 
spotted and upland sandpipers, the snipe and the woodcock. Less 
common are the buff-breasted and red-backed sandpipers, long- 
billed curlew and perhaps occasionally two or three other unim- 
portant species. 

Heron Family. — The green and night herons, the bittern and 
the least bittern are common residents. The great blue heron 
is a common migrant and the great white heron a rare summer 
visitor. 

Cranes. — The whooping and sand-hill cranes are sometimes seen 
in migration. 

Bail Family. — The Virginia and Carolina rails and the coot 
are often seen in the vicinity of the streams and in the margin of 
ponds; the clapper, king, yellow and black rails, very rarely; the 
Morida gallinule, occasional. 

Duck Family. — The common species are the mallard, black, big 
black-head, little black-head, ring-necked, red-head (or pochard), 
golden-eye, butter ball, ruddy and fish (gosander) ducks, the brant 
and Canada geese, widgeon, golden-winged and blue-winged teal, 
and the hooded merganser. Rarely are seen the pintail, gadwall 
shoveler, wood duck, canvas-back duck, long-tailed duck and red 
breasted merganser. All the duck family are migratory. 

Gull Family. — About ten species may rarely be seen in passing. 

Loon. — One species sometimes strays into this locality from the 
North. 

Grebes. — The horned and the pied-bill grebes are occasional. 
One or two other species very rare. 

FISHES. 

Stichlehack Family. — This furnishes the chief game fish, as bass 



■^ 



"S 



V 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 271 

and sun-fish. The local names of these fish are so various that we 
scarcely know how to refer to them; but we may venture to name 
the black bass, the green or Osage bass, the big black sun-fish or 
rock bass, goggle-eye and the two common sun-fish, all of which 
have materially diminished within the last five years. 

Perch Family. — There are no perch, or "jack salmon," in the 
county. They were once common throughout the State, but now 
are only to be found occasionally in some of the most favored 
places. They are among the finest fishes, and ought to be culti- 
vated. The salmon sometimes attains a weight of forty pounds. 

Pike Family. — The larger pike, sometimes called "grass pike," 
used to be met with, especially in draining ofi" the marshes. The 
pickerel was also native here, but none are to be found at the 
present day. Kor have gar pike ("gars") existed here since the 
advent of mill-dams. 

Sucker Family. — To this family belong the buffalo (rare), red- 
horse (occasional) and the white sucker (also occasional). Black 
suckers and mullets still thrive in some parts of Indiana, but not 
here. / 

Catfish Family. — Fish of this family are still common, but are 
small, weighing only a pound or two. We can scarcely name the 
species in English. Perhaps we may say the channel, or mud cat- 
fish, the blue and the yellow, the bull-head and one or two other 
small species are found here. The yellow are the most common. 

Minor Sorts. — Besides the above, there are several varieties of 
chubs, silver-sides, and large numbers of other species denomi- 
nated minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches, 
as well as the larger streams. 

Fish planting has not yet been introduced into this county. 

, REPTILES. 

Of the twenty-three species of Snakes that have existed in this 
State, and probably in this county, several of the largest have been 
about exterminated. Only two of them are venomous, namely, the 
copperhead and the massasanga. Yery few of these are to be 
found at the pfesent day. The smaller species are useful animals, 
like toads, in destroying mice, moles and other vermin, and are 
preserved by intelligent farmers on this account. 

Of Lizards there are very few in this section. Those creatures 
which resemble them are innocent salamanders, and are really as 
useful as toads in the destruction of flies and other insects. There 






V 



•*y. 



4^ 



272 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, 



are eighteen species of these animals in Indiana. The largest 
attains a length of eight inches, and is black, with large, irregular 
yellow spots. Another large species is entirely yellow; another of 
a brilliant vermilion haunts cold springs. The second in size is 
the "mud alligator," or "water dog," a frequent annoyance to 
fishermen. Still another species has external gills, for respiration 
in water, thus resembling pollywogs. 

Of Frogs there are five species, and of toads five. Four are tree 
toads. One species of frog is subterranean, excavating its burrows 
backward with its hind feet, which are shovel formed. It comes 
to the surface early to breed, after thunder showers in April, in the 
evening, when it is easily recognized by its loud, discordant notes. 




a 



%^ 






CHAPTER III. 

EARLY HISTORY. 



First Settlers and Land Entries. — Organization of County. — 
Location of County Seat. — Name of County. — First Offi- 
cials. — First Session Board of Commissioners. — Bond of 
Joseph Pierce. — Proceedings of Board. — Erection of James- 
town Township. — Joseph Pierce First Treasurer of County. — 
His Bond. — Erection of Otsego Township. — Assessor and Col- 
lector Appointed. — Indians. — County Buildings, Court-House 
Jail and Asylum. — Pioneer Reunions. — Organization of So- 
ciety. — Condensed Proceedings of Annual Meetings from 
1873 to 1884. — Addresses, Reminiscences and Anecdotes. — D. 
B. Griffin's Reminiscences. — Mrs. J. B, Wisel's Reminiscences. 

first settlers and land entries. 

The first permanent white settlers of Steuben County were Gideon 
Langdon and John and Jacob Stayner, who located in 1831 on what 
is now known as Jackson Prairie. On the 17th of September, in 
the same year, Langdon made the first entry of land in the county, 
it being the east half of the southwest quarter of section 5, town- 
ship 37, range 12 east. Ten days later, John Stayner entered the 
west half of the southeast quarter of the same section. 

organization of county. 

The county of Lagrange was organized by an act of the General 
Assembly, approved Feb. 2, 1832, and " all the territory lying east 
of said county to the State line and south of said county and said 
territory to the line between townships 33 and 34," was attached 
thereto for civil and judicial purposes. The county of Steuben was 
organized in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly, ap- 
proved Jan. 18, 1837, which provided that from and after the 
first day of May, 1837, the county of Steuben should " enjoy all 
the rights and jurisdictions which belong to separate and inde- 
pendent counties." 

John W. Yiolet, of Elkhart County; Henry Hosteller, Sr., of 

(273) 



w 



274 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COCTNTr. 

Noble; Isaac Eaton, of St. Joseph ; Benjamin Jones, of Lagrange; 
and John Mcintosh, of Allen, were appointed Commissioners for 
the purpose of locating the permanent seat of justice of said county. 
These commissioners were required to meet, as soon as a majority 
of them could agree, at the house of Cornelius Gilmore, at or near 
the center of said county. 

LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT. 

Isaac Glover, Abner Winsor and others made strong efforts to 
secure the location of the county seat at Steubenville, a few miles 
south of Angola, near the present village of Pleasant Lake. They 
offered to donate $16,200, providing the county seat was lo- 
cated at that place. Messrs. Thomas Gale and Cornelius Gilmore, 
of Angola, agreed to give the site for the court-house and erect 
the buildings. Their offer was accepted, and, in accordance with 
the agreement, they completed a substantial frame court-house in 
1841 at a cost of $2,000. This selection has never since been se- 
riously questioned, and the people have never been disturbed by 
" county-seat wars," such as have agitated the inhabitants of many 
counties. 

NAME OF COUNTY. 

The county was named in honor of Baron Frederick de Steuben, 
a noted soldier who served under the great King Frederick, of 
Prussia. He came to America during the war of the Kevolution, and 
tendered his services to the patriot cause. He was commissioned, 
and rendered efficient aid to the army by greatly improving its 
discipline. He was killed at the battle of Camden, S. C, in 1780. 

FIRST OFFICIALS. 

William M. Cary was appointed by the Governor, Jan. 30, 1837, 
as Sheriff of Steuben County, to serve until the first Monday of 
August following. A writ of election was issued by the Governor 
April 11, 1837, for the election of clerk, sheriff, recorder, two 
associate judges and three commissioners. An election was held 
a lew weeks afterward, but the precise date cannot be determined. 
The Board of Commissioners was authorized by the organic act to 
meet in special session, when elected and qualified, "to appoint a 
lister and make other necessary appointments." 

FIRST SESSION BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. 

The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners was held June 
26, 1837, the Commissioners being Seth W. Murray, James Clark 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 275 

and Jonas Twichell. James McConnell was also present as Clerk, 
and William M. Gary as Sheriff. We copy the following proceed- 
ings from the record of this first session: 

"Joseph Pierce presented his bond for the faithful discharge of 
his duties as Agent of the Surplus Eevenue for the county of Steu- 
ben for the present year, and until his successor shall be chosen 
and qualified, which reads as follows, to wit: 

"Know all men by these presents, That we, Joseph Pierce, Cor- 
nelius Gilmore and William M. Gary, of Steuben County, are held 
and firmly bound unto the State of Indiana in the sum of $4,300, 
lawful money of the United States, for the payment of which,' well 
and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, ex- 
ecutors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these 
presents. Sealed with our seal, and dated this 24th day of June 
1837. 

"The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above 
bound Joseph Pierce will faithfully discharge the duties of his office 
as Agent of said State of Indiana for loaning that part of the surplus 
revenue of the United States, to which said co unty of Steuben is 
entitled by virtue of an act of the General Assembly approved Feb- 
ruary, 1837, according to the provisions of said act, and the act 
that may be amendatory thereto, then the above obligation to be 
void and of no e ffect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and 
virtue in law. 



>- 



" Signed, sealed and delivered ^ 



Joseph Piekce, 



Cornelius Gilmore, 
William M. Cary. 



by the obligors and approved 
by the Board of Commissioners 
of Steuben County. 

' ' James Mc Connell, Clerk. 

" [This document calls to mind the distribution of surplus revenue 
among the several States by the United States in 1837, the only 
instance of the kind in our history.] 

" It is ordered that there be an election for two justices of the 
peace for Jackson Township, said election to be holden the 24th 
day of July next at the usual place of holding elections in said 
township. And also appointed to said township James Hardy and 
Orrin Goodrich, Constables; Benjamin Twichell, Supervisor of the 
second road district ; Abner Davis and M. Carver, Pence- Viewers; 
George Hendry, Inspector of Elections. 

"It is ordered that E. M. Has kins be licensed to vend foreign 
merchandise and groceries by paying into the county treasury 
five dollars. 



"Jiar 



V 



-Aj- 



276 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNT r. 



" On petition of Theron Storrs and others, it is ordered that 
congressional township 38 north, range 13 east, be set off and organ- 
ized as prescribed by law in such cases made and provided, and 
that said township be called Jamestown. And that there be notice 
given of an election in said township for a justice of the peace, 
and that Yalorns Baker be appointed Constable; Theron Storrs, In- 
spector of Elections, and John Bell, Jr., Supervisor. 

"On petition of Aaron B. Goodwin and others for the setting 
apart and organization of the congressional township 36, ranges 14 
and 15 east, it is therefore ordered that said township be set off 
and organized as other civil townships, and that notice of an elec- 
tion for two justices of the peace be given, and that Hiram S. Parker 
and James Winters be Constables for said township, and that they 
qualify themselves according to law; also, that Aaron B. Goodwin 
be Inspector of Elections. 

"It is ordered that Joseph Pierce be, and he is hereby, appointed 
County Treasurer. 

" Know all men by these presents. That we, Joseph Pierce, Cor- 
nelius Gilmore and William M. Cary, of Steuben County, are held 
and firmly bound unto the State of Indiana in the sum of $2,500, 
lawful money of the United States, for the payment of which well 
and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, exec- 
utors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these 
presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 4th day of Septem- 
ber, A. D. 1837. 

"The conditions of the above obligation is such that if the 
above bound Joseph Pierce will faithfully discharge the duties of 
his office as County Treasurer, for the County of Steuben, for the 
term of one year, and will render a true and just account of all 
moneys which may come into his hands by virtue of his said office, 
and will at the expiration of his term of service deliver over to 
his successor in office all books, papers, documents and other 
things belonging to said office, and which may be in his hands and 
possession, and will moreover pay to his successor all moneys 
which may be in his hands belonging to the county, then the 
above obligation to be void and of no effec!", otherwise to be and 
remain in full force and virtue in law. 

"Signed, sealed and delivered ] Joseph Pierce, 
by the obligors, and allowed by I Cornelius Gilmore, 
the Board of Commissioners [ William M. Cary. 
of Steuben County. 

James McConnell, Clerk. 



)V 



Si 



-5> x"- 



HISTORT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. . 277 

"It is ordered that congressional township 36, ranges 14 
and 15, be set off and organized with the privileges of other 
civil townships, and be called Otsego. And also ordered that the 
following person be and is hereby appointed a township officer : 
James Clark, Inspector of Elections. Also an election for a 
justice of the peace to be holden on the first Monday of August 
next. 

" It is ordered that David Sams be, and he is hereby, appointed 
Assessor for the county the present year, and that he be notified 
of his appointment. 

" It is ordered that William M. Gary be, and he is hereby, ap- 
pointed Collector of the county revenue the present year." 

Thus was the governmental machinery of the county fully set 
in motion. At subsequent meetings, other townships were erected. 

INDIANS. 

During the first few years after the settlement of the county, 
the native Americans were very numerous, this region being then 
occupied by the Pottawatomies as a hunting ground. They were 
at peace with the " pale-faces," consequently no serious depreda- 
tions were committed upon the scattered settlements. Their 
chief's name was Baw Beese, who is reputed to have adminis- 
tered the affairs of his little kingdom with a sense of justice 
almost Koman in its sternness. His usual residence was in Branch 
County, Mich. In 18i0 the Indians were removed to a reserva- 
tion in the far West. 

COUNTY BUILDINGS. 

On the organization of Steuben County, strong efforts were 
made by Isaac Glover, Abner Winsor and others, to secure the 
location of the county seat at Steubenville, a few miles 
south of Angola, near the present village of Pleasant Lake. 
They offered, as stated before, to donate $16,200, provided 
the county seat was located at that place. Messrs. Gale and 
Gilraore, founders of Angola, agreed to give the site for the 
court-house and erect the buildings. Their offer was accepted 
and in accordance with the agreement they completed a substan- 
tial frame court-house in 1841, at a cost of $2,000. The building 
was upon the site of the present court-house, from which it was 
moved in 1868, and it now stands on the south side of Maumee 
street, a short distance east of the public square. The present 
18 



^^ 



-F 



•^t" 



\K 



(0 



278 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



court-house, a very substantial structure, was erected in 1868, at 
a cost of $27,000. On the first floor are the offices of the auditor, 
treasurer, clerk and recorder, while in the second story sessions 
of court are held, as well as occasional public meetings. The 
four offices are provided with commodious fire-proof vaults. 

The first county jail was constructed of hewn lo^s. In 1839 a 
frame jail was erected over and around the old one, the log build- 
ing answering as a cell for the frame one after the latter was built. 
The first prisoners confined in this jail were a couple of horse 
thieves who were captured in the northern part of the county. 
"When they were brought here the jail was full of lumber which 
the sheriff had stored there for the purpose of drying. As the 
jail could not be put in readiness very well that night, the prison- 
ers were taken to the hotel and S. A. Powers, uncle of S. A. 
Powers, Esq., of Angola, volunteered to help guard them. In 
the morning the sheriff cleared the jail and the prisoners were 
duly incarcerated in the log cell. The following morning they 
were gone; and it was said that when Mr. Powers heard of it, he 
indulged in language more forcible than polite. Some one had 
very kindly helped the prisoners to escape. It was in this cell 
that the notorious Silas Doty was confined. In 1877 a new stone 
and brick jail, of beautiful design, was built at a cost of $22,000. 
The old frame structure was moved toward the depot and con- 
verted into a livery barn. The new jail is one of the handsomest 
structures of its kind in Northern Indiana, and attracts favorable 
comment from all visitors to Angola. 

The county asylum is located near Crooked Lake, three miles 
northwest of Angola, on a fine farm of 315 acres, which is valued 
at $60 per acre. The old building now in use is composed of 
three different structures joined together, and is not very im- 
pressive as to beauty. Across the road a fine brick building has 
just been erected, which will last a generation, and as to appear- 
ance is in harmony with the other county buildings. Its contract 
cost is $14,853. Including furniture, etc., the cost will reach 
$19,000. It was occupied early in 1885. The number of per- 
sons dependent on the county for support is at present twenty. 
The present efficient Superintendent is Samuel A. Anspaugh, who 
began his duties March 8, 1878. He was preceded by Alexander 
Moore, who was in charge for eleven years; and his predecessor, 
Alonzo Cobb, who served three or four years, was the first Super- 
intendent of the county poor. Under Mr. Anspaugh the farm is 



— — 1 



■^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 279 



well cared for, supplied with good stock, and the institution is 



self-sustaining. 



PIONEER REUNIONS. 



In nearly every community in our now populous Northwest the 
old settlers have formed associations for the purpose of holding 
annual meetings and renewing memories of the past. The Steu- 
ben County pioneers were not so prompt in taking this step as 
those of surrounding counties. In the summer of 1873 a call was 
published in the I^epuhlican, as follows: 

"The old settlers of Steuben County are fast passing away and 
their children, many of them, have sought new homes in other 
States, or become like their fathers, pioneers in Territories. A few 
years more and every one of the early settlers and their children 
will have " passed beyond the flood," and no record of their early 
history will be known to those who will reap the benefits and enjoy 
the luxuries and blessings of our county, made fruitful and wealthy 
by the industry, energy and self-sacrificing privations of the first 
settlers. Let there be a meeting of all the old settlers and their 
children to compare notes, revive old reminiscences and appoint 
some competent person to write up the incidents, anecdotes and 
land marks of early days that their children may know, while they 
are enjoying the blessings of life, what it cost to produce them. 
The following are among the early pioneers, and there are doubt- 
less many more with whom we are not acquainted, and we ask them 
as many as can, to meet us at the court-house at Angola on Saturday 
Aug. 9, 1873, at one o'clock p. m., that we may perfect an organiza- 
tion and take the initiatory steps for an ' old settlers' Jubilee.' Let 
every one that can attend and inform all within their neighbor- 
hood of the time and place of meeting." Here followed a list of 
about eighty pioneers. 

OLD settlers' JUBILEE. 

At that called meeting the following township committees were 
appointed to awaken interest in their respective localities, and to 
prepare historical reports with a view to a " jubilee" on the 25th of 
September following: Millgrove, Nelson Newton, George Hard- 
ing and Orlando Wilder; Jamestown, Clayton Mallory, Cephas 
McCuUer and John McClue; Fremont, Jeremiah Tillotson, Theron 
Storrs and Willard L. Scott; Clear Lake, George Hotchkiss, David 
Harris and D. B. Teeters; York, Calvin Powers, David Hansel man 
and H. P. Hathaway; Scott, Augustus Wood worth, Jas. A. Segur 

^ o> lite 



Je 



*7n 



280 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



and Nelson Hutchins; Pleasant, George W. Baldwin, Able Sowle 
and Lewis Stealey; Jackson, Zepbaniah Stayner, Amasa Sams and 
Porter Gleason; Salem, Eli M. Teal, Elbridge Wrigbt and H. P. 
Butler; Steuben, Samuel Carter, Jacob Abby and Capt. S. B. 
George; Otsego, Henry R. Williams, A. J. Corbin and Ed, C. 
Jobnson; Kicbland, M. B. Gordon, S. W. Scoville and Jobn Cam- 
eron. Tbe jubilee was beld at the appointed time, and was a com- 
plete success. Tbe day was favorable and the attendance large. 
Among those present were John Slick and wife, of Salem Town- 
ship. The former was a soldier under Bonaparte, and came to this 
county at an early day. Mrs. Slick never heard a brass band play 
until this reunion. Speeches were made by several persons and 
some historical reports were read, but no set programme was fol- 
lowed, everything being spontaneous. 



SECOND MEETING. 

The second reunion was held Aug. 2T, 1874, in McConnelPs 
Park and was well attended. The day was pleasant in every re- 
spect. As on the previous occasion, there was no formal order of 
exercises, but prayers, music, conversation, recitals of incidents, 
reminiscences, expressions of regard, regrets for absentees — all 
terse, timely and interesting — made up the day's entertainment. 

THIRD REUNION. 

Aug 19, 1875, was appointed for the next meeting. The day 
opened cloudy and threatening, and many were doubtless deterred 
from attending. Still, by noon 2,000 persons were assembled. 
The procession to the park was 'made up by townships, tbe oldest 
settlers, so far as they could be arranged, bearing the banner which 
indicated the place of settlement. Mrs. Alexander Chapin carried 
Millo-rove, leading the concourse. On arriving at the grove the 
crowd, so far as possible, was seated, with the "old folks" nearest 
and around the stands. After preliminary exercises and dinner 
volunteer speeches were called for. 

The first respondent, Kussell Brown, of Orland, stated that he 
removed from Onondaga County, N. Y., to Lagrange County, this 
State, in 1836. At that time Steul)en was a part of Lagrange! 
County, with the seat of justice at Lima. He assisted in locating' 
a road to Lagrange Center, and on reaching the place found noth- 
ing but a brush heap where the town now stands. 

Elder Blanchard, of Wolcottville, was next introduced. He lik- 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 281 

ened the meeting of the early settlers of Steuben County to a re- 
union of the alumni of some college; all had met together to call 
to mind the experiences of the past and to note the changes the 
finger of time had wrought on the county and its inhabitants. The 
speaker's father settled at Orland in the year 1835, the second 
house at that place being erected by him, a rude structure, indeed, 
to say the best of it. At that early day persons living many miles 
away in adjacent townships were styled neighbors, and in the full 
sense of the term were such. It was highly essential in those days 
for the people of these sparsely settled townships to be neighborly 
and help each other. They used to assist one another in building 
and raising the log cabins. In those days we would pride our- 
selves on being iirst-rate log-house carpenters, and we were not 
only good log-cabin carpenters, but also masons. Masons suffi- 
ciently skilled to plaster shut the gaping cracks between the logs 
and mechanically build up the customary old-fashioned stick chim- 
neys. In those days necessity ir.ade mechanics of men. Most 
every man could make a plow-beam or an ox-yoke The speaker 
took occasion to refer to the country as being not an unpleas- 
ant one to locate in and clear up at the earliest period of its his- 
tory. It took but a few months to clear off a few acres of ground 
and to have a heavy crop of corn or potatoes therefrom. No won- 
der Steuben has some of the largest and most productive farms in 
the State. Nature has done everything for the county. The 
young people should cherish the memories of their ancestors by 
retaining the old homesteads handed down to them. Mr. Blan- 
cbard then closed his remarks with a few touching words relating 
to the reunions of early settlers as having a natural tendency to 
wed the hearts of the old folks closer together and to produce that 
natural flow of harmony and good feeling only resulting from 
these happy yearly gatherings. 

Dr. Geo. W. McConnell stated briefly that he settled in Steuben 
during the fall of 1836. Mother Chapin was the first person that 
made him a coat. Remembered the time very well when Elder 
Blanchard earned his daily bread by the sweat of his brow splitting 
rails at 50 cents per thousand. Right well he did his work, too. 

In response to loud calls Mrs. Alexander Chapin next came 
upon the platform. She had been prominently identified with the 
early settling of the county, as appeared from the course of her 
short speech. She, with a large family, moved into a house 
14 X 14: feet near Orland, and well remembered the cordiality 



J- 



282 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



with which she was greeted by her few neighbors in that then 
sparsely settled locality. 

Joseph Tousley, sixty-one years of age, here came forward. He 
had settled in Jamestown over thirty-nine years previously. At 
that time the red man of the forest still lingered in portions of 
Northern Indiana. Late in the fall he had frequently met squads 
of Indians carrying cranberries to Coldwater to market. The first 
bedstead Mr. Tonsley slept on in Jamestown he constructed of poles 
with tapered ends stuck into holes made in the logs of his cabin. 

Mr. and Mrs. Slick were next assisted upon the platform. Mr. 
Slick, at this meeting over ninety years old, fought under Napoleon 
I., after which he removed from France to England, where he was 
soon pressed into the British army and sent to Canada. During 
the war of 1812, while in a conflict, he deserted the English army 
and joined the American forces, from which time he resided in the 
United States. 

George Harding, of Orland, now arose. He settled in James- 
town Township in 1835. For many years he was engaged in carry- 
ing passengers and merchandise from Cleveland, Ohio, to various 
points in Northern Indiana, and consequently was quite familiar 
with the intervening country. 

Leland H. Stocker, in response to a call, said he settled in Steu- 
ben in 1835, when there were but ten white families in the county. 
He remarked that about all the recollection he had of early things, 
was that he was a boy, and felt as though he was one yet. He well 
remembered the trips he, in company with others, some of whom 
long since passed from earth, had made over the country by moon- 
light, during the long winter evenings. They would meet together, 
construct a rude sled, and jumping aboard, start for a neighbor's 
shanty to spend the evening. They thought nothing of journeying 
ten miles through the woods in this manner, many times not reach- 
ing home before the sun was peering through the tree-tops around 
their houses. Now, while gazing upon the faces of so many who 
were his associates in the early [history of the county, the 
speaker felt like taking each one by the hand and calling them 
brothers and sisters. 

Captain C. C. Bodley, measuring six feet seven inches in height, 
was next presented to the audience, but owing to a throat afiection 
did not speak except through Dr. McConnell. In the early days of 
the county, Captain Bodley, being an expert musician, made most 
of the music for the country dances; in fact, whenever a party was 



V 



^± 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



283 



announced, he was always the first to receive an invitation accom- 
panied by a request to bring along his flute for the edification of 
the company. 

We extract the following from a speech made on this occasion 
by Rev. John Paul Jones, one of the pioneer preachers of this re- 
gion, and present Auditor of Lagrange County. 

" I came to your county in 1842, having been appointed as junior 
preacher of the Steuben Circuit by the Indiana Conference of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, the session being held that year at 
Centerville, Wayne County. The conference then comprised the 
entire State of Indiana, which was subsequently divided and is now 
under the jurisdiction of four conferences. The circuit then embraced 
all the settled portions of Steuben County and part of the c ounty 
of Branch, in Michigan. There were twenty-eight appointments or 
preaching places to be filled by my colleague, Rev. E. I. Blue, and 
myself, alternately once a fortnight. I came among you almost an 
entire stranger, having had no acquaintance with any of your citi- 
zens, except Dr. Madison Marsh, whom I met at Auburn the year 
previous, S. W. Scoville, Esq., then a young farmer of Richland 
Township, afterward County Auditor, who is present with us to- 
day, and Newton D. Canfield, who died a few years since. 

"The winter of 1812-3 was remarkable for the severity of the 
weather and will be remembered by the early settlers as the long 
and dreary winter, reminding us vividly of Longfellow's graphic 
description in 'Hiawatha.' Toward spring, feed for stock became 
very scarce. Those who had the means wherewith to purchase, re- 
sorted to our more highly favored neighbors of the prairies for sup- 
plies, going down, as they said, to Egypt; and those too poor to do 
so felled the trees of the forest, upon which to browse the cattle, as a 
substitute for hay and grain. In consequence of this scarcity of 
provender much of the stock perished. The excitement of William 
Miller's prediction, about this time of the end of the world, caused 
a gloom to settle upon the minds of many of the people. Several 
itinerant lecturers visited this part of the country, fixing the time 
for the great conflagration in the month of April, 1843. 

"The gatherings for religious services were well attended, the 
people coming from far and near, eager to receive instruction and 
glad to join in such revivals. The names of those engaged in min- 
isterial work among you that year, whom I now recall, were 
Stocker, Stealy, Minor, Kellogg, Littlefield and Blanchard. Our 
work being so extensive, we seldom met, having but little time 






"^^ 



^ 



284 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

for social gatherings; we knew, however, by report, how matters 
were progressing, and with fraternal regard pursued our plans. I 
assisted in the construction of the first meeting house in the 
county, a hewed log structure near the farm of E. T. Ham- 
mond, in Salem Township. Our preaching places were private 
dwellings and barns, and frequently the groves were resorted to 
and seats were improvised for the accommodation of the assembled 
'multitudes,' so regarded at that time. Our log cabins with but one 
window were quite convenient and could be used as parlor, sitting- 
room, drawing room, bed-chamber and kitchen as well as chapel, 
and here as well as in the more commodious and beautiful temples 
we could worship the Father in spirit and in truth. 

" The preachers of those times rarely took part in political affairs, 
having but little inclination in that direction, save that of exercis- 
ing the freeman's right, dear to the heart of every true patriot, to 
vote. When, however, in later years questions involving the most 
sacred rights of the citizen, affecting public morals and the 
safety of the republic arose, it was deemed eminently proper that 
the pulpit as well as the press, the minister and the private citizen 
alike should actively participate in political affairs. 

" This county has obtained no little notoriety growing out of the 
action of several of her people upon these questions. The impor- 
tance of a single vote has been frequently alluded to, and this 
county designated as an illustrious example in this regard. The true 
version of the story appears to be substantially this: Dr. Marsh 
and Captain Beal, both residents of this county, were candidates for 
the office of Kepresentative in the General Assembly for the coun- 
ties of Steuben and De Kalb. Mr. Beal received the certifi- 
cate of election, but the seat was contested, the result being that 
Dr. Marsh was declared duly elected by one vote, it having been as- 
certained that the Board of Canvassers had improperly, on account 
of some informality, thrown out a vote intended for Marsh. At the 
ensuing session of the Legislature, 184:5, Edward A. Hannegan was 
chosen United States Senator by a majority of one, Dr. Marsh 
casting his vote for Hannegan. It is claimed that Texas was ad- 
mitted into the Union in consequence of Hannegan's vote, and now 
the great results of this affair are attributed to Steuben. 

" Your people gained further political notoriety when some of 
the oldest and most respectable citizens were prosecuted for al- 
leged violation of the Fugitive Slave Law, in aiding and abetting 
some liberty -loving people of dusky hue in their flight toward the 



>t 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 285 

Queen's dominions, under the stars and stripes of their own land, 
where it is asserted that ' all men are created equal.' I speak of 
these thin^^s not in a partisan sense, but refer to them as incidents 
ofthe time and as part of the history of our country, strangely 
contrasting with the spirit and practice of the present time. An 
indignation meeting, largely attended, was held at Orland, when 
those who were regarded as instrumental in these prosecutions 
were denounced in unmeasured terms. The results of the war 
have, however, settled these questions forever, and it is pleasing 
now to contemplate the fact that the scenes which gave rise to sush 
feelings are no more to be enacted. We respond to the sentiment 
' let the dead past bury its dead.' To-day, it is true, we have ques- 
tions of vital importance, but they are not calculated to disturb 
fraternal feelings, 

"But I must close. When I first came among you, being but a 
little past twenty years of age, and not having the advantages of 
a liberal education, either literary or theological, with a few books 
in my saddle bag?, and but little time to study, it was with much 
timidity that I attempted the duties of my calling. I call to 
mind with pleasure and gratitude the many marks of favor received 
at the hands of those with whom I mingled, both in and out of. 
the church of my choice, and shall ever have them in grateful re- 
membrance. They are not all here who were living then. Many 
have crossed to the other side, and some are now 

" Brushing the dews on Jordan's banks, 
The crossing t ) whom is near. 

We shall not all meet again at a reunion like this to-day. Let me 
say to the children of the early settlers, as you shall perchance go 
forth to become pioneers of other lands, emulate the example and 
virtues of your noble fathers and mothers; be thankful for the 
superior advantages you enjoy; and live so as to be useful, hon- 
ored and respected, wherever you may dwell. To all let me say, 
farewell! May God continue to bless the pioneers of Steuben 
County, and bring them to the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, 
and that shall never fade away." 

THIRD ANNUAL REUNION. 

The third annual reunion was held at McConnell's Grove, Aug. 
17, 1876. The day was pleasant, and the attendance was variously 
estimated at from 2,000 to 3,000. The people gathered at tlie 
public square and marched to the grove, headed by the Angola 



-*f 



\ 



^ 



286 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



silver cornet band. Arrived at the grove, appropriate public ex- 
ercises were held, including prayer by Rev. H. J. Carpenter, of 
Otsego, the oldest settled clergyman of the county then living. 
The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Abner 
Winsor; Yice-President, Calvin Powers; Secretary, Orlando Wil- 
der; Treasurer, George Harding. The following were named as 
an executive committee: Millgrove, Chester D. Salisbury; James- 
town, Clayton Mallory; Fremont, Demary Tillitson; Clear Lake, 
David Harris; York, William Wicoff; Scott, James Segur; Pleas- 
ant, Jesse M. Gale; Jackson, Robert Ryan; Salem, Henry P. But- 
ler; Steuben, James Carter; Otsego, Ransom Gates; Richmond, 
Samuel W. Scoville. In the afternoon able addresses were made 
by Hon. John B. Howe, of Lima, and A. Ellison, of Lagrange. 

REUNION OF 1877. 

The next annual meeting was held Aug. 16, 1877, and was one 
of the best ever held, though it was as informal as the preceding 
ones. L. H. Stocker gave the address of welcome, and off-hand 
speeches were made by a number. Dr. G. W. McConnell and A. 
S. Sherwood acted as Marshals. 

FIFTH ANNUAL REUNION. 

In 1878, the meeting was held June 20. Notwithstanding a 
shower of rain in the morning, and an evident promise of more 
rain during the day, people came in from the surrounding 
country in considerable numbers during the forenoon. At eleven 
o'clock the bands paraded the streets, and the procession was 
formed which proceeded to the upper park in McConnell's Addi- 
tion. The grounds had been nicely and conveniently arranged 
with suitable seats and a large, commodious stand built for officers 
and speakers. The weather had cleared off somewhat, and it was 
thought it would not be a bad day after all. A. S. Sherwood acted 
as Marshal, and President G. W. McConnell called the meeting to 
order. An appropriate address of welcome was delivered by Le- 
land H. Stocker. Music was furnished during the day by the An- 
gola silver cornet band, the Angola ladies' band, and a martial 
band, of drums and fife. After dinner Hon. Cyrus G. Luce was 
introduced. He at once took the undivided attention of the 
assemblage and talked to them of the olden time, and of the by- 
gone incidents, and of the changes wrought by the years in their 
onward roll. Before he had finished, and when the interest was 



^ 



'K 



•vjo >- ' ^k, 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 287 

at its height, the clouds broke forth with sudden and heavy rain, 
and all further enjoyment was brought to a close. Hurriedly the 
meeting proceeded to elect George Harding, President, and Leland 
H. Stocker, Secretary, for the ensuing year, and then adjourned. 

SIXTH REUNION. 

Thursday, June 12, 1879, the pioneers again assembled on the 
square, and about noon, under the raarshalship of A. S. Sherwood, 
they marched to McConnell's Park. The proceedings were opened 
in the usual manner, and an address of welcome was delivered by 
William B. McConnell. Then came recess for dinner. The after- 
noon was allotted to impromptu speeches by old settlers. The 
first speaker introduced was James W. Jefferd. He said he would 
soon arrive at the allotted age of man, threescore and ten years; 
and this was one of the happiest periods of his whole life, for now 
he could meet face to face with the few pioneers who are still liv- 
ing. Continuing, he said: 

"I settled in this county in 1837. No one knows the hard- 
ships we endured. I earned ten or twelve dollars at Hamilton, 
and went to the prairies north of Lima for wheat," There was so 
much filth in it that the miller at Union Mills refused to grind it 
unless it was washed; so he cleaned it and then obtained some 
nice flour, but only sixty pounds. Mr. Jeflerd exhibited a hoe 
he made in 1837. That and another he made weighed six pounds. 
They knew nothing then of cast steel. Mr. J., also related about 
the first surgical operation performed in the county. In closing 
his remarks, the speaker said: " This is the last time I shall ever 
be permitted to appear before you; but as long as Hive, I shall 
hold these old settlers as my best friends. They are dearer tj me 
than my own kindred are. We suffered here together. Some had 
more money than others, but I earned my bread by the sweat of 
my brow. I presume I cleared as much, if not more land than 
anybody else. If I had not been so foolish, and overtaxed my 
strength, I would not be as weak as I am now, and might have 
lived to be a hundred years old." 

After Mr. Jefferd had been led to his seat, the audience sang 
"Come, thou fount of every blessing," after which music was 
furnished by the martial band present. 

Winn Powers, nearly eighty years old, and the only survivor of 
four brothers who settled near the eastern boundary of the county, 
in what is now known as the Powers settlement, was next introduced. 

^\( 3 ^ ~~ "• oPv" 



^: 



v> 



288 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



He said his brother came to this county in 1836, and entered some 
land for himself and many others, and while he was here he was 
on English Prairie and engaged twenty-five bushels of wheat to be 
had the next spring, in 1837, when he expected his brothers to be 
here in the wilderness. " It was the first of July before we arrived 
here, and we expected that the wheat would all be gone b}'^ that 
time. We went to the house of the man we had bought it of, but 
did not think he would have any, for wheat was scarce and high; 
but he had it. My brother asked what it was worth, and was 
told $1 per bushel. Another man who was there offered to give 
him twenty shillings, but he told him to go and get it of some 
one else. He would not take any more. * * * Mr. Jefferd has 
spoken of hard times, but I never thought it was any hardship. 
The work had to be done. To be sure, it was rather difficult to 
get a living. We had deer's tallow, beeswax and honey, but were 
troubled sometimes to get anything to go with them. Bread was 
hard to get. My brothers hated hunting and dogs, but were very 
glad to get a venison ham occasionally; I used to provide turkeys 
and venison for them to a considerable extent." 

James W. Lockwood came forward after the music ceased, and 
said he had formerly been a resident of Steuben County, but had 
been absent for many years, until quite recently. His niece mar- 
ried Kobert L. Douglass, the prosecuting attorney at the time of 
the Doty trial. Mr. Lockwood arrived in the county June 8, 
1837. He said he was poor when he came here, and had to depend 
upon some particular friends. His land was entered. He endured 
the hardships in early days common to all the old settlers. His 
wife died some time since, and now he had no home, but was 
waiting to be called " to that Eden home on high." At the con- 
clusion of Mr. Lockwood's remarks, Mr. Helme, of Orland, and 
his little four-vear-old son Bennie favored the audience with some 

4/ 

really good music, the father playing on the fife and the child 
using the snare drum. The little fellow was not much taller than 
the drum, but performed his part with credit. 

G. W. McConnell then came forward and said that as the audience 
had had a specimen of "Young America," he would now intro- 
duce " Old America" in the person of Willard Dewitt, aged 104 
years. [He was in his lOtttli year at this time but had not 
completed that age. He has since died, nearly 105 years old. A 
sketch of this centenarian is given in the Scott Township chapter.] 
Mr. Dewitt did not make any remarks, being too feeble. Mrs. 



-t 



\^ 



^ 



10 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



289 



Stephen A. Powers, widow of a former county surveyor, was next 
presented to the audience, and then Mrs. Brown, sister of Major 
Wright, who settled on the Beaver Dam Lake, in Lagrange County, 
was introduced. She was nearly ninety years of age. She and her 
husband came here with Judge Gale. Mr. Brown built the first 
shanty in Angola. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Depue, of Hall's Cor- 
ners, Mich., who were among the pioneer settlers in Jamestown 
Township, were next introduced as being the only couple amono- 
the old settlers who were married when they came into the county, 
and who were still living. Their ages at this time were seventy- 
five and sixty-nine. They were married in 1831. Their daughter 
was the first child born in Jamestown Township. 

Abel Craine next spoke, and closed by singing a verse of an 
Indian song. Harvey Olmstead, President of the Lagrange County 
Old Settlers' Association, was introduced and made a few remarks 
which were well received. Nelson Newton, of Orland, then re- 
lated his experience of early days. K. Gould, eighty-seven years 
of age, next stepped forward and spoke for several minutes in a 
remarkably clear voice and said he could walk six miles in a day 
and not feel the effects at all. He said his health was better than 
when he was fifty years of age. Some thirty-seven years before 
this meeting he had a shock of the palsy which destroyed his speech 
to a great extent for many years. It was now over fortv years 
since the denomination to which he belonged said he must go to 
preaching, and during the greater portion of the time since then he 
has been at work for the Master. Three times during his life he 
has been moved to where the Indians roamed through the forest. 
When he was quite young his parents moved from Washincyton 
County, JST. Y., to Cayuga County in the same State. There were 
Indians there. In a few years they came to Sandusky County, 
Ohio, and found Indians again. A third time they followed the 
star of empire into the untrodden forests of the West and settled 
in Indiana, where he was once more brought face to face w'ith the 
red men. 

Moses Sanborn came to this country in 1841, but didn't arrive 
on the cars. When his party reached the river, they found it so 
high that they could not ford it. A raft was made, and the most 
valuable load (the ladies) sent over first. In about twelve hours they 
got everything across and came on to Steuben County. President 
Harding then made a few remarks. He said that in 1835 about 
2,200 acres of land had been taken up in Jamestown Township, and 



IP 



•s, 



v> 



290 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



in 1836 almost 7,000 acres were entered. When he first came here 
there were no houses between Mill Grove and Bean Creek, or Mo- 
rencie, Mich. 

For the ensuing year the society chose G. W. McConnell as 
President, George Harding as Yice- President, and L. H. Stocker 
as Secretary. The exercises closed with music, and a farewell ad- 
dress by A. W. Hendry. 

SEVENTH REUNION. 

The seventh annual reunion was appointed for Thursday, June 
10, 1880, at the court-house. Threatening weather forbade the 
exercises being held at McConnell's Park, as planned. At half 
past eleven the meeting was called to order in the court-house by 
President McConnell, and the usual opening exercises were per- 
formed, after which the address of welcome was delivered by Rev. 
W. P. Aylsworth. At the afternoon session a paper was read con- 
taining some recollections by Rev. Aaron Wood, at that time in 
charceofan asylum for feeble-minded children at Knightstown, 
Henry County, but who formerly was a pioneer preacher in this 
reo-ion, and who traveled through Steuben County as Presiding 
Elder as early as 1839. He wrote as follows: 

" In the year of our Lord 1805 I first crossed the Ohio River at 
Marietta, Athens [now Washington] County, and though then but 
three years old I remember the river and town. This place was 
settled by educated Puritans and Huguenots, and was at the time 
the best educated society west of the Ohio. From 1806 to 1814 I 
lived near Chillicothe, then the seat of government for the State of 
Ohio. Governors Tiflin, Worthington , Meigs and McArthur were 
intimate acquaintances of my father at the age when, as a boy, I 
would admire great men. When ten years of age I read the news- 
papers and learned the incidents of the war of 1812, especially 
as all the able-bodied men were in the army, and only the old men 
and boys were at home. 

" In 1814: the family moved to Champaign Cjunty, and as Ur- 
bana had been an outpost and Columbus was now the capital, it 
increased my acquaintances with the men of those towns. North 
of Piqua, Urbana and Columbus to the lakes was a wilderness, un- 
inhabited by American civilization west of the Connecticut reserve, 
but from 1815 to 1820 it settled up very rapidly. The same was 
true of the southern counties of the then new State of Indiana. 
But the garden of Indiana was still in the possession of the untu- 



V 



-^pv 










HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 291 

tored savage. The first I learned of that country was in 1818. Our 
neighbor, Benjamin Cheney, collected a drove of cattle and grazed 
them from the plains of Darby to Green Bay (now in Wisconsin), 
for the army at that garrison. The neighbor boys, older than my- 
self, had what I envied, the privilege of that romantic trip around 
Lake Michigan to Green Bay. 

" The raw materials essential to an agricultural and mechanical 
population are distributed over Indiana more than in any other 
State in the Union. Soil, water, rock and lumber are better distrib- 
uted over the entire State than in any of the other States. There 
are no precious metals, but the useful is inexhaustible— iron, coal 
and lime; of forest trees I have seen fifty varieties; of medical 
plants there are many, too tedious to mention. 

"It seems strange that forty-two years have passed since I went 
as a Presiding Elder to a camp-meeting near Shallow Lake. But I 
have a distinct recollection of its social standing. The church 
members and campers were not homogeneous. Each preacher and 
member had a veneration for the manner of conducting the meet- 
ing according to his own experience in the country from whence 
he came, and they were there from as far north as Troy, N. Y., and 
south as far as Yirginia. There was a stand large enough for a' buz- 
zard roost and high enough for a gallows. The altar was enclosed 
by a pen of poles inside the cross aisles. Knowing as I did that a 
promiscuous crowd could not be controlled with such scafifoldino-, I 
took official charge, had the poles carried away, the stand redu'c'ed 
in size and lowered nearer the seats, and promised if the preachers 
and the members would do as I told them we would have good 



order throughout the meeting 



(9 



♦- 



" To the few acquaintances remaining I would say, be content 
with your evening of life in your well-chosen homes; and to the 
young I would say, utilize the resources that are within your reach. 
There is no better country than Indiana." 

Eev. C. H. Blanchard, of Wolcottville, a member of the La- 
grange Bioneer Association, appeared as a delegate from that 
organization and related many incidents of pioneer life in Mill 
Grove Township, this county. 

Russell Brown, of Orland, father of Hon. E. Brown, who came 
west from Onondaga County, N. Y., and settled in Lagrange 
County in 1836, was introduced. He was once a strong, irealthy 
man, but he was now tottering with age. He reviewed some of 
his early experiences and hardships of the early settlers of the 

"^ ^ ^ - — ^vr 



■s- 



v> 



292 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



county, and referred with pride to the churclies, free schools and 
benevolent institutions of our State to-day. He also told of at- 
tending the State pioneers' meeting the year previous. 

The next speaker was Eben Thayer, of Union City, Mich., 
who came from the Empire State in 1836; and after music the next 
one introduced was Mr. Kimble, of Orland, who came from the 
East and settled near Cold water in 1832. 

Kev. E. Holdstock, who was a "circuit rider" in the wilds ot 
Indiana as early as 1839, related some experiences. He came 
here when a young man, and so delicate in frame that the people 
predicted he would not live to come around again, having thirty 
appointments to fill. He told how his horse was stolen by Indians 

he remembered it well, for he had important business on hand; 

walked to Angola, got his license, and went to Orland to be mar- 
ried. This was June 15, 1840. He endured many more hard- 
ships worthy the early pioneer, but outlived them all; had grown 
fat and felt like a young man yet. His salary was in the early 
days about $40 a year. 

The centenarian of Scott Township, Willard Dewitt, was then 
introduced, and Rev. Mr. Carpenter delivered the closing address. 
For the ensuing year the following officers were chosen : Presi- 
dent, A. S. Sherwood; Vice-President, Jesse M. Gale; Secretary 
and Treasurer, Stephen A. Powers. 

EIGHTH ANNUAL REUNION. 

The next meeting was held Aug. 18, 1881, at the court-house. 
Threatening weather and competing attractions caused the attend- 
ance to be rather small. The opening address was delivered by 
Elder Blanchard, of Wolcottville, Lagrange County. He was one 
of the first settlers of Steuben County, and helped raise the first 
log cabin. He toiled hard on harder diet. He shared the ague 
of 1838. He was by the dying and helped return earth to earth. 
George Harding gave an account of the time the first land entries 
were made in Jamestown Township. A few of them still own 
their farms, he being one. Cephas McCullough was at the meet- 
ing and stated that he still resided in Jamestown, on the land he 
bought at the United States land-oflice, Fort Wayne. 

Winn Powers, of York Township, gave an account of himself 
and brother moving from Allegany County, N. Y., to this county, 
the wagons being drawn by oxen, with a stock of cows, a journey 
of 500 miles. A. W. Wood worth was with the earliest settler of 



^2 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 293 

York Township. His ax and muscle let the sun shine where 
there was too much shade, tie also made roads, bridged mud and 
morass. He obtained the sobriquet of the " racking pony," on 
Jackson Prairie, because of his beating others in cradling wheat. 
After York Township was divided, he lived in Scott Township; 
but he was now arranging to move to Kansas, and took this op- 
portunity of saying good-by to the old settlers. A number of 
others made short speeches. For the ensuing year Jesse M. Gale 
was chosen President, and S, A. Powers was elected Secretary and 
Treasurer. 

NINTH ANNUAL REUNION. 

The next meeting was held Aug. 17, 1882, at McConnell's Park. 
It was called to order by President Jesse M. Gale, and the ad- 
dress of welcome was delivered by Elder A. S. Hale. Russell 
Brown, of Orland, also made a speech before dinner. In the 
afternoon the speakers were Dr. McConnell, A. S. Sherwood, 
Russell Rrown, L. B. Eaton, Rev. H. J. Carpenter and others. 
At the business meeting, Dr. G. "W. McConnell received the honor 
of being elected President of the society "to serve during the re- 
mainder of his natural life." Henry P. Hathaway was elected 
Secretary for the ensuing year. Russell Brown, of Orland, and 
Myron Powers, of York, were appointed delegates to the Lagrange 
County pioneers' meeting, and F. Macartney and A. S. Sherwood 
were appointed as delegates to De Kalb County. 

TENTH ANNUAL REUNION. 

The tenth annual reunion of the old settlers of Steuben County 
was held Aug. 16, 1883, and was largely attended. The openino- 
address was delivered by General Lewis J, Blair. At dinner, a space 
at one end of the long table was reserved for those who had set- 
tled in the county previous to 1836. Next came those who settled 
between 1836 and 1838, then those in 1838 — '40, and lastly those 
in 1810 — '5. In the afternoon the first speaker was Hon. Andrew 
Ellison, of Lagrange County, who has been for more than forty, 
eight years a resident of Northern Indiana. In the course of his 
interesting speech he gave a brief biography of himself, statin »■ 
that he was born in Ireland and when but two and a half years old 
came with his parents to New York. While off the banks of New- 
foundland their vessel was wrecked and beached upon the shores 
of that inhospitable island, a large number of the passengers being 
lost. Up to the time Mr. Ellison was twenty-four years old, he was 
19 



_2- 



•vr^ 






294 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



a hard worker, helping to clear two farms in New York before 
coming to Indiana. When about twenty-five years old he com- 
menced the study of law, since which time he has followed that 
profession. 

Dr. Griffin, of Angola, next made a few remarks, and he was fol- 
lowed by George Harding, of Orland. In early days the latter 
named gentleman was engaged in teaming, hauling the first loads 
of goods into Hamilton, Lexington and Lima. For a number of 
years he traveled over the territory as far east as Cleveland, Ohio, 
and west to Rock Island, 111. 

For the ensuing year Alanson W. Hendry was elected President, 
and Francis Macartney, Secretary. 

The 1884 meeting was held Aug. 21, at the usual place. The 
first speaker was Bart. Bigler, who held the attention of all by an 
excellent address of welcome. He was followed by Nelson Prentiss, 
of Noble County, who gave what was pronounced one of the finest 
addresses ever delivered in Angola. Forty-six years had passed 
since Mr. Prentiss had been in the capital of Steuben County. John 
Paul Jones, the pioneer preacher, and present Auditor of Lagrange 
County, was present and made a speech. Rev. Caleb H. Blan- 
chard, of Lagrange County, was also present. In his early years 
he was rail splitter, carpenter and preacher. He built the first 
house in Jamestown. He has preached not less than 1,500 funeral 
sermons, and in 1883 he married twentv-two couples. 

Russell Brown, of Orland, seventy-nine years old, next made 
some interesting remarks. He was followed by George W. Hard- 
ins:, who referred to the condition of the cemeteries wherein most 
of the pioneers are buried, and suggested that the Legislature be 
petitioned to enact a law empowering the townships to purchase and 
keep them in repair, showing that the expense would be very 
small. Other speakers followed, among whom was Cyrus Fillmore, 
of Lagrange County. Among the pioneers present were Demary 
Tillitson, Harvey Olmstead and William Carver. For the ensuing 
year Alanson W. Hendry was chosen President, and Francis Ma- 
cartney, Secretary. 

REMINISCENCES. 



BY D. B. GRIFFIN. 



I first came into Steuben County when it was quite new, in 
March, 1839. I stopped first at Willow Prairie. Brockville wt-s 
the name of the postoifice, and the site for the village which was 
laid out and recorded, and which is now Fremont. The village 



V 



\ 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



295 



then consisted of six or seven small houses, part of them frame 
and the others log cabins of humble mien. 

Among the settlers who then resided in and about Brock ville I 
call to mind the following: Jeremiah Tillitson, Demary TillitsonVa 
nephew of Jeremiah), Joseph Terrj, Ichabod H. Burdick Jared 
Burdick, Beriah Burdick, Jacob Eoop, Abraham Walters John 
McMahan, Newman Havens, Elijah Salisbury, Chester Salisbury 
and Peter Beam. Matthew Coffin was Postmaster at the village 
and Truman P. Gilbert kept the tavern. The latter afterward went 
to Hillsdale, where he carried on business for some time, and finally 
put an end to his existence by committing suicide. Enos Beall 
afterward Judge Beall, and his brother Eufus, who afterward served 
two terms as Sheriff of this county, and two terms in the same 
capacity in Hillsdale County, Mich., were both livino- in this 
vicmity. Peter Cluck was the village blacksmith, though he re- 
sided a mile and a half from town. His son Peter succeeded him 
in the same business at Fremont. Joseph Cluck, a brother of 
Peter, was a carpenter and joiner. He subsequently moved back 
to the East. Thomas N. Brown, afterward known as Judge Brown 
was a farmer. He was the father of Mrs. Joseph A. Woodhull 
(since deceased), and his widow and son Myron are at present resi- 
dents of Angola. Avery Farnham, father of Erastus Farnham 
now a gram speculator in Chicago, resided on the old homestead 
near the site of the village until his death, the last few years bring- 
ing feeble health. His son-in-law, William Hopkins, had charge 
of the farm, and he, too, is in Chicago. Erastus Farnham, brother 
of Avery, afterward filled the office of County Surveyor. He died 
some years ago. 

Just outside the limits of the village Jeremiah Tillitson, Esq 
had erected a neat two-story frame house with a large " L" L story 
and a half high, which added much to the appearance of the village 
as it was approached from the east. There was no blacksmith 
wagon, shoe, tailor, tin, or any other shop of any kind at that time 
m the place. There was a blacksmith a mile and a half south, and 
a tailor one mile east. A man named Kichard Gaines had fust 
traded for a few goods at Lima, Lagrange County, and put them up 
m a small room at BrockviUe, and he sold his merchandise out 
readily at fabulous prices, so that in the course of the season he 
built a good-sized two-story building, the front part of which was 
done off into a store, and the remainder into a dwelling. This 
buildmg is there yet. He went East that fall and got his father to 



IP 
7: 



~s 







K 



■V 



^ 



296 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



help him to $1,000, with which he purchased and brought on a 
line stock of goods for that time and place. More of him hereafter. 

The improvements were some ways apart. The land was much 
of it oak openings, the trees were some distance apart and the fire 
ran through them every year and kept down the young trees so 
that one could see a long ways in the smooth, level ground, and I 
frequently saw large herds of deer running through these openings, 
which was a splendid sight. Wild turkeys were also quite common, 
and I have seen large flocks of them many a time. If I had been 
a hunter I could have gotten all I wanted, but I was no hunter 
and never killed a deer or a turkey. 

The Pottawatomie Indians were all over this country, and fre- 
quently centered around Brockville. They would encamp and 
build their wigwams, then come to the village with their deer- 
skins, furs, and fresh venison, and if they could not get what 
whisky they wanted for these commodities, they would sell a pony 
for a few gallons of that beverage. Then if the pony was not 
taken away or secreted, they would steal it the next night, or as 
soon after as they could. There was a case in Brockville of that 
kind, that I knew of. The young man who bought the pony was 
much pleased with his good luck. He was told by men who knew 
the habits of the Indians that they would get the pony again if 
they could. He kept watch so closely, however, that they did not 
get it while they were there. But they did get it soon after; at 
least the pony was missing and he had to stand the loss. 

The Indians were quite peaceable when sober, but if they could 
get whisky they would fight among themselves sometimes. There 
was an Indian by the name of Johnese, an under-chief, who was 
very quiet and dignified when sober. He came to town one day 
much intoxicated and greatly excited. He had a large wound on 
the side of his neck and about three on his head — all long, deep 
gashes. He came up to me and said an Indian had killed a squaw 
and that he was going to kill the Indian, as he was a chief. Another 
Indian^ talked to him in their own language, then he turned to me 
and said all he had told me was a lie; that there had been no kill- 
ing, and that he was not going to kill the Indian, At the time he 
had a number of bars of lead in his hand, and powder, which he 
had juit bought for that purpose, so he said. It was currently re- 
ported that they put an Indian to death and burned him, where 
they were encamped. At another time an Indian came riding into 
town on a run, all excitement, frothing at the mouth — the most 



"TQ 



"^ 



\ 



<31 



>^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 297 

frightful looking object I ever saw— and said thej were all fight- 
ing, and he wanted us to go out there and stop them from killing 
each other. But the man was crazy drunk and we kept away. A 
man came to town soon after, from the same direction, and said the 
Indians were trying to kill each other, or at least were having a 
general row; that he saw a squaw running and screaming, her hair 
streaming out behind her, and an Indian running after her. He 
thought the Indian meant to kill her if he could7 The other In- 
dians were talking very loud and were apparently excited, and he 
thought they were all quarreling, being divided into two parties. 
It was believed that the squaw was killed and buried there, and 
that the Indian who killed her was punished with death also, and 
buried near the scene of the tragedy. 

I said I would say more about Ei chard A. Gaines, which will 
show what some men will do for money. After he filled his new 
store, he traded some years with apparent prosperity and happi- 
ness in his domestic relations. His wife was his double cousin 
She was very much attached to him, and appeared to think him' 
just right. She was always happy, always cheerful, always antici- 
pating his slightest wish, and having all things ready for his hap- 
piness and comfort that was possible. Thus things went on for 
about six or seven years, when Gaines went East and stayed all 
summer; got his father to sell all his property, real and personal, 
and come to this county with him. His own mother having died 
when he was only about ten years old, his father married again, 
and Kichard was very angry about it, thinking he would get less 
help or less property from his father on that account. He was an 
only son until after the second marriage, by which his father had 
a daughter and son. This made Eichard so angry that he left 
home and never had any intercourse with his folks until he went 
to get the $1,000 of which I spoke before. 

Eichard married when he was only eighteen years old, and he 
made out but poorly for some time. His wife worked out, took 
boarders, helping along until about two years before he got those 
first goods, when he got some gunsmith's tools and went to work 
at guns. There being no gunsmith in the country, and much call 
for such work, he saved enough in two years to get that first stock 
of goods, with which he started his store at Brockville. When 
his father came to this county, the half-sister was a young woman, 
and the half-brother ten or twelve years old. After old Mr. Gaines 
had been here two or three years, I should think, he told me that 

■ o< I I 

* V I 1 te 



\ 



>> 



298 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Richard wanted his money; that he told him he could double 
it in two years. The old man said he thought it unsafe, and that 
he would not part with his money. He said that his property in 
the East had sold for $7,000; that he had helped Kichardto $1,000 
when he first started, and had let him have $300 since ; that he 
had other children that were entitled to it as much as Eichard, and 
that it would not be right to help him so much more than the 
rest, and that he would keep his money in his own hands. He 
said that Kicliard looked at the possibility of doubling the money, 
and he looked at the possibility of losing it all. That spring they 
all moved to Jamestown, and Richard filled a store and was trad- 
ing when his father was taken with the ague and had a few chills- 
Dr. Patterson, of Fremont, was there and Richard got him to pre- 
scribe for his father, who took the medicine and the next day, or 
the same day, died. Now, I have no doubt but what the doctor's 
treatment was all right. Sometimes congestion or heart disease 
causes death suddenly. The old lady was a woman in good health, 
or was considered so. When her husband was buried she felt bad 
and tired, and Richard induced her to let Dr. Patterson leave her 
a prescription. She took it, and the day after her husband was 
buried she died. Rnfus Beall was appointed administrator of the 
estate, but, I am informed, the only property he could find be- 
longing to the deceased was a note of $300 against Richard, and 
of which all the family were previously apprised. There was no 
one to look further after the interests of the minor heirs, and they 
were thus left in destitute circumstances. Time went on. Rich- 
ard and his family moved to Hillsdale, Mich., where he soon pur- 
chased a large store and filled it with goods. He also bought a 
fine residence and furnished it in splendid style. He had a large 
trade, and bought wheat largely, buying a large share of it from 
this county. 

He seemed to gain the utmost confidence of the people. 
A number of farmers stored their wheat with his and allowed 
him to sell it with his and handle the money. Things went on in 
this prosperous way until he bought, in addition to his business, 
a hardware store, goods and all. He had two or three clerks, and 
he and his family became quite aristocratic, in fact were among the 
most aristocratic of Hillsdale society. One spring he started to 
'New York to buy goods. He had bought all the wheat he could 
on credit, agreeing to pay for it when he came back. After he 
had been gone two or three days, there came a rumor that he had 



-^ 



\ 



fi> 



HISTOEY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



299 



sold his stores, goods, house, furniture, and all he had, and had gone 
not to return. His wife heard the rumor, but could not believe 
it until Rufus Beall showed her a letter from a woman at Detroit, 
addressed to Gaines, saying she was waiting for him, but dared 
not wait more than one day longer, for fear of being detected. 
When Beall read this letter to Mrs. Gaines she fainted, and it was 
feared by her friends that the shock would kill her. Then Beall 
made known to the family that he had bought the stores and goods 
and the house and furniture. Thus it appears that Gaines had left 
his family destitute and had gone no one could tell where. 

Gaines's daughter was engaged to a young man in Hillsdale, 
and was to have been married soon. But when the devoted 
lover (?) saw that she was left without the coveted fortune, he at 
once broke the engagement, and what remained of the wealthy, 
aristocratic Gaines family were thus left without any means of 
support. Mrs. Gaines was allowed to remain in the house and 
boarded Beall and some clerks for awhile, when her brother came 
after her and her children and took them to Ohio, where he had a 
large farm. She and her children lived there in great seclusion 
until the oldest, Alanson, came of age, when he started to find his 
father, 

Mr. Philomen Martin, who married Gaines's cousin, told me 
that Alanson went to Texas and California, and then to South 
America, at the same time searching all the advertisements in the 
papers, until at last he saw his father's name in a paper as a dry- 
goods merchant He then went to his place of business and found 
him rich. Gaines gave his son enough to start a good store for 
him and his brother in Ohio. He also sent money to his wife. As 
soon as Alanson returned and informed his mother of the where- 
abouts and transactions of her once beloved, but faithless, husband, 
she married a gentleman in that vicinity who had been waiting a 
long time for her, but whose suit she had persistently refused un- 
til she could learn what had become of her first husband. 

Gaines took away with him, from Hillsdale, $16,000 or $18,000, 
and it was rumored that the woman who joined him at De- 
troit had about the same amount. He owed more, how- 
ever, than he took away, and his creditors had a number of 
trials with Beall for the recovery of his property, in the 
transfer of which they claimed fraud had been committed, 
but could not prove it. There was a claim of $12,000 in 
one place in New York. Beall had not paid one-half of the value 



19 



, 4'i 



-^ij- 



300 



HISTORY OF STEUBKN COUNTY. 



of the goods or any of the property he had purchased. The suffer- 
ers from trusting Gaines with wheat were A. Farnham, N. Ha- 
vens and J. Burdick; also a man by the name of Pettibone who lost 
his farm by this means, as he had trusted money in Gaines's hands 
to pay off the mortgage. The other men whom I have named 
were better able to stand their losses. 

There was a man in the vicinity of Fremont by the name of 
Abraham Walters, who had a son of the same name. The boy was 
a great hand to kill deer, turkey, etc. He would not spend time to 
hunt durinor grood weather, when it would interfere with his work, 
but would go out in the morning before breakfast and kill a deer; 
and I have known him to kill two before breakfast. Sometimes he 
would go out after his day's work was done and get a deer or tur- 
key, and when he became a young man he had an adventure with a 
bull which was more strange than fiction. He was going through a 
pasture where there was a vicious bull when the animal saw him 
and went at him with great rage, threw him down and gored him in 
the side, and with his knees broke the sternum (breast-bone) into its 
original pieces. When it got well the pieces stood upon their 
edges and remain so until this day as an evidence of the dire con- 
flict. His side was opened so that the heart and lungs could be 
seen ; the lower edge of the left lobe of the lung was torn so that 
the wind would escape from it at every breath . He could see his 
own heart and lung. The wounded portion of the lung was re- 
placed and the wound closed so that the air could not reach it and 
the wound soon healed, after which he went on with his working 
and hunting as usual. When the bull had young Walters down 
goring him with his knees on his breast, the young man contrived 
to get hold of the animal's nose with his teeth and kept his hold 
until the bull bawled and jumped up and threw him clear from him. 
Walters struck on his feet and faced his antagonist for a moment 
then turned and ran to the fence, calling as loudly as he could for 
help until he got over the fence when he fainted and fell to the 
ground. A neighbor who was at work in an adjoining field heard 
the man's cries and ran to his assistance and with a team took him 
home. His brother took his gun and shot the bull and that saved 
further trouble from him. 

ANOTHER ADVENTURE. 

This same young man, as well as many other hunters, told of 
seeing a large buck in the woods which had enormous horns — 



"V 



\ 



>> 



HI8T0BY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



301 



larger than they had ever seen on any other animal of the deer kind. 
They called the buck " Old Goldin." They would often tell on re- 
turning from a hunting expedition that they had seen Old Goldin. 
One evening when young Walters was out near a lake called 
Withington Lake, he saw a large pair of horns peering out of the 
grass and Old Goldin soon rose to his feet. The young man took 
hasty aim and fired, hitting the animal's horn close to the head. 
The deer fell and the young man ran to him, took him by the horn 
and commenced to cut his throat. As soon as the knife entered 
the skin, the deer revived and tried to get away. But young Wal- 
ters hung to the horn and made an effort to force his game into the 
lake which was very near. They entered the lake together; 
sometimes the deer would have him under water and then he would 
have the deer under. He kept his knife in hand and would stab 
or cut the deer wherever and whenever he could. They went from 
shore to shore, and toward morning he succeeded in killing the 
deer. Finding himself stripped of his clothing, he started home 
and reached the house a little before daylight. He then dressed 
himself and taking a team went back after Old Goldin. It had 
cost him a terrible struggle, and that night in the lake will ever be 
remembered as one of the most perilous of his life, yet he had the 
satisfaction of killing the most wary, or cautious, deer in the coun- 
try. 

Many hunters had looked for and followed the coveted game- 
time and again, without success. But not many of them would 
have taken the chances he took to bag the prize. Mr. Walters says 
these adventures were both very hazardous, but he would rather 
take his chances with the bull than with the deer, if he was obliged 
to repeat either of the tragedies. The hero of the story is still 
living about three and one-half miles northwest of Fremont, and 
can testify to the truthfulness of the foregoing statements, as well as 
many other interesting facts and adventures connected with pioneer 
life in Steuben County. Two of his sons have attended school in this 
place and are known as respectable and intelligent young men. 

When I first came to this county, in 1839, Thomas Knott was 
a Justice of the Peace. Although he was illiterate he was a 
man of fair judgment and could read and write quite well. When 
his term of office expired we had to elect a new justice of the 
peace or re-elect the old one. Richard A. Gaines, of whom I wrote 
above, aspired to the office. Gaines was not qualified for the office 
in any respect. He could not read so as to make any sense to 



d 



•V 



J- 



302 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



his reading. He was trying to read at one time in my hearing; 
he would spell the words aloud and coming to the word "together," 
he spelled it " t-o-g," pronouncing it " tog." I told him what the 
word was. "Well," said he, " I guess it is." I cite this instance asa 
fair specimen of his scholarship. There was a good man running 
against Gaines and he knew very well that he could not be elected 
by the fair voice of the voters in the township, so he bought a 
barrel of whisky and before election day he and a friend of his 
had been to every man in town who would drink and kept them 
supplied with that article until they had voted. 

When election day came he kept a barrel of whisky ready and a 
man to wait on them. There were men who voted for him while 
under the influence of whisky who could not have been hired with 
money to vote for him and who would never have voted for him 
while in their sober senses. One old man by the name of Bowers, 
was a good, pious man, only he had a weakness at that point. He 
could not resist the temptation of intoxicating drink. Gaines got 
him into his house and treated him until he was so intoxicated that 
he could do with him as he desired, then took him to the polls and 
got his vote. Mr. Bowers felt very badly and was ashamed to 
think he had voted for such a man. But it was too late to help it 
after the deed was done. I think there was no doubt that a barrel of 
whisky in that instance elected a justice of the peace. I don't 
think Gaines could have gotten one-fourth of the votes by fair means. 
Those who were opposed to him did not see what was going on un- 
til it was too late to change the result. 

There was a young man who had been clerking for Gaines, and 
who had a falling out with him and started an opposition store. 
He kept his store in a small dry -goods box, and after showing his 
goods or selling them to customers he would shove them under 
his bed, as he had only one small room to live in — store and all. 
One day there had been a young man who was much below compos 
mentis looking at some goods, and who had bought a spool of cot- 
ton thread. After he was gone the young merchant counted his 
spools and found that one was gone. He thought the young man 
had taken it. He had bought a few other articles and put them 
into his pocket, and went to this merchant's brother's, as they were 
good friends. The merchant went to his brother's and told the 
fellow that he had stolen a spool of thread. " I have not," said he. 
^' I know you have," said the merchant, " for there has no one else 
been in and the thread is gone." The young man thrust his hand 



19 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 303 

into his pocket, and, alas, the spool came forth with the other 
things he had bought of the merchant. He protested his inno- 
• cence, however, and said he did not know he had it. The mer- 
chant requested him to go over to Gaines's with him, which he did, 
all the while declaring he was innocent. After they went into 
the store the merchant shut the door and locked it. Then he took 
a rawhide and whipped the young man so badly that his back and 
legs were all in welts, and blood was drawn in many places. 

After this young man had been to many with his grievances and 
got no sympathy from any of them, he came to me and showed me 
his lacerated limbs and back. It moved my sympathy for him and 
aroused my indignation for the merchant so I took him to a justice 
of the peace, showed his stripes and made the complaint for an as- 
sault and battery case. When we were going to the trial we fell in 
company with the merchant. He inquired, " Where are you go- 
ing, Doctor?" I told him I was going to the Esquire's to attend 
the trial. "What," said he, "are you a witness?" "No," said I, 
" I am an attorney." Then he commenced to abuse me, and we kept 
up a discussion until we arrived at the Esquire's. Our case came 
on; we got the merchant fined and started home. We were pursued 
closely by the merchant and his friend, and they abused me for tak- 
ing the interest I had in that case. I could not help taking an inter- 
est. In the first place I believed him to be innocent; I think he 
put the thread into his pocket when he did not know it; and, in the 
next place, the young man was weak both in body and mind, and 
needed a friend, and in those days I was just the man to befriend 
such a one. 

Silas Doty was in the store where Douglas was whipped, but 
was a prisoner with the officer and he dared not do anything there, 
as he knew they were all against him, but he said it was the hard- 
est thing he ever bore to see that young man whipped when he be- 
lieved him innocent. Doty is the celebrated character who spent 
one-half of his life, if not more, in prison. I was his family phy- 
sician for ten years, and was a witness when he was tried for mur- 
der, in two trials, the first in this county, at which time the jury 
did not agree, and in the next at Fort Wayne. Here he was found 
guilty by the jury and sent to prison at JefFersonville for life. 

REMINISCENCES. 
BY MRS. J. B. WISEL, OP SALKM TOTYNBHIP. 

I bade adieu to the home of childhood and the dear friends in 
Wendell, Franklin Co., Mass., Aug. 4, 1836, and with my husband, 






v 



Q »_ 



— 1 fi^ 



304 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



David Wisel, started for a liome in the West. We came on by- 
stage, canal and steamboat as far as Cleveland, Ohio, and were 
there joined by Elder Joseph Locke, my brother-in-law, with his 
family, from Cattaraugus County, N. Y. 

From Ohio we pursued our journej^ together in covered wagons, 
for there were no railroads in those days to accommodate travelers. 
Our progress was very slow over the new, muddj roads; we were 
three weeks in getting to Steuben County, Ind. We made a stop on 
the border of township 36, There we found a board shanty, open on 
one side, which belonged to Mr. Robert Bell, of Ohio, who had 
not yet moved in ; there we took shelter till Mr. Locke and Mr. 
Wisel could look up their land. The next day after our arrival 
Mr. Locke was attacked with the ague, and heavy rains coming on 
our shelter proved a poor one, as we had to make our fire out of 
doors (stoves not yet having come into use). 

Mr. Locke and Mr. Wisel hunted out their land, located at what 
is now Salem Center, and cut a wagon road through to their des- 
tined homes, and prepared to build their cabins. But first their 
land must be secured; so my husband took a pack on his back and 
started for the land-office at Fort Wayne. He had to follow an 
Indian trail, as there were no roads yet opened through the country, 
and the streams were unbridged. 

I remember Mr. Wisel telling of coming to a muddy stream near 
dark which he had to ford, going down to his shoulders, and on 
reaching the opposite bank he had some difficulty in finding his 
path. After wandering till nine o'clock, cold and wet, he dis- 
covered the glimmer of a light through the trees, and was very 
glad to find a little log cabin where eight or ten other travelers had 
called for the night. The host gave him the privilege of lying be- 
fore the fire over night, for which he was very glad. 

Well, before we got our cabins built, Father Wisel and his son 
Otis and Mr. Hollister arrived with their families, and near the 
same time Mr. Ed. Hammond and Ely Teal came on. On the 3d 
of October Mr. John Wilson, Charles and John Bodley came. 
Yery soon after they arrived Mr. J. Bodley had a son added to his 
family whom they named William. 

The poor cattle had bells fastened round their necks and were 
turned into the woods to shirk for their living; but they needed close 
watching lest they return to their former homes. As children like 
to hear stories I will tell them one about hunting the cows in those 
days. Mr. Locke was still down with the ague, and Father Wisel 



■^' <r 



\ 



.^J^ 



S\ 



k^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



305 



and boys were all engaged to get the roof of their house on as it 
looked like rain. So Phebe Wisel and Mrs. Locke and her son 
Joseph, aged eleven years, started to hunt the cows. They found 
them a mile and a half east of home. After getting the cattle col- 
lected together, they did not know which way to start home. So 
they all hallooed; the men on the roof heard them and gave an- 
swer. They called again, and then the wolves set up a hideous 
howl on all sides of them. We heard the wolves. Our men called 
to them again but got no answer, and we feared that the wolves had 
torn them to pieces. But when the wolves howled they were near 
a small tree that had burned off at the root and lodged against a 
large tree, so they all climbed up out of reach of the wolves and 
the cattle gathered up around the tree shaking their bells at the 
wolves. Our men hunted till into the night with no prospect of 
finding them, then Otis and Ira Wisel went and got Mr. Wilson 
and Charles Bodley, a great hunter, to go with them. When the 
women heard Mr. Bodley fire his gun they ventured to answer, 
so they were soon found and led out to Mr. Wilson's. Mrs. Wil- 
son prepared refreshments and the women rested there till morning. 

The first year after our settlement we had to go to Lima for our 
mail, and to Pretty Prairie for provisions So many settlers mov- 
ing into this country the first two years caused produce to be very 
high, and before the first harvest was gathered it was difficult get- 
ting wheat at any price; for a few weeks we lived on rice and 
hominy. Sick wheat was brought in from Ohio and sold to the 
hungry settlers for good grain, but even a hungry dog would be too 
sick after eating his first meal of it to accept the second biscuit. 

Mr. Locke hearing that salt was brought in from Fort Wayne, a 
place south of us, started for some; he had to pay $10 for a barrel 
of salt and $1.50 for staying over night. The greater part of the 
cows died the first spring, not having had suitable food and shelter. 

Early in the year 1837 Elder Locke organized a Christian church 
of nine members, and for the first few years held Sunday-school at 
our house. In the spring of 1837 our township was organized. The 
election for town officers was held at our house. There were twelve 
votes cast. Mr. Avory Emerson was elected Justice of the 
Peace. 

There were but few cases of severe sickness in 1837. Father 
Wisel had the ague, from the effects of which he never recovered, 
but lived till November, 1843. Nancy Locke, aged fourteen years, 
died Nov. 22, 1837, and the following summer, in one week, Elder 



■r 



s 



•*y K 






306 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTr. 



Locke buried his two youngest children, Ezra and Ljdia. Those 
three were the first buried in the Hollister graveyard. 

During the summer and fall of 1858 chills and fever, dysentery 
and ague prevailed till there were not enough well ones to take care 
of the sick or toproperly bury the dead. One circumstance I will 
mention: A man with his family came in and put up with John 
Bodley till he could get up his log cabin; he took sick and died; 
they sent to Charles Bodley and my husband to make the coffin; 
when they went to take the coffin over, they found the man's oldest 
son, twenty-one years of age, dying ; there were not men there 
enough to bury the father, so they sent word around for all who 
were able to come the next afternoon to turn out to the burial. 
They came home and made another coffin, and made out to get the 
two men buried, and the widow had to return with the remnant of 
the family to her former home. 

But enough of this sad picture. JSTotwithstanding all the hard- 
ships and discouragements, little farms around were improved, 
orchards were set out and we had, in a few years, an abundance of 
good peaches, and we could make our own maple sugar, and en- 
joyed using it. 

In the year 1848 or '49 a mail route was opened through Salem 
from x^uburn to Orland. Mr. Hall carried the mail, David Wisel 
was Postmaster at Salem, and the postoffice was kept at our house 
till we moved West, then Walter Braiden, who was trading on the 
corners, took the postoffice. Two years after Braiden moved to 
Minnesota, and Mr. Woodford became Postmaster. 

In 1853 my husband, David Wisel, removed from Steuben 
County to Fillmore County, Minn., for the purpose of building a 
o-rist-mill. We located on a southern branch of Root River, and 
built our house on a small plat of land, with hills on three sides 
of us. As there was no lumber to be got nearer than La Crosse, 
forty miles northwest of us, he determined to first build a saw-mill 
and make his own lumber. 

During the first two years, we had but few neighbors, except the 
Indians, who were quite friendly. It was said that the water at 
times rose high in that stream. It was several years before Mr. 
Wisel could begin to build his grist-mill, for he was kept very 
busy sawing lumber for the new settlers' houses. In the mean- 
time we found that every spring when the ice cleared out of the 
stream the water would come up into our houses. The stream on 
which our saw-mill stood was formerly two branches, which united 



_2L 



^^ 



-^ * — ^ - — A^ , 

a, I — r_ ^ 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 307 

just above the mill', one of which headed ten miles south- 
east of us, and the other as far to the southwest, bringing the 
waters of the rolling prairies from that direction to our place. In 
order to have his grist-mill secure from high water, Mr. Wisel dug 
a race on which to set it, and thus united the western branch with 
the stream bel ow the saw-mill, so our buildings all stood, as it 
were, upon an island, having the saw-mill on the east and the grist- 
mill on the west of our house. Our only son, Ezra, marrying, 
built him a house on the highest part of this land, and as he in- 
tended at some future time to put up an upright part adjoining it, 
he made an outer door opening from the chamber to the west; but 
the war coming on, he enlisted, and died in the army, and his 
widow and her two little girls moved 120 miles further west to 
reside with her parents. In the latter part of July, 1866, we had 
a great deal of rain, and as our roof leaked, we concluded to move 
into the house that Ezra had occupied, and began to take our 
things over the week before the freshet. 

But God seldom brings judgment upon people without first 
warning them of their danger; and so at that time, while engaged 
in gathering up things preparatory to moving, there seemed to be a 
whispering, telling me not to go into that house. I said nothing 
of my impressions, but reasoned with myself, that as the house 
was ours and more comfortable to live in than the one we occupied 
I conld see no good reason for not moving. I think from my hus- 
band's appearance that he had similar impressions, but he said 
nothing. At that time our family consisted of my husband and 
myself, my husband's mother, who was eighty years of age and 
quite feeble, and a nephew, Jonathan Wisel, youngest son of Ira 
Wisel, aged eleven years. His father having died in the army, we 
had taken him to live with us till he should be twenty-one. He 
was a good boy, and we had begun to feel that he would be to us 
as an own son. But we little realized that death even then stood 
at our door. The Sunday after we moved he went with me for 
the last time to meeting and Sunday-school. 

That day I met with Calvin Brace and wife, from Burr Oak, Iowa. 
They seemed to enjoy the meeting; they staid with us Sunday 
night, intending to take Mother Wisel home with them the next 
day, but on Monday it rained, so they were with us another night 
in family worship. That evening we sang : 

*' The day is past and gone, 
' The evening shades appear, 






»fv 



\ 



L 



308 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

O, may we all remember well 
The night of death draws near." 



But we little realized that death, even then, stood at our door. 
There was a cloud arising when we went to bed, but we obserred 
nothing unusual in its appearance. We retired with a feeling of 
safety. The old people slept below, and my husband with me and 
Jonathan slept in the chamber above. Mr. Wisel had been hard 
at work in his grist-mill and was tired, and he and the rest of the 
inmates were soon in a sound sleep. Then a trembling of heart 
seized me and a foreboding of something dreadful came over me. 
Soon the rain poured down in torrents. I awoke Mr. Wisel and 
told him that I feared we were going to have a freshet. He 
answered but did not appear much troubled and was soon in 
a sound sleep again. The night was extremely dark, except when 
it lightened. I knew it would be very difficult to get our aged 
mother or old Mrs. Brace to a place of safety on the hill, so I re- 
solved to watch the rise of the water, and let the rest sleep, unless 
danger should be near. For two hours the rain continued to pour 
down. Again I awoke my husband, telling him that the water 
was rising; but before he could dress I threw a shawl over ray 
head and went out a few rods from the house; it lightened and I 
discovered the water close to my feet. I hurried back, and throw- 
ing the door wide open, called to the sleeping inmates to awake, 
telling them that the water would soon be in the house. Our aged 
mother sprang up asking, "What shall we do?" I told her it was 
too late to get away, and that we must go to the chamber and 
trust in God. The head gate of the grist-mill race had given 
away and the water was pouring over between us and the mill, so 
that there was no chance of getting to our neighbors on the hills. 
All were soon dressed and the men removed the beds and trunks 
from the rooms below to the chamber above. Mr. Wisel and 
myself were the last to leave the lower rooms. The water was 
fast coming in, when I heard our three little calves rushing by, 
bellowing. With pity for the poor creatures, I sprang to the door 
to call them in, when my husband stopped me saying it would not 
do to open the door. We then went to the chamber and he 
opened the door, and, looking toward the grist-mill, told us that 
the small buildings were sweeping by! Soon he announced that 
the horse stable with the horses was going by; then I felt that the 
house must soon go. 

Mrs. Brace proposed that we should join in prayer. The water 



e 






•s, 



^ 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



309 



continued to rise. We could hear the windows bursting in, and 
things dashing about in the rooms below. Often flood- wood would 
strike the house, racking it fearfully. Perhaps one-half an hour 
had thus passed when mother, who remained sitting on the side 
of the bed, spoke with a sigh, saying, " I don't know what will be- 
come of us." 

The following words came into my mind, and I repeated them: 

" We all may like ships, bo tempest tossed 
On perilous deeps, but we ne'er shall be lost " 

With these words, there sprang up a little hope, that when the 
house should give way we might be washed to the hill, or get 
hold of a tree and be saved. I then began to prepare for the 
emergency as best I could. Getting mother's bonnet, I went to 
tie it on her head, but she refused, saying, "No," so 1 tied it on 
my own head, and then put on my thick shoes and woolen stock- 
ings. Then our house was violently racked. I supposed it was 
going immediately to pieces, but the shock passed off, and my 
husband, who was standing near the door which opened out from 
the chamber, spoke, saying, " The house will soon go now." 

His blacksmith shop had been driven against the addition, 
which was joined to the lower eaves of our house, working it off. 
For one moment we all waited in breathless silence, then the 
house began to plunge over, and as the lights went out I saw my 
husband jump out of the door, and caught a glimpse of his 
mother flying with the bed over the stairway. So I sprang to 
prevent her from going below. I heard her head strike! She, 
groaning, fell with the bed through the stairway, but the bed- 
stead having high posts stopped, and 1 clung hold of a foot post, 
while Mrs. Brace got hold of a side-rail, and her husband grasped 
the other foot post. I called to Jonathan to cling tight to the 
bedstead. He said, " Yes, mamma;" that was the last I heard 
from him. The house was immediately broken to pieces in such 
a manner as to free us from timbers, and we three went plungintf 
down stream clinging to the bedstead. After being twice im- 
mersed, as I again rose to the surface, struggling to keep my hold 
on the bedpost, it seemed that the waves or something else 
took me with force and set me across the foot-board, I still cling- 
ing to the post. I was no more plunged under water, but kept 
that position till I stopped the bedstead. Some to whom I have 
related the circumstances have said that doubtless an angel placed 
me on that foot-board, and guided my course down that crooked 
20 



_2- 



V9 



"a 






310 



HISTORY OF STECJBEN COUNTY. 






stream, through the woods and past the rocky bluffs. And, truly, 
it would seem almost impossible for one to be carried by a raging 
torrent, tilled with the debris of mills and other buildings, to- 
gether with fences and torn up trees, down a winding stream, along 
whose banks, in places, were perpendicular rocks of fifty feet and 
more in height, also woods to pass through; yet 1 was not 
scratched or bruised from coming in contact with either. My 
bonnet, which I had tied so snugly on my head, was suddenly 
snatched off by the limbs of a tree. We had not gone half a 
mile down the stream before Mr. Brace was dashed against the 
rocks or trees, I could not see which in the thick darkness. His 
poor wife hearing him groan called to him, sajing, *' Calvin, are 
yju gmeV Bat we were rapidly carried on, leaving him in his 
death struggle. The next day his body was found, two miles below, 
a little way from the stream, his skull broken, one foot ofi" and his 
oat torn from him. Our poor old mother lay near him terribly 
bruised, and her clothes mostly torn off. A Norwegian by the 
name of Dueland had a farm two miles below our place. His 
house was built on the flat, near the hill. He had a flourishing 
cornfield between his house and the creek; the rocks were torn 
from the blufis and thrown over his land for twenty rods square, 
but, fortunately, a heavy body of timber stood just above his house 
which prevented the fiood-wood from coming against it. My 
course was directly over those rocks, and then through that piece 
of timber. 

As we passed Mr. Dueland's house I saw a light at their win- 
dow, and called to Mrs. Brace, telling her there was a house, for 
I could see the light; but the darkness was so intense I could see 
no house, and supposed the light must be at some distance the 
other side of the creek; yet I was so near that Mrs. Dueland, who 
was in the chamber, heard me speak to Mrs. B., and she called to 
her husband, telling him that somebody was passing, for she heard 
a woman's voice. Mr. Dueland was below, standing in water up 
to his waist, holding the door from bursting in. * I heard Mrs. 
Brace's voice in prayer, as we floated down the stream, but it 
grew faint, and soon after we had passed Mr. Dueland's it ceased 
and she gave me no answer when I called to her, so I supposed she 
was gone and I was left alone. Four miles below our place a little 
stream called Trout Run emptied into the main stream from the 
west, and I was carried on my bedstead across this stream and be- 
side a piece of timber which grew on the left bank of the creek. 



01 












HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 311 

There the bottom lands widen out, extending forty rods between 
the bluffs, so I went on more gently, and in passing under a tree 
felt a limb strike my head; reaching up, I grasped the limb with 
one hand while I held the bedpost to the body of the tree. My 
bedstead swung around to the lower side, and directly the flood- 
wood that was following down lodged against the upper side of 
the tree, so that I climbed upon it, and remained there till day- 
light. The rain had ceased, and a chilling wind came across the 
water. Being exhausted, I felt inclined to sleep, but feared to do 
so lest I fall into the water, so 1 stood on my feet, and exercised 
what I could to get warm, holding on to the limbs of the tree. 
The morning was foggy ; no sun appeared to warm the atmosphere 
or cheer the gloom. 

The cattle that had fled to the hills to escape the flood were 
seeking their way homeward, bellowing as if in fear of the still 
foaming waters. I, too, felt anxious to return, hoping that I 
might find my husband yet alive, flattering myself that he might 
reach some floating timber when he jumped from thai upper 
door, and so have reached the hill ; if so, I knew that he would be 
nearly distracted till he should learn the fate of his family. I 
knew not how far down the stream I had been carried, nor how 
long I might have to wait for some one to find me. I could not 
stay here in suspense; I must get to the hill and go far enough 
back to shun the ravine. But how should I get to the hill, which 
was separated from me by twenty rods of water? A board lay on 
the floodwood where I had rested and I resolved to try to raft my- 
self across to the hill, if I could find a pole long enough for the 
purpose. But through the mercy of a kind providence I found 
none, for I should probably have been drowned in the undertaking. 
On the right hand, between me and the creek, were woods filled with 
flood material, among which I saw drowned animals, and one poor 
creature struggling to liberate itself from the logs which confined 
it. With anxiety I looked for some of my own dear friends 
but found none. Some of ray neighbors in hunting for the lost 
reached the place at sunset, and found Mrs. Brace; she was on her 
knees, and her hands clenched in the grass, a few rods below ray 
bedstead; doubtless she was alive when I stopped at the tree, and 
was soon after knocked off by the floodwood. 

With much effort I succeeded in climbing from one pile of 
flood-wood to another, until I got out of the \^ ater, and soon after 
reached Trout Run, which was swollen to a river, with a swift cur- 



-^ 



\ 



J- 



312 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

rent. 1 tollowed up the bank till I came to a tree that had fallen 
across the stream, and lay two or three feet above the water. I was 
enabled to cross over with steady nerve, and soon after was glad to 
find a road which I supposed would lead me out to the house of 
Mr. English, which was one and a half miles from my desolated 
home. With them I resolved to seek shelter. But I had not trav- 
eled far when I observed the fresh tracks of a company of wolves 
that had gone that way since the rain. I followed on for a mile or 
80 when, seeing a dark ravine in front of me and fearing I might 
meet the wolves , I left the road and climbed a hill to my rio-ht 
where there were only tall grass and weeds, hoping that I might 
see a house and find some one to assist me. On I traveled, from 
one hill to another, till noon, sometimes feeling so exhausted that 
it seemed I could go no further. Then I stopped and asked the 
Lord for strength and guidance, and in mercy he enabled me to 
pursue my way to a Norwegian's cabin. Although my labor and 
fatigue had been so great I was still shivering with cold; while the 
women prepared me warm refreshments, the man went and called 
a neighbor who could talk English. They were surprised to learn 
of the disaster as there had been no uncommon rain there. The 
two men took an ax and accompanied me through the woods to Mr. 
English's. His wife met me saying, " My dear lamb, I did not look 
f jr you to come alive." To my grief I then learned that Mr. Wisel 
had not been seen. He must have been drowned. They also told 
me that Mr. Wellington, who lived half a mile below us, was swept 
away with all his family and buildings. Their house, after going a 
few rods, broke up, the roof and chamber floor settling together. 
On raising the roof, Mrs. Wellington was found with her little 
grandson, Charley Gage, in her arms; they were in bed, looking as 
if in a sweet sleep. They had come to their death without any 
warning. Mr. Wellington had arisen and dressed himself His 
body was found in the timber where I had lodged. He was buried 
under the drifted sand only one boot sticking out in sight. They 
were from New Hampshire. The next day the remains of our 
poor old mother were brought to me. With tlie assistance of a 
few neighbors I had just got her laid out when Cyrus Weilington 
called to see me; he was at work from home at the time of the 
freshet and so escaped being drowned with the rest of the family. 
It was decided to take the bodies as fast as they were found to the 
school-house to be kept until the burial. With sadness, Cyrus told 
me that his mother and Charley had not been laid out, but were at 






\ 



:± 



±L 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



313 



the school-house. I was then reminded of a singular request that 

his mother had made of me but a few weeks before, as she stood 

admiring my flower-beds. She said she believed she would sleep 

sweeter in the grave with flowers around her, and requested me to 

see to laying her out, if I should outlive her, and place flowers 

about her grave. I told Cyrus that I would go and attend to their 

bodies immediately and soon had a carriage to take me to the 

school-house, where I was assisted by two Norwegian ladies. We 

had but few American neighbors, and they were unable to render 

any assistance. On the afternoon of Wednesday my poor husband 

was found and brought to the school-house. Mr. Brace and wife 

were taken home to Burr Oak for burial. On Thursday, Mr. 

Wiseland his mother, Mr. and Mrs. Wellington and Charley Gage 

were borne to their silent graves, followed by only five relatives. 

On Friday a few neighbors volunteered to go with me down the 

stream hoping we might find Jonathan. We searched a day in vain 

and returned home in the evening sad and weary. Jonathan was 

found on the following Sunday five miles below my place. He had 

floated down the stream and lodged in a clump of willows. He 

was buried that evening without funeral services. * * * 

Mrs. Wisel, after the terrible experience related above, returned 
to her friends in Steuben County, where she still lives. 







-J \S 



\ 



L 



CHAPTER IV. 



POLITICAL HISTORY. 



Stkonglt Whig, and latterly Republican.— Eakly Majorities.— 
Cursory View of Presidential Votes from 1840 to 1884. — 
Political Complexion of the Several Townships. — Total Vote 
AT EACH Presidential Election. — Local Independence of 
Party Fetters. — Personal Campaigns. — Luce and Dawson. — 
Importance of one Vote. — " Underground Railway" Station 
at Orland. — Abstract of Official Vote at all General Elec- 
tions FROM 1839 TO 1884. — Official List. — Judges of Circuit 
Court. — Associate Judges. — Probate Judges. — Common Pleas 
Judges. — Circuit Prosecutors.— Common Prosecutors.— County 
Commissioners. — State Senators. — Representatives. — Clerks 
of the Circuit Court. — Count r Auditors. — County Treas- 
urer. — County Sheriffs. — County Recorders. — County Sur- 
veyors. — School Examiners and Superintendents. 

The hardy New Englanders who settled Mill Grove Township 
brought their politics with them, and made Vermont settlement 
a center of Whig and Free-Soil strength. Through sympathy, 
other townships were settled by kindred spirits, so that in the 
early days Steuben was generally safe for the Whig party. Chester 
Stocker, elected County Clerk in 1843, himself a Democrat, wrote 
on the fly leaf of one of the record books now in the court-house, 
that previous to his election the county usually gave a reliable ma- 
jority for the Whigs of about 100; and that he himself was only 
elected by a combination of peculiar circumstances. His figures 
seem to be rather high, and not warranted by the official returns. 
At the August election of 1839, the Whig majority was tbirty-six. 
A year later it was twenty-three. At the presidential election of 
1840, the first after the organization of the county. General 
William Henry Harrison (who was elected) received 245 votes, 
while 183 were cast for his Democratic rival, Martin Van Buren, 
the former's majority being accordingly sixty-two. Harrison 
carried all the townships except York, Jackson and Otsego, which 
gave two, seventeen and sixteen majority, respectively for Van 

(314) ^ 



lLl 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 315 

Buren, and Richland, whose vote]was a tie. Mill Grove gave forty- 
nine votes to Harrison, and nine to Yan Buren. Fremont's Whig 
majority was fourteen; Pleasant, twenty-three; Salem, twelve; 
Steuben, eight. 

In 1844 Henry Clay, the unsuccessful Whig leader, received 
328 votes to 303 for James K. Polk, nominated by the Democratic 
party, a plurality of twenty-five. The Free-Soil party, which had 
just sprung into existence, was in the field with its candidate, 
James G, Birney, who ])olled forty-two votes in this county, twenty- 
three of them being in Mill. Grove Township. The Whig plurality 
in Mill Grove was eight; Jamestown, two, Fremont, twenty-seven. 
Pleasant, twenty-three; Steuben, thirty -one. Five townships gave 
Democratic majorities, as follows : York, five; Jackson, thirty- 
four; Salem, ten; Otsego, fifteen, and Richland, five. 

In 1848 the veteran General Zachary Taylor, who was the Whig 
nominee, and who was elected, received 315 votes; and General 
Lewis Cass, the candidate of the Democracy, received 352 votes, a 
plurality of thirty-seven. The Free Soil party, led by Martin 
Yan Buren, polled a very large vote in this county — 194, and 
carried Fremont Township b}'^ a plurality of twentj'-fonr. Five 
townships gave the following Democratic pluralities: Pleasant 
(previously Whig, and this its only Democratic year), twenty-one; 
Jackson, twenty-four; Salem (Democratic only in 1848 and 1852), 
twenty-four; Otsego, fourteen; and Richland, nine. Taylor carried 
four townships by the following pluralities: Mill Grove,four; James- 
town, six; York, sixteen; Steuben, thirty-two. 

In 1852, the Democracy nominated Franklin Pierce, the Whigs 
chose Winfield Scott, and the Free-Soilers, John P. Hale. Never 
was a party which had hoped for success so overwhelmingly de- 
feated as this year, when Pierce received a triumphant majority 
of both the popular and electoral votes. In this county, for a 
second time, a Democratic victory was achieved, the vote being as 
follows : Pierce, 543; Scott, 487; Hale, ninety; Pierce's pluralit}^, 
fifty-six. The Democrats carried the following seven townships 
by the pluralities indicated: Jamestown, seven; Fremont (for 
the only time since its organization Democratic), three; York, six; 
Jackson, twenty-three; Salem, thirty-seven; Otsego, twenty-six; 
Richland, fourteen. The Whigs carried five townships — Mill Grove 
by ten; Clear Lake by eleven; Scott, nine; Pleasant, thirteen; 
Steuben, seventeen. 

The causes of the defeat of the Whigs in 1852 are well known. 



■r" 



816 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The anti-slavery people were alienated, and the party of Clay and 
Webster was, having by their death fallen into weaker hands, not 
only defeated but killed for all time. During four campaigns, it 
had carried Steuben County twice, and lost it an equal number of 
■ times. In 1854 and 1855 a new party arose on its ruins, and ab- 
sorbed the strength of both the Whigs and the Abolitionists. 
From that time on Steuben County has given decisive Republican 
majorities, the figures varying from 662 in 1856 to 1,242 in 1876. 

For its first campaign, which was unsuccessful, the new Republi- 
can party put in nomination General John C. Fremont; the De- 
mocracy put forward James Buchanan; and the American, or 
K.now-Nothing, party ran as a candidate ex-President Millard Fill- 
more. The result in this county was as follows : Fremont, 1,215; 
Buchanan, 553; Fillmore, nineteen; Republican plurality, 662. 
Jamestown gave a Democratic plurality of one, and every remain- 
ing township gave pluralities to Fremont, as follows: Mill Grove, 
119; Fremont, ninety-seven; Clear Lake, ten; York, sixty-six; Scott, 
seventy-one; Pleasant, nineteen; Jackson, fifty-nine; Salem, ninety- 
six; Steuben, 102; Otsego, fifty-four; Richland, thirty. 

In the memorable campaign of 1860, just before our civil war, 
the voters of the LFnited States were called upon to choose between 
Abraham Lincoln (Republican), Stephen A. Douglas (Democratic), 
John C. Breckinridge (Democratic), and John Bell (Union). 
Through the disagreement of the northern and southern wings ot 
the Democracy, Lincoln was elected though receiving but two- 
fifths of the popular vote. The campaign was unusually exciting 
in this county, where the successful candidate received 1,560 votes; 
Douglas, 547; Bell, eighty-two; Breckinridge, eight; Lincoln's 
plurality, 1,013. Every township in the county helped to swell 
the Republican vote, the pluralities being : Mill Grove, 136; 
Jamestown, one; Fremont, ninety-two; Clear Lake, twenty -four; 
York, ninetj'^-eight; Scott, ninety-five; Pleasant, 116; Jackson, 100; 
Salem, sixty-eight; Steuben, 108; Otsego, ninety-nine; Richland, 
seventy-six. 

In the last year of the war was held the next presidential elec- 
tion. The Democracy placed in the field the popular soldier 
George B. McClellan in opposition to Lincoln, who was renomi- 
nated. The sentiment of the North being decidedly with the 
administration, Abraham Lincoln was re-elected. In this county 
he received 1,642 votes to 609 for McClellan. The Republicans 
carried all the townships, the pluralities being, in Mill Grove, 154; 



-/ 



^1 



J- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



317 



Jamestown, thirty-four; Fremont, seventy-four; Clear Lake, nine; 
York, sixty-two; Scott, 129, Pleasant, 136; Jackson, 101; Salem, 
132; Steuben, 107; Otsego, 125; Richland, seventy. 

The next campaign occurred during the reconstruction era. The 
Eepublicans nominated their war hero. General Ulysses S. Grant, 
while the Democrats selected as their standard bearer the eminent 
New York Governor, Horatio Seymour. The result was a Repub- 
lican victory. In this county the vote was: For Grant, 1,881; for 
Seymour, 830; Grant's majority, 1,051. Clear Lake Township 
this year went over to the Democracy giving Seymour a majority 
of nine. The remaining townships, eleven in number, gave the 
following Republican majorities : Mill Grove, 147; Jamestown, 
seventy-two; Fremont, eighty-two; York, seventy- three ; Scott, 
153; Pleasant, 123 ; Jackson, 103 ; Salem, thirty-four ; Steuben, 
129; Otsego, eighty; Richland, 164. 

Dissatisfied with Grant's administration, a number of Repub- 
licans, calling themselves Liberals, held a convention in 1872, and 
nominated Horace Greeley, Grant having been renominated by the 
regular Republican convention. Disheartened, or rather hoping to 
achieve success by fostering a division in their rival party, the 
Democratic leaders, in convention assembled, endorsed Greeley. 
This was very unsatisfactory to a large proportion of Democrats, 
who accordingly refused to vote on election day. A few voted for 
Charles O'Conor, the "straight-out" Democratic candidate, but 
not enough to influence the result. Grant received an overwhelm- 
ing plurality of the people's vote, not by his own popularity, but 
by Greeley's unpopularity. While in 1868 the Democratic vote in 
Steuben County was 830, in 1872 it fell to 714, a decrease of 116. 
Allowing for increase of population, there should have been an in- 
crease of 100 or more, so that it is likely that 200 or more Demo- 
crats refused to vote. Grant received 1,877 votes, and O'Conor 
thirty-two, in this C(»unty; Grant's plurality over Greeley, 1,163. 
Excepting Clear Lake, which gave eighteen plurality for Greeley, 
the Republicans carried all the townships by the following figures: 
Mill Grove, ninety ; Jamestown, seventy-one; Fremont, twenty; 
York, 106; Scott, 157; Pleasant, 157; Jackson, 118; Salem, ninety- 
four; Steuben, 136; Otsego, sixty-seven; Richland, ninety-eight. 

The centennial year brought with it another vote for President 
of the Nation. The choice was between Rutherford B. Hayes 
(Republican), of Ohio, and Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat), of New 
York. After one of the closest electoral contests which history 






\ 



^ 



±^ 



318 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



records, Hayes was declared elected by one electoral vote. He 
received 2,293 votes in this county, leaving 1,051 for Tilden, and 
219 for Peter Cooper, the National, or Greenback candidate. 
Hayes's plurality was therefore 1,242, the largest plurality the 
county has ever given for any candidate. Clear Lake gave Tilden 
ten more votes than Hayes, but the latter received in the remain- 
ing eleven townships the following pluralities : Mill Grove, 145; 
Jamestown, seventy-six; Fremont, sixty-two; York, 127; Scott, 
120; Pleasant, 204; Jackson, ninety-four; Salem, seventy-four; 
Steuben, 172; Otsego, eighty-three; Richland, ninety-five. 

James A. Garfield, of Ohio, and Winfield S. Hancock, of Penn- 
sylvania, represented the Republican and Democratic parties re- 
spectively in the presidential campaign of 1880. The National 
party put forward General James B. Weaver, of Iowa. Once more, 
but for the last time in continuous line, the Republicans triumphed, 
and Garfield was seated, to enjoy for a few months the highest 
oflice in the land, before his vigorous life was cut short by the 
assassin's bullet. He received in Steuben County a plurality of 
1,042. The vote was: Garfield 2,325 ; Hancock, 1,283; Weaver, 
106; Neal Dow (Prohibitionist), two. Clear Lake's Democratic 
plurality was fourteen. The Republican pluralities were: Mill 
Grove, 114; Jamestown, seventy-one; Fremont, sixty- six; York, 
105; Scott, 109; Pleasant, 122; Jackson, sixty-eight; Salem, 
seventy-four; Steuben, 154; Otsego, ninety-three; Richland, eighty. 

The warmly waged campaign of 1884, with its disagreeable epi- 
sodes and its many candidates, is fresh in the minds of all. First 
nominated was General Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, by 
the Greenback, Labor and Anti-monopoly conventions. The Re- 
publican convention at Chicago, in the month of June, nominated 
James G. Blaine, of Maine, for President, and General John A. 
Logan, of Illinois, for Vice-President. In the same cit}^, a month 
later, the Democratic convention selected as its nominee for Presi- 
dent, Grover Cleveland, of New York, and for Vice-President, 
Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana. The Prohibitionists nominated 
John P. St. John, of Kansas, and played a very important part in 
the campaign, to the delight of some, and the chagrin of others. 
In the State of New York they drew to St. John twenty times the 
number of votes by which Blaine was defeated for the Presidency. 
The campaign was conducted with unusual vigor in Steuben County, 
and a very full vote was polled, with the following result: Blaine, 
2,220; Cleveland, 1,314; Butler, 106; St. John, fifty-three; 






aFiT 



-s< 



(O 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, 



319 



Blaine's plurality, 906. Every township, even Clear Lake, voted 
for Blaine. The following are the pluralities: ^Mill Grove, seventy- 
eight ; Jamestown, forty-eight ; Fremont, ninety ; Clear Lake, 
seven ; York, 123 ; Scott, sixty-three ; Pleasant, eighty-seven ; 
Jackson, fifty-seven ; Salem, fifty-nine ; Steuben, 113 ; Otsego, 
ninety-one; Richland, ninety-two. 

Steuben County has, then, participated in twelve presidential 
elections, in eight of which it has been on the " winning side." 
The progress of the county in population since 1840 is well shown 
by the total vote for President up to the present time : 1840, 428; 
1844, 673; 1848, 861; 1852, 1,120; 1856, 1,787; 1860, 2,197; 1864, 
2,251; 1868,2,711; 1872,2,623; 1876,3,563; 1880,3,716; 1884, 

3,693. 

In local elections the Kepublicans have been generally success- 
ful, but there has been a commendable tendency to disregard the 
party lines in choosing county and township ofiicials. 

In years gone by, before the era of railroads, it was customary 
for rival candidates to travel through the country in company, and 
speak against each other for votes. Cyrus G. Luce, of one of the 
first families to settle in Mill Grove Township, lived in that part of 
Steuben County until twenty-five years old, when he removed to 
Branch County, Mich. He has since been prominent in Michigan 
affairs, holding many important official positions. The year before 
he left Indiana he was the Whig candidate for member of the 
Legislature from this district, comprising Steuben and De Kalb 
counties. His opponent was a man named Reuben Dawson, who 
was a well-known politician in early days in De Kalb County. 
They canvassed the district together, riding on horseback, and 
spoke twice each day during a large portion of the time. Dawson 
rode a fine, large white horse, and Mr. Luce had a small, black 
animal. The former was a large man, while Mr. Luce was of me- 
dium size. Before they would arrive at the places where they were 
to speak the horses would be obliged to carry from one to three 
children each.' 

Mr. Dawson could take more on his horse, for he had the largest 
animal. At that time there was not a newspaper published in the 
district and but few taken. An occasional copy of a Cincinnati 
Baptist paper could be seen, "only that and nothing more." The 
canvass was a very bitter one, and there was any amount of black- 
guardism. Mr. Luce was young, then, and had not had the ex- 
perience which enabled him to compete in abuse with his rival. 






\ 




J- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Dawson. The free-school discussion furnished a fruitful theme for 
the politicians. A friend of Mr. Luce told him that his argument 
in favor of free schools was all right, "but," said he, -Luce, you 
don abuse Dawson enough. When you speak next time tellthe 
people how he has been drunk, and every other mean thing you 
can think of that he has done." The advice was followed, and 
thereafter the debates were more interesting than ever. After the 
election it was found that Mr. Luce had eleven majority in Steuben 
Ooun y, while Dawson had over 100 majority in De Kalb County, 
therefore the latter was elected. 

An incident in the early history of this county illustrates the 
importance of one vote, and is of peculiar interest since the close 
election of 1884 has caused all the old heads throughout the country 
to revive their memories of even contests for the past fifty years 
ihe facts are stated somewhat differently by various parties, but 
the true version seemed to be the following, which we give on the 
authority of Eev. John Paul Jones, an early preacher throughout 
mis region, and present auditor of Lagrange County • 

Dr. Madison Marsh and Captain Beall, both residents of this 
county were candidates for the office of Representative in the 
b-eneral Assembly, for the counties of Steuben and De Kalb 
Captain Beall received the certificate of election, but his seat was 
contested, the result being that Dr. Marsh was declared duly 
elected by one vote, it having been ascertained that the Board of 
Canvassers had improperly, on account of some informality, thrown 
out a vote intended for Marsh. At the ensuing sessfon of the 
Legislature, 1845, Edward A. Hannegan was chosen United States 
Senator by a majority of one, Dr. Marsh casting his vote for Han- 
negan. It is claimed that Texas was admitted into the Union in 
consequence of Hannegan's vote, and now the Mexican war and 
other momentous results of that afi^air are attributed to Steuben 
bounty's irregular voter. 

The present strong Republican vote in the county is the natural 
result of the ardent anti-slavery temper of its citizens before the 
war. Some of the oldest and most respectable residents were 
prosecuted for alleged violation of the fugitive slave law, in aid- 
ing and abetting some liberty-loving people of dusky hue in their 
flight toward the Queen's dominions. An indignation meeting 
was held at Orland, largely attended, when those who were re- 
garded as instrumental in these prosecutions were denounced in 
unmeasured terms. There is no doubt that Steuben County was a 



■^[(r 



o 






\ 



-^t^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



321 



favorite route for the "underground railroad," and that the "sta- 
tions" were well officered. The results of the war have, however, 
settled these questions forever, and it is pleasing now to contem- 
plate the fact that the scenes which gave rise to such feelings are 
no more to be enacted. 

The following pages contain an abstract of the vote cast in Steu- 
ben County since its organization, except the first, which cannot 
be obtained : 



ELECTION OF AUG. 5, 1839. 

Congressman. 

James Rariden 114 

"Wilson Thompson 78 

Angus McKinley 1 

Senator. 

Elias Baker 115 

E. M. Chamberlain 78 

Representatives. 

Asa Brown 113 

David B. Herriman 78 

Commissioner. 

Angus McKinley 105 



James Perfect. 

Probate Judge. 



Erios Beall 

Alonzo P. Clark. 



85 

36 
4 



School Commissioner. 

Robert L. Douglass 121 

Leland H. Stocker 19 

Coroner. 
George Hendry 33 



36 



37 



35 



20 



32 



102 



26 



Isaac L. Miller. 

ELECTION OF AUG. 

Governor. 
Samuel Bigger. 



7 
1840. 



208 33 



Tilghman A. Howard 185 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Samuel Hall 208 

Benjamin S. Taley 185 

Representative. 

John B. Howe 209 

Madison Marsh 185 

Commissioners. 

Wm. M. Cary 203 

Jeremiah Tillotson 190 

Samuel A. Stewart 189 

Daniel L. Rfissell 173 

Sheriff. 

liafus Beall 209 

George W. Balding 179 



23 



24 



30 

1 



30 



ELECTION OF NOV. 2, 1840. 

President. 

William Henry Harrison . . . 245 62 

Martin Van Buren 183 

ELECTION OF AUG. 2, 1841. 

Senator. 

David B. Herriman 206 12 

John B. Howe 194 

Representative. 

Madison Marsh 205 12 

Seth W. Murray 193 

Commissioner. 

Asher Benedict 210 3D 

Jonas Twichell 180 

Auditor. 

Adonijih Smith 211 37 

George W. Balding 174 

Treasurer. 

Reuben B. Hopkins 264 142 

Daniel E. Palmer 122 

Probate Judge. 

Avery Emerson 215 215 

Assessor. 

Alexander Chapin 214 57 

E G. Salisbury 157 

Coi oner . 

George Hendry 166 166 

ELECTION OF AUG. 1, 1842. 

Representative. 

Enos Beall 271 97 

Madison Marsh 174 

Commissioner. 

James Clark 272 97 

James Perfect 175 

Sheriff. 

Rufus Beall 264 81 

Peter McKinlev 183 



FT 



Q 



322 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 






Assessor. 

George Emerson... 325 3 

Clark Powers 333 

School O&mmissioner. 

Robert L. Douglass 343 44 

Marcus F. Morse 198 

ELECTION OF AUG. 7, 1848. 
Governor. 

Samuel Bigger 230 11 

James Whitcomb 219 

Elizur Demming 40 

Lieutenant-Oovernor. 

John H. Bradley 229 10 

Jesse D. Bright 219 

Stephen R. Harding 40 

Congressman. 

Lewis G. Thompson 266 45 

Andrew Kennedy 221 

Senator. 

David B. Herriman 241 6 

William Mitchell 335 

Representative. 

Benjamin Alton 313 17 

Jacob Helwig 196 

Alexander Chapin 49 

Commissioner. 

Daniel A. Stewart 343 5 

Orrin Goodrich 237 

Sheriff. 

William Wilber, Jr 344 

Daniel H.Roberts 338 

Clerk and Recorder. 

Chester Stocker 255 

Rufus Beall 330 

Associate Judges. 

Thomas N. Brown 355 

Timothy Kimball 308 

John Russell 205 

Jared H. Miner 303 

George Latson 53 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

Reuben J. Dawson 188 3 

Robert L. Douglass 185 

Daniel E. Palmer 55 

Coroner. 

George Hendry 249 48 

Eiisha Steere 201 

ELECTION OF AUG. 5, 1844. 

Representative. 

Jacob Helwig 241 18 

Ariel Walder 223 



16 



35 



53 
3 



Commissioner. 

Calvin Powers 351 40 

Abner Kemp 211 

N. D. Canfield. 34 

Treasurer. 

Jesse J. Mugg 380 98 

William Albee 182 

S. T. Gary 31 

Assessor. 

John Stealey 343 32 

Daniel Caswell 221 

Elijah Fox 28 

School Commissioner. 

John L. Cary 353 31 

A. W. Hendry . , 333 

George Stocker 33 

ELECTION OF NOV. 4, 1844. 

President. 

Henry Clay 328 35 

James K. Polk 303 

James G. Birney 42 

ELECTION OF AUG. 4, 1845. 

Congressman. 

Lewis G. Thompson 309 20 

H. Kennedy 389 

D.Worth 33 

Representative. 

Enos Beall 333 35 

Clark Powers 378 

L.H.Barry 33 

Commissioner. 

James Clark 305 31 

Peter McKinley 385 

J.D.Johnson 83 

Sherif. 

John L. Cory 297 4 

William Wilder 293 

George Stocker 21 

Auditor. 

William Albee 289 3 

E. R. May 387 

S.T.Cory 27 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

Reuben J. Dawson 397 6 

E.A. McMahon 391 

ELECTION OF APRIL 6, 1846. 

Associate Judge' 

Enos Beall 322 93 

Jeremiah Tillotson. 229 



~ 






J^ 



Lk, 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



323 



ELECTION OF AUG. 3, 1846. 
Oovernor. 

James Whitcomb 375 

Joseph G. Marshall 286 

Stephen C Stephens 30 

Lieutenant-Oovernor. 

Paris C. Dunning 377 

A. C. Stevenson 286 

Stephen S. Harding 30 

Senator. 

Madison Marsh 371 

William H. Nimmons 278 

W.H. Means 25 

Bepresentative. 

David B. Wheeler 889 

Wm. P. Means 271 

S. C Sabin 26 

Convention. 

For .- 83 

Against 74 

Commissioner. 

Orrin Goodrich 376 

Matthew Coffin 275 

Assessor. 

Theron Storrs 377 

John Stealey ; 280 

Elijah Fox 20 

School Commissioner. 

Leland H. Stocker 374 

Wm. M. Gary 292 

C Parrish... 22 

Coroner. 

James Forward 366 

AlonzoP. Clark 293 

R. Stewart 25 

ELECTION OF NOV. 16, 1846. 

Representative. 

George W. Balding.* 250 

William Coward 49 

William P. Means 11 

Alexander Chapin 3 

ELECTION OFAUG. 2, 1847. 

Congressman. 

William Rockhill 433 

William G. Ewing 368 



89 



91 



93 



118 



101 



97 



82 



73 



201 



D. Worth. 



Representative. 



6 



John P. Widney 425 

William Huff 381 

R. Stewart 6 



65 



44 



Commissioner. 

A. M. Cleveland 415 

B.Clark 386 

P. Dean 6 

Sheriff. 

G. W. McConnell 457 

Rufus Beall 326 

D. Fox 7 

Auditor. 

Leland H. Stocker 512 

F.C.Wilson 298 

S. F. Cary 6 

Treasurer. 

James J. Mugg 454 

A. Winsor 331 

E. Keene , 5 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

E. R. May ... 436 

A. W. Hendry 365 

Surveyor. 

S. H. Powers 421 

Erastus Famham 383 

ELECTION OF AUG. 7, 1848. 

Representative. 

Cyrus G. Luce 355 

Reuben J. Dawson 344 

Commissioner. 

James Perfect 284 

John Carter 320 

Probate Judge. 

Theron Storrs 



390 
303 



29 



131 



214 



123 



71 



38 



11 



64 



87 



47 



Daniel E. Palmer 

Assessor. 

O. P. Dodge 374 

S. W. Scoville 327 

Coroner. 

Miles Coe 374 52 

Aaron Warner 322 

ELECTION OF NOV. 7, 1848. 

President. 

Lewis Cass , 352 37 

Zachary Taylor 315 

Martin Van Buren 194 

ELECTION OF AUG. 6, 1849. 

Governor. 

Joseph A. Wright 427 93 

John A. Matson 335 

James H. Cravens 112 









■^ 



324 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



— 1 lO 



Lieutenant-OovernoT. \ 

James H. Lane 420 70 

Thomas S. Stanfield 350 

John W.Wright 99 

Congressman . 

David Killgore 444 30 

Andrew L. Harlan 424 

Senator. 

Elijah H. Drake 490 132 

Reuben J. Dawson 358 

Bepresentative. 

John Tatman 474 139 

Edward R.May 335 

Free Schools. 

For 647 459 

Against 188 

Convention. 

For 590 412 

Against 1'''8 

Commissioner. 

Samuel A. Stewart 410 114 

Emery Brown • . • 296 

Archibald Crawford. ....... 158 

Sheriff'. 

George D. Waring 338 32 

George W. McConnell 306 

John A. Jackson 227 

Coroner. 

Justice Waite 513 192 

Porter Gleason 321 

ELECTION OF AUG. 5, 1850. 

Delegate from Sen. District. 

Robert Work 457 445 

William Mitchell 12 

Delegate from Rep. District. 

Wesley Park 463 100 

Edward R. May 363 

Representative, 

George R. Baker 478 69 

John Stayner 309 

Commissioner. 

George W. Balding 427 31 

Jacob McClaskie 396 

Treasiirer. 

Lewis G. Carver 419 10 

George Jenks 409 

Recorder. 

Peter McKinley 414 7 

AVilliam C. Weicht 407 



474 



61 



CUrk. 

Chester Stocker 407 2 

Stephen R. Ball 405 

Associate Judge. 

Emory Brown 447 38 

James M. Raymond 409 

Benjamin Clark 402 

Squires S. Beers 330 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

Daniel S. Palmer 474 

Surveyor. 

Stephen A. Powers 441 

Erastus Farnham 380 

ELECTION OF AUG. 4, 1851. 

Congressman. 

Samuel Brenton 551 

James W. Barden 454 

Representatives. 

Gilman C. Mudgett 501 

Israel D. Mailey 488 

George W. McConnell 475 

Wesley Park 126 

Negroes. 

No Exclusion of 592 

Exclusion of....- 257 

New Constitution. 

For 787 

Against 88 

Comm.issioner. 

John Carter 514 

Samuel W. Scoville 486 

Sheriff. 

Simon C. Aldrich 454 

Wm. M. Cary 360 

O. P.Dodge 156 

Auditor. 

William Carkhuff 553 

George Jenks 432 

Clerk. 

Leland H. Stocker 526 

Stephen R. Ball 463 

Associate Judge. 

William Cooper 492 2 

AlonzoP. Clark 490 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

James L. Warden 508 

Coroner. 

Horace S. Perkins 504 14 

Rufus Jackson 490 



97 



375 
13 



335 



699 



28 



74 



131 



64 



^ 



-V 






Q_ 



>> 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



325 



ELECTION OF OCT. 12, 1852. 

Oovernor. 

Nicholas McCarty 503 1 

Joseph A. Wright 502 

Andrew L. Robinson 41 

Lieu tenant - Governor. 

William Williams 504 4 

Ashbell P. Willard 500 

James P. Milliken 39 

Secretary of State. 

John Osborn 503 2 

Nehemiah Hayden 501 

J. C. Tibbitts 39 

Congressman. 

Samuel Brenton 567 94 

Ebenezer M. Chamberlain. 473 

Judge 10th Circuit. 

E. A. McMahon. 499 499 

Prosecutor 10th Circuit. 

J. M. Connell 487 487 

Judge of Common Pleas. 

John Morris 547 76 

Reuben J. Dawson 471 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

Daniel E. Palmer 564 103 

W. W. Griswold 461 

Senator. 

Alanson W. Hendry 639 264 

George W. McConnell 375 

Representatives. 

AloDzo P. Clark 572 141 

S. B. Ward 533 47 

Robert Work 486 

Edward L. Hammond 431 

Commissioners . 

Philo Clark 551 86 

John Nichols 538 60 

George A. Milnes 478 

Martin Eldredge 465 

Sheriff. 

William Hough 545 64 

Robert Patterson 481 

Treasurer. 

George Emerson 521 7 

Lewis E. Carver 514 

Surveyor. 

Erastus Farnham 534 41 

Simeon Gilbert 493 

Coroner. 

Horace S. Perkins 500 14 

Elisha Steere 486 

21 



ELECTION OF NOV. 2, 1852. 

' President. 

Franklin Pierce 543 56 

Winfield Scott 484 

John P. Hale 90 

ELECTION OF OCT. 11, 1853. 

Commissioner. 

John W. Carter 211 170 

Eli M. Teal 41 

Peter McKinley 7 

ELECTION OF OCT. 10,1854. 
Secretary of State. 

E. B. Collins 628 252 

Nehemiah Hayden 376 

Congressman. 

Samuel Brenton. . . 649 286 

Ebenezer M. Chamberlain.. 363 

Prosecutor 10th Circuit. 

J. W. Dawson 446 71 

E. R. Wilson 875 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

A. M . Tinker 608 223 

W. I. Howard 385 

Representatives. 

James Hadsell 630 263 

Alonzo P. Clark 594 188 

Clark Powers 406 

Joshua J. Hoffman 367 

Commissioner. 

Charles L. Luce 588 176 

John Nichols 412 

Sheriff. 

William Hough 535 76 

Robert Patterson 459 

Treasurer. 

George Emerson 758 495 

Lewis E. Carver 263 

Surveyor. 

Erastus Farnham 629 257 

Stephen A. Powers 372 

Coroner. 
Sidney Parsons 990 

ELECTION OF OCT. 9, 1855. 

Judge 10th Circuit. 

James L. Warden 467 4^^; 

A. M. Tinker 2 

Commissioner. 

Calvin Powers 446 140 

Ajphonso Wood 306 

Jacob O. Rose 221 



^7 



<o 



"Sl'V 



^ 






326 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Auditor. 

Samuel W. Scoville 499 22 

Frederick L. Weicht 477 

Recorder. 

Lewis E. Carver 505 18 

John W. Follelt 487 

Clerk. 

Frederick C Chapin 554 75 

W.I.Howard 479 

ELECTION OF OCT. 14, 1856. 

Oovernor. 

Oliver P. Morton 1,133 587 

Ashbell P. Willard 546 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Conrad Baker 1,130 584 

Abram A. Hammond 546 

Secretary of State. 

John W. Dawson 1,131 586 

Ddniel McClure 545 

Congressman. 

Samuel Brenton 1,135 592 

Robert Lowry 543 

Prosecutor 10th Circuit. 

Robert Parrett 1,124 577 

Sanford J. Stoughton 547 

Common Pleas Judge. 

Egbert B. Mott 1,123 577 

Theron Storrs 546 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

William H. Dills 1,128 587 

LelandH. Stocker 541 

Senator. 

Alanson W. Hendry 1,109 552 

Milts Waterman 557 

Representatives. 

S. B. Ward 1,119 568 

Thomas B. Sloss 1,105 542 

W. Irving Howard 563 

Bushrcd Catlin 551 

Commissioner. 

James Clark 1,128 586 

Fred. L Weicht 542 

Sheriff. 

Peter Bowman 1,046 433 

Beiijamin J. Cross waite — 613 

Treasurer. 



W. H. H. Day.... 
Robert Patterson. 



.1,018 
. 033 



385 



Surveyor. 

Erastus Farnham 1,103 541 

Stephen A. Powerd 562 

Coroner. 

Jacob O. Rose 1,080 513 

Alphonso Wood 567 

ELECTION OF NOV. 4, 1856. 

President . 

John C . Fremont 1,215 662 

James Buchanan 553 

Millard Fillmore 19 

ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1857. 

Congressman . 

Charles Case 802 426 

James L. Worden 376 

Commissioner. 

John Green 750 40G 

Emery Brown 344 

ELECTION OF OCT. 12, 1858. 

Secretary of State. 

William A. Peele 1,093 635 

Daniel McClure 458 

Congressman . 

Charles Case 1,113 072 

Reuben J. Dawson 441 

Judge 10th Circuit 

Edwin R. Wilson 1,1 12 680 

William W. Carson 432 

Prosecutor 10th Circuit- 

James M. Defrees 1,096 646 

James M. ShuU 450 

Representative. 
Philo Clark 1,09-3 1,092 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

Abner F. Pinchin 1,035 1 085 

Commissioner. 

Norris S. Bennett 972 385 

Calvin Powers 587 

Sheriff. 

Peter Bowman 877 235 

John W. Follett 642 

Chester L. Heath 23 

Treasurer. 

Benjamin F. Dawson 869 520 

Robert Patterson 349 

W. H. H.Day 283 

Purveyor. 

Pliny Roby 818 120 

Stephen A. Powers 698 



a 






■^ 



x^ 



HI8T0ET OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Coroner. 

Birge Smith 1,082 616 

Horace L. Perkins 466 

ELECTION OF OCT. 11, 1859. 
Prosecutor 10th Circuit. 



George D. Copeland 743 

Moses D. Jenkinson 447 

Commissioner . 

Charles E. Kinney , . . 744 

William Cooper 445 

Auditor. 

Samuel E. Heath 730 

James B. Parker 468 



296 



299 



263 



Recorder. 



Orlow W. Parish. 
Theron Storrs. . . 



666 
505 



Clerk. 

Levi A. Thompson 747 

Fred. L. Weicht 431 

ELECTION OF OCT. 9, 1860. 

Governor. 

Henry S. Lane 1,390 

Thomas A. Hendricks. ... 606 

Lieutenant-Oovernor. 

Oliver P.Morton 1,389 

David Turpie 606 

Secretary of State. 

William A. Peelle 1,388 

William A. Schlater 606 

Congressman. 

William Mitchell 1 384 

P. M. Henkle 606 

Prosecutor 10th Circuit. 

Augustus A. Chapin 1,369 

Wm. S.Smith 611 

Common Pleas Judge. 

Wm. Clapp 1,384 

A. M . Myers 607 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

Joseph W. Cummings 1,380 

Theodore Richmond 607 

Senator. 

T. R. Dickinson 1,353 

Robert Patterson '630 

Representative. 

J. W. Woodhull 1,.340 

S. W. Corbin (303 



161 



316 



784 



783 



782 



778 



758 



Commissioner. 

Daniel H. Roberts 1,356 

Wilson Teeters 625 

Sheriff. 

William H. Twichell 1 258 

Ja^esM. Rodgers '554 

C. S.Gillett.... 151 

Treasurer . 

Francis Macartney 1,336 

James B. Parker 645 

Surveyor . 

Pliny Roby 1,360 

Stephen A. Powers 626 



327 



731 



704 



691 



734 



777 



773 



723 



7o7 



Coroner. 

Jacob Stealey 1,332 781 

U. B. HoMndge 601 

ELECTION OP NOV. 6,1860. 

President. 

Abraham Lincoln 1,560 1,013 

Stephen A. Douglas 547 

John C. Buchanan 82 

John Bell 3 

ELECTION OF OCT. 8, 1861. 

Commissioner. 

R-Patterson 269 35 

N. Bennett 234 

William Sherwood n 

ELECTION OF OCT. 14, 1862. 
Secretary of State. 

William A. Peelle 1 256 

James S. Athon '440 

Congressman. 

William Mitchell 1257 

Joseph K. Edgerton .' '441 

Prosecutor 10th Circuit. 

I A. A. Chapin §97 ^.jo 

James H. Scheil .'.,', 459 '^ 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

Lewis Coville 1 243 806 

Alexander B. Kennedy '442 

Senator. 
William H. Dills 443 443 

Representative. 

Enns B. Noy es 1 943 793 

Calvin Powers 450 

Commissioner. 

Frederick Butler 1,261 823 

William Cooper 433 



816 



816 



^ 



, 








1 


^.:^ 


9, ft. 


^ * 




©1 


328 HISTORY 


OF 8TKUBEN COUNTY. 



t 




Sheriff. 




Common Pleas Prosecutor. 






William H. Twichell 1,245 


804 


Asa M. Tinker 1,633 1,054 






John Leas 441 




Guy Plum 579 

Senator. 






Treasurer. 








W. Irving Howard 1,266 


831 


EnosB. Noyes 1,626 1,045 






Clayton Mallory 435 




Dewitt C. Denny 581 






Surveyor. 




Representative. 






Pliny Roby 1,250 


808 


Stephen C. Sabin 1,632 1,053 






yimeon Gilbert 442 




W.H.Wells , 579 






Coroner. 




Commissioner. 






Jacob Stealey 1,256 


816 


John Dvgert 1,611 1,025 






Le( pokl Weicht 440 




Calvin Powers 586 






ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1863. 


Sheriff. 




1 


Commissioners. 




Sylvacus B. George 1,635 1,064 






Daniel H. Roberts 1,179 


1,179 


Jeremiah G. W. Colburn.. . u71 






Norris S. Bennett 1,173 


1,173 


Treasurer. 






Auditor. 




W.Irvine Howard 1,630 1,049 






Francis Macartney 1,190 


1,190 


James B. Parker 581 






Recorder. 




Surveyor. 






Marvin Butler 1, 180 


1180 


Elbert N. Woodford 1 626 1,047 

Theron Storrs 579 






Clerk. 




Coroner. 






Henry Snyder 1,173 


1,173 


James Jackson 1,629 1,049 






Real Estate Appraiser. 




C. Julius Frej'gacg 580 






Martiu Eldridge 1,129 


1,129 


ELECTION OF NOV. 8, 1864. 






ELECTION OF OCT. 11, 1864. 


President. 






Governor. 




Abraham Lincoln 1,642 1,033 






Oliver P. Morton 1,664 


1,113 


Geo. B. McClellan 609 






Joseph E. McDonald 551 




ELECTION OF OCT. 10, 1865. 






Lieuteiiatd-Governor. 




Commissioner. 






Conrad Baker 1,635 

Mahlon D. Manson 578 


1,057 


James Carter 360 360 






Secretary of State. 




ELECTION OF OCT. 9, 1866. 






Nelson Trusler 1,633 


1,054 


Secretary of State. 






James S. Athon 579 




Nelson Trusler 1,819 1,057 






Congressman. 




Mahlon D. Manson 763 






Joseph H. Defrees 1,632 


1,053 


Congreisman. 






Joseph K. Edgerton 579 




Wm. W- Williams 1,811 1,051 






Judge 10th Circuit. 




Robert Lowry 760 






J^mes 6. Collin, 1,632 


1,053 


Prosecuting Attorney 10th Circuit. 






Robert Lowry 579 




Thomas W. Wilson 1,820 1,061 






Prosecutor 10th Circuit. 




M. J. Lowry 759 






Joseph W. Cummings 1,632 


1,053 


Common Pleas Prosecutor: 






James H. Schell 579 




J. D. Ferrall.... 1,817 1,817 






Common Pleas Judge. 




Commissioner. 






William H. Clapp 1,631 


1,052 


Jno. McClew 1,813 1,052 




4 


Samuel Jacobs 579 




Clayton Mallory 761 


> 
v9 


-7 






:r^ 


• 


- Y 






4^ > 

— p 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COTTNTT. 



329 



Sheriff. 

Sylvanus B. George 1,835 1,090 

Henry Clinesmitn 745 

jRepresentative. 

Stephen C. SabiQ 1,827 1,099 

Geo. W. Balding 728 

Treasurer. 

Chas. T. Kinney 1,774 1,049 

Wm. H.Cole 725 

Surveyor. 

Elbert N. Woodford 1,824 1,072 

Simeon S. Gilbert 752 

Coroner. 

Jas. Jackson 1,812 1,053 

Cyrus M. Phillips 759 

ELECTION OF OCT. 8, 1867. 
Judge 10th Circuit. 



Hiram S. Towsley 1,011 

Andrew Ellison 390 



621 



Prosecuting Attorney 10th Circuit. 



Ezra D. Hartman 1,009 

Thos.L Smith 383 

Commissioner. 

Michael Cline 962 

Calvin Powers 423 

Auditor. 

Francis Macartney 998 

Theron Storrs 389 

Recorder. 

Marvin B. Butler 1,012 

Henry Clinesmith 388 

Clerk. 

Germ Brown 

Harmon Freygang 



993 
396 



626 



539 



609 



624 



597 



ELECTI0N OF OCT. 13, 1868. 
Governor. 

Conrad Biker 1,766 943 

Thos. A. Hendricks 823 

Lieutenant-Governor . 

Will Cumback 1,768 945 

Alfred P. Edgerton 823 

Secretary of State. 

Max F. A. Hoffman 1,768 945 

Reuben C. Kise 823 

Congressman. 

Wm. W. Williams 1,766 942 

Andrew Ellison 824 



Common Pleat Judge. 

Wm. M. Clapp 1,771 951 

Alexander J. Douglas 820 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

Jos. L. Morlan 1,784 937 

Wm. G. Croxton 827 

Senator. 

Edward W. Fosdick 1,759 945 

Geo. A. Milnes 814 

Representative. 

Stephen C. Sabin 1,763 944 

Jas. K. Howell 819 

Commissioner. 

A. Judson Corbin 1,758 938 

Nicholas Deller 820 

Sherif. 

Ora Pierce, Jr 1,760 935 

Benj. F. Smith 825 

Treasurer. 

Chas. F. Kinney 1,773 970 

Jas. B. Parker.' 803 

Surveyor. 

Pliny Roby. 1,756 933 

Si-neon Gilbert 823 

Real Estate Appraiser. 

Jno. K. Folck 1,768 943 

Calvin Powers 825 

Coroner. 

Jas. Jackson 1,761 937 

Aim. Sherwood 824 

ELECTION OF NOV. 3, 1868. 

President. 

Ulysses S. Grant 1,881 1,051 

Horatio Seymour 830 

ELECTION OF OCT. 11, 1870. 

Secretary of State. 

Max F. A. Hoffman 1,550 883 

Norman Eddy 667 

Congressman. 

William Williams 1,439 833 

Milo S. Hascall 606 

Andrew Ellison 132 

Prosecuting Attoi'ney, loth Circuit. 

Jas. McGrew 1,332 455 

Wm. C. Wilson 877 

Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

Joseph L. Morlan 1,332 1,332 

Representative. 

Stephen C. Sabin 1,253 333 

T. R. Sloss 930 



<— 






10 



330 



HISTOEY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Commissioners. 

Jno. McClue 1,U6 140 

Michael Cline 1,135 109 

A.JudsonCorbin 1,201 224 

E. Brown 1,006 

Henry Hall 1,026 

Jno. E. Baker 977 

SJuriff. 

Ora Pierce, Jr 1,293 378 

Philip Michael 915 

Auditor. 

Marvin B. Batler 1,210 256 

Ja8. B. Parker 954 

Treasurer. 

Chas. D. Chadwick 1,176 205 

Wm. G. Croxton 971 

Recorder. 

Robert V. Carlin 1,303 401 

J. C. Powers 902 

Clerk. 
Germ Brown............. 1,228 268 

Geo. E.Young 960 

Surveyor. 

E. N. Woodford 1,248 354 

J.D.Miner 894 

Co7'oner. 

Peter W. Russell 1,270 285 

W. L. Orton 990 

ELECTION OF OCT. 8, 1872. 

Oovernor. 

Thos. M. Browne 1,834 870 

Thos. A. Hendricks 959 

Lieutenan'tOovemor. 

Leonidas Sexton 1,838 884 

Jno. R. Cravens 954 

Secretary of State. 

Wm. W.Curry 1,840 883 

Owen M. Eddy 957 

Congressman. 

Henry B. Sayler 1,841 884 

Elisha V.Long 957 

Judge 14th Circuit. 

Jas. I. Best 2,722 2,722 

Prosecuting Attorney 14th Circuit. 

Leigh H. Haymond 2,728 2,728 

Common Pleas Judge. 

Wm.M. Clapp 1,816 841 

L.E.Goodwin 975 



Common Pleas Prosecutor. 

Joseph L. Morlan 1,755 731 

Daniel Y. Husselman 1,024 

Senator. 

W. Irving Howard 1,819 847 

Wm.G. Croxton 972 

Bepresentative. 

Eugene B. Glasgow 1,786 805 

Wm.T. Heath 981 

Commissioners. 

Clayton Mallory 1,420 100 

Norris S. Bennett 1,320 

Chas. Bachelor 1,449 134 

Myron F. Giddings 1,315 

Sheriff. 

Leander Chase 1,622 484 

Benj. F. Dawson 1,138 

Treasurer. 

Chas. D. Chadwick 1,878 987 

Henry Hall 891 

Jieal Estate Appraiser. 

Joseph W. Thomas 1,798 818 

Geo. W. Poland 980 

Surveyor. 

Elbert N. Woodford 1,727 694 

Frank B. Van Auken 1,033 

Coroner. 

Wm. D. French 1,766 785 

Daniel B. Griffin 991 

ELECTION OF NOV. 5, 1872. 

President. 

Ulysses S. Grant 1,877 1,163 

Horace Greeley ... 714 

Chas. O'Conor 32 

ELECTION OF OCT. 13, 1874. 

Secretary of State. 

Wm.M. Curry 1,462 672 

Jno. E. Neff 790 

Isaac C. Stout. 304 

Congressman. 

Jno. H. Baker 1,440 390 

Freeman Kelly 1,050 

Prosecutor 14th Circuit. 

Wm. B. McConnell 1,276 48 

Joseph L. Morlan 1,828 

Representative. 

Eugenius B. Glasgow 1,279 45 

Enos B. Noyes 1,234 






^ 



ik.. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



331 



Commissioners. 

Clayton Mallory 1,338 133 

John Cameron 1,289 34 

Geo. Handy 1,205 

Dwight Lewis 1,255 

STieriff. 

Wm.Wicoff 1,313 126 

Harmon Freygang 1,187 

Auditor. 

Jesse H. Carpenter 1,303 112 

Francis McCartney. . . ... 1,191 

Treasurer. 

Geo. L. Luce 1,278 ) ,. 

Irenus McGowan 1,278 [ "® 

Recorder. 

Rob'tV. Carlin 1,364 175 

Chas. A. Segur 1,189 

Clerk. 

Joseph Butler 1,450 382 

Aaron G. Parsell 1,068 

Surveyor. 

Frank B. Van Auken. ... 1,334 146 
Elbert N. Woodford 1,188 

Coroner. 

Albert R. Crandall 1,291 61 

Adam W. A. Sowle 1,230 

Assessor. 

David B. Teeters 1 ,256 57 

Jos. W. Thomas 1,199 

ELECTION OF NOV. 23, 1874. 

Treasurer. 

Geo. L.Luce 1,096 82 

Irenus McGowan 1,014 

ELECTION OF OCT. 10, 1876. 

Governor. 

Benj. Harrison 2,167 1,371 

Jas. D. Williams 796 

Henry W. Harrington 444 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Rob't S. Robertson 2,145 1,376 

Isaac P. Gray 769 

Richard Gregg 495 

Secretary of State. 

Isaiah P. Watts.... 2,142 1,373 

Jno. E. Neff 769 

Allen W. Monroe 497 

Congressman. 

Jno. H. Baker 2,168 1,210 

Freeman Kelley 958 

Norris S. Bennett 71 



Judge 14th Circuit. 

Jas. E. Rose 2,100 1,039 

Hiram S. Tousley 1,061 

Prosecutor lith Circuit. 

Jno. W. Bixler 2,131 863 

Daniel D. Moody 1,268 

Senator. 

Wm. M. Mercer 2,142 904 

Sam. S. Shutt 1,238 

Representative. 

Henry P. Butler 2,105 1,245 

Stephen A. Powers 432 

Virgil Little 860 

Commissioners. 

A. Judson Corbin 2,126 1,307 

Clark H. Wood worth 819 

Marvin Burr ,.. . 452 

John Cameron 2,129 1,260 

Jesse Avery 869 

Aaron Teegarden 402 

Sheriff. 

Wm. WicoflF 2,172 977 

David B. Teeters 1,195 

Treasurer. 

Samuel Beight 

Freeborn Patterson... 
John Parker 



2,115 1,152 
963 
344 



Surveyor, 



Abr am B. Stevens 2,105 1,220 

Calvin E. Van Auken. .. . 885 
E.Bennett 392 

Coroner. 

Jno. J. Kinney 2,114 1,284 

John Dygert 830 

Daniel B. Griffin 453 

ELECTION OF NOV. 7, 1876. 

President. 

Rutherford B. Hayes 2,293 1,242 

Samuel J. Tilden 1,051 

Peter Cooper 219 

ELECTION OF OCT. 8, 1878. 

Secretary of State. 

Isaac S.Moore..., 1,744 1,079 

Jno. G. Shanklin 665 

Henley James 609 

Congressman. 

Jno. H. Baker 1,754 742 

Jno. B. Stoll 1,012 

Wm. C.Williams 224 

Circuit Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson 1,759 542 

Geo. B. Adams 1,217 



-t 



<5~ 



\ 



>> 



332 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Mepresentative. 

Ezekiel Brown 1,730 588 

Virgil Little 1,132 

Enos B. Noyes 122 

Commissioners. 

JohnMcClew 1,713 534 

Erastus Farnham 1,179 

Aaron E. Kinsey 119 

Rollin H. Goddard 1,702 385 

Myron Powers 1,317 

Moses Gonser 1,712 519 

Dwight B. Lewis 1.193 

Aaron Teegarden 118 

Sheriff. 

Wm. H. Keyes 1,633 400 

John Greenamyer 1,233 

Levi Barber 109 

Auditor. 

Rob'tH. Johnson 1,630 352 

Jesse H. Carpenter 1,277 

Myron Richardson 113 

Treasurer. 

Samuel Beighl 1,750 599 

Freeborn Patterso- 1,151 

Stephen A. Powers 124 

Becorder. 

W. Homer Twichell 1,759 654 

Wilson Teeters 1,105 

Marvin Burr 126 

Glerk. 

Orville Goodale 1,673 451 

Joseph Butler 1,222 

Jno. G. Parker 94 

Survei/or. 

Chas. A. Shackford 1,712 464 

Calvin E. Van Auken. . . . 1,148 
Theron Storrs. 123 

Coroner. 

Stephen H. Fuller 1,737 593 

William Crubaugh 1,144 

William H. Willie 114 

ELECTION OF OCT. 12, 1880. 

Governor. 

Albert G. Porter 2,290 1,037 

Franklin Landers 1,253 

Richard Gregg 99 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Thomas Hanna 2,276 1,021 

Isaac P. Gray 1,255 

Thos. De Bruler 110 

Secretary of State. 

Emanuel R. Hawn 2,276 1,022 

Jno. G. Shanklin 1,254 

Francis T. Waring Ill 



Congressman. 

Rob't S. Taylor 

Walpole G. Colerick 

Prosecutor. 



3,290 
1,313 



Henry C. Peterson. 
Geo. B. Adams. , -. 



2,170 
1,476 



Representative. 

Daniel H. Roberts 

Stephen A. Powers 

Senator. 

Francis McCartney 

Jesse H. Carpenter 

Commissioners. 

William Turner 

George Collins 

John Rathbun 

David K. Swift 

Jno. S. Baker 

John Greenamyer 



2,259 
1,261 



2,218 
1,404 



2,274 
1,286 

15 
2,777 
1,284 

16 



Sheriff. 

Wm. H. Keyes. . . .* 

John Patterson 

Treasurer. 

Lyman R. Williams 

Myron F. Giddings 

Surveyor. 

Rob't G. Morley 

Chas. Ward 



Coroner. 



Stephen H. Fuller. 
Geo. W. Poland... 



2,255 
1,372 



2,277 
1,375 



2,264 
1,367 



2,275 
1,363 



977 
694 

998 
814 

988 
993 

883 
902 
897 
912 



ELECTION OF NOV. 2, 1880. 

President. 

Jas. A. Garfield 2,325 1,042 

Winfield S.Hancock 1,283 

Jae. B. Weaver 106 

Neal Dow 3 

ELECTION OF NOV. 7, 1882. 

Secretary of State. 

Emanuel R. Hanna 1,869 759 

Wm. R. Myers 1,110 

Hiram C. Leonard 184 

Congressman. 

Wesley C Glasgow 1,872 761 

Robert Lowry 1,111 

Joseph Butler 192 

Circuit Judge. 



R. Wes. McBride 1,928 

Wm. H. Dills 1,224 



704 



\ 



A=^ 



-p L>- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



333 



Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson 

Harry Eeynolds 

Representative. 

Doak R. Best 

Jesse H . Carpenter 

Commissioners. 

Jonas Twichell, Jr 

Myron Powers 

David K. Swift 

Martin V. Leas 

Sheriff. 

Allen Fast 

Abram B. Jeffries 



Auditor. 

Rob't H. Johnson 

Lewis Griffith 

Treasurer. 



Lyman R. Williams. 
JttS. H. Parker 



Clerk. 



Orville Goodale. . . 
Geo. D. Cleveland. 



Recorder. 



W.' Homer Twichell. 
Geo. W. Beavers 



1,869 
1,296 


571 


1,659 
1,451 


208 


1,804 


457 


1,347 
1,823 
1,333 


490 


1,793 
1,352 


441 


1,744 
1,360 


384 


1,822 
1,331 


491 


1,853 
1,297 

1,834 


555 

511 



Surveyor. 



Rob't G. Morley 

Calvin E. Van Auken. 



Coroner. 



Stephen H. Fmler. 
Jno. B. Blew 



1,323 



1,848 
1,273 



1,812 
1,314 



575 



498 



ELECTION OF NOV. 4, 1884. 

.President. 



Jas. G. Blaine 

Grover Cleveland. 
Benj. F.Butler... 
Jno. P. St. John... 



2,220 

1.314 

106 

53 



906 



Governor. 

Wm. H. Calkins 2,214 901 

Isaac P. Gray 1-313 

Hiram Z. Leonard 105 

Rob't S. Dwiggins 59 

Congressman. 

Theron P. Keator 3,236 927 

Robert Lowry 1,309 

Geo. W. Hartsuck 73 

Jesse M. Gale 55 

Prosecutor. 

Henry C Peterson 2,198 763 

Frank M. Powers 1,435 

Senator. 

Nicholas Ensley 2,224 808 

Lafayette J. Miller 1,416 

Representative. 

Doak R. Best 2,168 692 

Wm. W. Wyrick 1,476 

Commissioners. 

Herman C. Shutts 2,210 894 

Adam Failing 1,316 

Thos. McClue 155 

Daniel P. Rummell 2,200 859 

Alvah Carpenter 1,341 

John Dygert 155 

Jno. M. Sewell 950 950 

Sheriff. 

Allen Fast 2,335 923 

Chas. Squires 1,303 

Thos. R. Moflfett 160 

Treasurer. 

Clay Lemmou 3,193 85 7 

Edwin Jackson 1,336 

Martin V- Gam 157 

Surveyor. 

Rob't G. Morley 3,195 736 

Moses J. Parsell 1,469 

Coroner. 

T. Ray Morrison 3,197 718 

Edward B. Simmons 1,479 



Y' 



OFFICIAL LIST. 



The following is a summary, in chronological order, of those who 
have filled the various district and county offices since the organi- 
zation of Steuben Couuty : 



JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT. 



Charles W. Ewing, 1888 to 1839; Henry Chase, 1839 to 1840 
John W. Wright, 1840 to 1842; James W. Borden, 1842 to 1851 
Elza A. McMahon, 1851 to 1855; James L. Worden, 1855 to 1858 



■t 



© 



\ 



334 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Edwin K. Wilson, 1858 to 1864; Robert Lowrj, 1864 to 1867 
Hiram S. Tousley, 1867 to 1873; James I. Best, 1873 to 1876 
Joseph A. Woodtiull, 1876; Hiram S. Tousley, 1876 to 1879 
Charles A. O. McClellan, 1879 to 1881; Hiram S. Tousley, 1881 to 
1882; R. Wes. McBride, 1882 to 188—. 



ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 

Benjamin F. Sheldon, 1838; Israel Stoddard, 1837; Samuel 
Tuttle, 1838 to 1841; Thomas Gale, 1838 to 1843; Seth W. Murray, 
1841 to 1842; Jared H. Miner, 1842 to 1844; Thomas K Brown, 

1843 to 1845; Timothy Kimball, 1844 to 1850; Enos Beall, 1845 to 
1850; Emery Brown, 1850 to 1852; William Cooper, 1851 to 1852. 
The office was abolished by law in 1852. 

PROBATE JUDGES. 

The Associate Judges of the Circuit Court were ex-ojlcio Judges 
of the Probate Court until 1840. Enos Beall, 1840 to 1841; 
Alonzo P. Clark, 1841; Avery Emerson, 1841 to 1848; Theron 
Storrs, 1848 to 1851; Amasa M. Cleveland, 1851 to 1852. The 
probate business was then transferred to the Court of Common 
Pleas, and when this court was abolished the clerk of the Circuit 
Court was given the duties formerly performed by probate judges. 

COMMON PLEAS JUDGES. 

John Morris, 1852 to 1856; Egbert B. Mott, 1856 to 1860; Will- 
iam M. Clapp, 1860 to 1873. Office was abolished in the latter 
year. 

CIRCUIT PROSECUTORS. • 

Thomas Johnson, 1838; Reuben J. Dawson, 1839; John W. 
Wright, 1839; Lucien P. Ferry, 1840 and 1841; William H. 
Coombs, 1842; Robert Breckenridge, 1843; Robert L. Douglass, 

1844 and 1845; Elza A. McMahon, 1846; Edward R. May, 1847 
and 1848; Daniel E. Palmer, 1849 and 1850; James L. Worden, 
1851 to 1853; Edwin R. Wilson, 1854 to 1856; Sanford J. Stough- 
ton,1856 to 1858; James M. Defrees, 1858 to 1860; Augustus A. 
Chapin, 1860 to 1862; James H. Schell, 1862 to 1866; James H. 
Carpenter, 1866 and 1867; Ezra D. Hartman, 1867 to 1870; James 
McGrew, 1870 to 1872; Leigh II. Haymond, 1872; AVilliam B. 
McConnell,1873 to 1876; John W. Bixler, 1876 to 1878; George 
B. Adams, 1878 to 1882; Henry C. Peterson, 1882 to 188— 



■^ 



>V 



A^- 



^s 



19 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 335 

COMMON PLEAS PROSECUTORS. 

Daniel C. Palmer, 1852 to 1854; Asa M. Tinker, 1854 to 1856 
William H. Dills, 1856 to 1858; Abuer F. Pinchin, 1858 to 1860 
Joseph W. Cummins, 1860 to 1862; Lewis Covell, 1862 to 1864 
Asa M. Tinker, 1864 to 1866; J. D. Ferral, 1866 to 1868; Joseph 
L. Morlan, 1868 to 1873. Office then abolished. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 

Seth W. Murray, 1837 to 1839; Jonas Twichell, 1837 to 1839; 
James Clark, 1837 to 1838; John Russell, 1838 to 1840; James 
Perfect, 1839, Stephen A. Powers, 1839 to 1840; Angus McKin- 
ley, 1839 to 1842; William M. Carj, 1840 to 1841; Jonas 
Twichell, 1841; Samuel A. Stewart, 1840 to 1846; Asher Benedict, 
1841 to 1844; James Clark, 1842 to 1848; Calvin Powers, 1844 to 
1847; Orin Goodrich, 1846 to 1849; Amasa M. Cleveland, 1847 to 
1850; James Perfect, 1848 to 1851; Samuel A. Stewart, 1849 to 
1852; George W. Balding, 1850 to 1853; John W. Carter, 1851 to 
1857; John Nichols, 1852 to 1855; Philo Clark, 1853 to 1856; 
Charles L. Luce, 1855 to 1858; Calvin Powers, 1856 to 1859; 
James Clark, 1857 to 1860; John Green, 1858 to 1861; Norris S. 
Bennett, 1859 to 1861; Charles F. Kinney, 1860 to 1861; Daniel 
H. Roberts, 1861 to 1866; Abner Winsor, 1861 to 1862; Robert 
Patterson, 1862 to 1863; Frederick Butler, 1862 to 1866; Justin 
Darling, 1863; J^orris S. Bennett, 1863 to 1865; John Dygert,1865 
to 1868; James Carter, 1866 to 1869; John McClew, 1866 to 1873 
Michael Cline, 1868 to 1874; A. Judson Corbin, 1869 to 1875 
Clayton Mallory, 1873 to 1879; Charles Bachelor, 1874 to 1877 
John Cameron, 1875 to 1878; A. Judson Corbin, 1877 to 1880, 
Dwight P. Lewis, 1878; Moses Gonser, 1878 to 1881 ; John McClue, 
1879 to 1882; Rollin H. Goddard, 1880 to 1883; David K. Swift, 
1881 to 188-; Wm. W.Turner, 1882 to 188-; Jonas Twichell, 
Jr., 1883 to 188-. 

STATE SENATORS. 

George Crawford, 1836 to 1838; E. M. Chamberlain, 1838 to 
1840; David B. Herriman, 1840 to 1846; Madison Marsh, 1846 to 
1849; Reuben J. Dawson, 1849 to 1852; Alanson W.Hendry, 
1852 to 1860; Timothy R. Dickinson, 1860 to 1864; Enos B. 
Noyes, 1864 to 1868; Edward W. Fosdick, 1868 to 1872; W. 
Irving Howard, 1872 to 1876; William M. Mercer, 1876 to 1880; 
Francis Macartney, 1880 to 1884; Nicholas Ensley, 1884 to 188-. 

•/l<s ^ • ^ <s V 



-^ 



336 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



REPRESENTATIVES. 

Thomas Gale, 1836; David B. Herriinan, 1837 to 1839; John B. 
Howe, 1840; Madison Marsh, 1841; Enos Beall (contested), 1842; 
Madison Marsh (on contest), 1842; Jacob Helwig, 1843 and 1844; 
Clark Powers, 1845; David B. Wheeler (died), 1846; George W. 
Balding, 1846; Samuel P. Widney, 1847; Reuben J.Dawson, 1848; 
Edward R.May, 1849; John Stayner, 1850; George W. McCon- 
nell, 1851; Edward T. Hammond^ 1852 to 1854; Alonzo P. Clark, 
1854 to 1856; Thomas B. Sloss, 1856 to 1858; Philo Clark, 1858 to 
1860; Joseph A. Woodhall, 1860 to 1862; Enos B. Noyes, 1862 to 
1864; Stephen C. Sabin, 1864 to 1872; Eugenius B. Glasgow, 1872 
to 1876; Henry P. Butler, 1876 to 1878; Ezekiel Brown, 1878 to 
1880; Daniel H. Roberts, 1880 to 1882; Doak R. Best, 1882 to 
188—. 

CLERKS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT. 

James McConnell, 1837 to 1843; Rufus Beall, 1843; William M. 
Cary, 1843 to 1844; Chester Stocker, 1844 to 1851; Leland H. 
Stocker, 1851 to 1855; Frederick C. Chapin, 1855 to 1859; Levi A. 
Thompson, 1859 to 1863; Henry Linder, 1863 to 1867; .Germ 
Brown, 1867 to 1875; Joseph Butler, 1875 to 1879; Orville Goodale, 
1879 to 188—. 

COUNTY AUDITORS. 

The Clerk of the Circuit Court was ex-oficio County Auditor 
until 1841; Adonijah Smith, 1841 to 1844; Daniel E. Palmer, 1844 
to 1847 (Adonijah Smith died Sept. 7, 1844, and Daniel E. Palmer 
was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1845 William Albee was 
elected Auditor by a majority of two votes. The election was 
contested by Edwin R. May, the opposing candidate. The case 
was finally carried to the Supreme Court, where a decision was 
reached in 1846, in Albee's favor, but prior to which Albee died; 
consequently the ofSce was held by Palmer, under appointment, 
under the general election of 1847); Leland H. Stocker, 1847 to 
1851; William Carkhuff, 1851 to 1856; Samuel W. Scoville, 1856 to 
1860; Samuel E. Heath, 1860 to 1864; Francis Macartney, 1864 to 
1872; Marvin B. Butler, 1872 to 1876; Jesse H. Carpenter, 1876 to 
1880; Robert H. Johnson, 1880 to 188—. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

Joseph Pearce, 1837 to 1840; William G. Farmer, 1840 to 1841; 
Erastus Farnham, 1841 to 1842; Reuben B. Hopkins, 1842 to 1844; 



"7" 






^.-sh — - 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN UOUNTY. 337 



Jesse J. Mu^g, 1844 to 1850; Lewis E. Carver, 1850 to 1853; 
George Emerson, 1853 to 1857; William H. H. Day, 1857 to 1859; 
Benjamin F. Dawson, 1859 to 1861; Francis Macartney, 1861 to 
1863; W. Irving Howard, 1863 to 1867; Charles F. Kinney, 1867 
to 1871; Charles D. Chadwick, 1871 to 1875; George L. Luce, 1875 
to 1877; Samuel Beight, 1877 to 1881; Lyman R. Williams, 1881 
to 1885; Clay Lemmon, 1885 to 188— 

COUNTY SHERIFFS. 

William M. Cary, 1837 to 1840; Rnlus Beall, 1840 to 1843; Will- 
iam Wilder, 1843 to 1845; John L. Cary, 1845 to 1847; George 
W. McConnell, 1847 to 1849; George D. Waring, 1849 to 1851; 
Simeon C. Aldrich, 1851 to 1853; William Hough, 1853 to 1857; 
Peter Bowman, 1857 to 1861; W. Homer Twichell, 1861 to 1865; 
SylvanusB. George, 1865 to 1869; Ora Pierce, Jr., 1869 to 1873; 
Leander Chase, 1873 to 1875; William Wicoff, 1875 to 1879; Will- 
iam H. Keyes, 1879 to 1883; Allen Fast, 1883 to 188-. 

COUNTY RECORDER. 

James McConnell, 1837 to 1843; Chester Stocker, 1843 to 1850; 
Peter McKinlay, 1850 to 1855; Lewis E. Carver, 1855 to 1859; 
Orlow W. Parish, 1859 to 1863; Marvin B. Butler, 1863 to 1871; 
Robert V. Carlin, 1871 to 1879; W. Homer Twichell, 1879 to 188-. 

COUNTY SURVEYORS. 

This office was filled from 1837 to 1847 by Aaron B. Goodwin, 
Gideon Ball, Stephen A. Powers, Erastus Faruham and Theron 
Storrs; Stephen A. Powers, 1847 to 1853; Erastus Farnham, 1853 
to 1859; Pliny Roby, 1859 to 1865; Elbert N. Woodford, 1865 to 
1875; Frank B. Van Auken, 1875 to 1877; Abram B. Stevens, 1877 
to 1879; Charles A. Shackford, 1879 to 1881; Rol>ert G. Morley, 
1881 to 188-. 

SCHOOL EXAMINERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS. 

Prior to 1852, School Examiners were appointed by the Judge 
of the Circuit Court. From 1852 to 1861, Examiners were deputies 
appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Un- 
der these systems the office was held at different times by James 
McConnell, Stephen A. Powers, Elisha Steere, Leland H. Stocker, 
Jacob Patch, Jesse M. Gale and others. From 1861 to 1873, Ex- 
aminers were appointed by the Board of Commissioners, as fol- 
lows: Luke Barr, 1861 to 1865; John Kelland, 1865 to 1866; 



^- 



v>- 



338 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Lyman R. Williams, 1866 to 1869; Robert V. Carlin, 1869 to 1871 ; 
John W. Cowen, 1871 to 1883. 

In 1873 the office of County Superintendent was created. This 
office was held by John W. Cowen until 1875, when it was abolished 
by law, and that of Examiner restored. The latter position was 
held by Lyman R. Williams until 1876, when the Supreme Court 
ruled against the last change in the law, leaving the law of 1873 
in force. Under this law Cyrus Cline served from 1876 to 1883, 
when he was succeeded by Robert V. Carlin, the present incum- 
bent. 




I — 1»- 



\ 






^^ 



CHAPTER Y. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 



Opening of the Strife. — Springing to Arms. — First Company in 
Steuben County. — Too Late for Acceptance. — Early Enlist- 
ments. — Scott Township Guards. — Subsequent Contributions 
TO THE Army. — Regimental Sketches. — Twenty- Ninth. His- 
tory OF Company A, by Irenus McGowan. — Forty-Fourth. 

Forty-Eighth. — One Hundredth. — One Hundred and Twenty- 
seventh (Twelfth Cavalry), — One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth. — One Hundred and Fifty-second. — List of Steuben 
County's Volunteers. — Soldiers' Reunion at Angola. 

About dajbreak on the 12th of April, 1861, the stillness of 
Charleston Bay was disturbed by the firing of a large mortar and 
the shriek of a shell as it rushed through the air. The shell burst 
over Fort Sumter, and the war of the Great Rebellion was begun. 
In the North, the hope had been tenaciously clung to that the peace 
of the country was not to be disturbed. This dream was rudely 
broken by the siege of Fort Sumter. The North awakened sud- 
denly to the awful certainty that civil war was begun. There was 
a deep feeling of indignation at the traitors who were willing to 
ruin their country that slavery might be secure. There was a full 
appreciation of the danger and an instant universal determination 
that at whatever cost, the National life must be preserved. Per- 
sonal sacrifice was unconsidered; individual interests were merged 
in the general good. Political difterence, ordinarily so bitter, was 
tor the time almost efi'aced. Nothing was of interest but the ques- 
tion how this audacious rebellion was to be suppressed and the 
American nation upheld in the great place which it claimed 
among men. 

Two days after the fall of Fort Sumter, Mr. Lincoln intimated 
by proclamation the dishonor done to the laws of the United 
States, and called out the militia to the extent of 75,000 men. 
The Free States responded enthusiastically to the call. So prompt 
was their action that on the very next day several companies ar- 

(339) 



9~ 






G 



'iL 



340 



HISTORY OF 8TEDBEN COUNTY. 



rived in Washington. Flushed by their easily won victory, the 
Southerners talked boastfully of seizing the capital. In a very 
short time there were 50,000 loyal mon ready to prevent that, and 
the safety of Washington was secured. 

The North pushed forward with boundless energy her warlike 
preparations. Rich men offered money with so much liberality 
that in a few days nearly $25,000,000 had been contributed. The 
school-teachers of Boston dedicated fixed proportions of their 
incomes to the support of the Government, while the war should 
last. All over the country the excited people gathered themselves 
into crowded meetings and breathed forth in fervid resolutions 
their determination to spend fortune and life in defense of their 
Union. Volunteer companies were rapidly formed. In the 
cities ladies began to organize themselves for the relief of sick and 
wounded soldiers. It had been fabled that the North would not 
fight. With a fiery promptitude unknown before in modern his- 
tory, the people sprang to arms. 

Steuben County had at this time a population of little more 
than 10,000 persons. Almost a day's travel from railroad or tele- 
graph communications, as remote from the capital as the limits of 
the State would permit, with a people mainly devoted to agricult- 
ure, who knew nothing of war except by history or tradition, it 
could hardly be expected that a warlike spirit would soon disturb 
the peaceful population. But we know little of the fire that slum- 
bers in quiet breasts until occasion calls it forth. 

Under the call for 75,000 volunteers, the quota of Indiana was 
fixed at six regiments. The response was prompt from all parts 
of the State, and from none more hearty than from Steuben County. 
In five days, a compauy was en listed and daily under drill. 
Baldwin J. Crosswait, who had by hard service and gallantry won 
a Captain's commission in the war with Mexico, was chosen as Cap- 
tain. This company was at once tendered to Governor Morton, 
but, owing to distance and the slow means of communication, the 
tender was too late; the quota of the State was full. In eight days 
from the date of the call, Governor Morton had proffers of twelve 
regiments, and in less than thirty days, 40,000 men w^ere 
offered him. 

Chao-rined, but not discouraged, by the failure of their first effort 
at enlistment, Steuben County boys began to enlist wherever a 
chance offered. They went singly and in squads to Michigan, 
Ohio, Illinois, and to other counties in this State. On the 24th 



7" 



~6 



\ 



Si 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



341 



of May some thirty-five men left at one time and enlisted in the 
Fourth Michigan Infantry, at Adrian. In August nearly thirty 
men were enlisted by a recruiting officer from Chicago, for the 
Forty-second Illinois. 

On the 16th of August, 1861, the Scott Township Guards rallied 
to die tap of the drum, and dressed in their suits of blue denims 
adorned with red and white stripes and stars, they each one im- 
agined they could almost subdue the entire rebel force. It was 
there that Captain J. H. M. Judkins enrolled the first man for 
what was afterward Company A, Twenty-ninth Eegiment. It 
needed no long speeches to arouse enthusiasm. The news had 
been conveyed to every hamlet in the land that our glorious coun- 
try was in danger. But few words were spoken, but with com- 
pressed lip each looked at his comrade or bosom friend, as much 
as to say : "Will you go?" The answer was quick and decisive, 
while each with a steady hand subscribed his name to the muster- 
roll. Older men looked on and thought this all boys' play, but 
the result showed that although many who were enrolled that day 
were boys, yet they did a man's duty. 

William E. Sergeant was First Lieutenant and K. W. Melendy 
Second Lieutenant of this company. Two weeks later, Com- 
pany A and about one-half of Company K, Forty-fourth Ind- 
iana, were enlisted. Of Company A, Charles F. Kinney was 
Captain, Elias O. Kose, First Lieutenant, and Birge Smith, Second 
Lieutenant. Of Company K, Simeon C. Aldrich was Captain, 
and N orris S. Bennett, First Lieutenant, although neither held the 
position named on the first organization of the company. Simeon 
C. Aldrich was afterward Colonel of his regiment, and held the 
position at the time of his death. On the first organization of the 
regiment, Baldwin J. Crosswait was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
George W. McConnell, Quartermaster. About the same time, 
several Steuben County men enlisted in the Thirtieth Indiana, 
among them being Lieutenant William H. H. Day, of Angola 
(now of Moberly, Mo). 

In August, 1862, a full company (H) was furnished for the 
Seventy-fourth Regiment, with Sylvanus B. George as Captain, 
Lawrence Gates as First Lieutenant, and B. F. Dawson as Second 
Lieutenant. Immediately following a full company (B) was fur- 
nished for the One Hundredth Regiment; of this, J. W. Gillespie 
was Captain, Orlo J.Fast First, Lieutenant, and Edwin Goldsmith, 
32 



■^ 



v 



342 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Second Lieutenant. Germ Brown, of this company, was after- 
ward Quartermaster of the regiment. 

In the fall of 1863 nearly a full company was raised for the 
One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Kegiment (Twelfth Cavalry), 
ol which Major D. Williams was made Captain. About tlie same 
time, a full company (A) was raised for the One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Regiment, of which William H. Cole was Captain, 
Birge Smith, First Lieutenant, and T. S. Bonney, Second Lieuten- 
ant. Captain Cole was afterward promoted Major. Emery G. 
Melendy was Adjutant of the regiment. In March, 1865, nearly 
a full company (K) was raised for the One Hundred and Fifty- 
second Regiment, with John M. Everhart as Captain, Madison 
Rodgers as First Lieutenant, and John T. Young as Second Lieu- 
tenant. George E. Young was Adjutant of the regiment. 

A respectable percentage of the early volunteers from the county 
re-enlisted, either in their own or other regiments. It is not an 
over-estimate to say that Steuben County furnished over 1,000 men 
for the service — a full regiment of hardy, brave and loyal soldiers, 
who went forth to do and die for their country. They died on the 
battle-field, in the hospitals or prison-pens, or lingered a few 
months to enjoy the blessed privilege of dying at home. 

Following is a historical sketch of the regiments in which this 
county was largely represented : 

TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 

This was the first regiment in which any considerable number 
of men were credited to Steuben County. It contained one whole 
company (A) from this county, and parts of two others (I and K). 
The regiment was organized at La Porte, and was mustered into 
service for three years, on the 27th of August, 1861, with John F. 
Miller as Colonel. On the 9th of October it joined General 
Rousseau's command at Camp Nevin, Ky., and moved with the 
army to the vicinity of Munfordville, remaining there until the 
movement upon Bowling Green was commenced, in February, 
1862, Reaching Nashville in March, it moved with McCook's 
division to the Tennessee River, and participated in the battle of 
Shiloh on the Yth of April. In this engagement the regiment was 
under fire for more than five hours, suftering severely in killed 
and wounded. 

In the siege of Corinth it took an active part, and upon the 
evacuation moved with Buell's army through Northern Alabama 

Is 



^ 



-f 



N^ — :^=^k^ 



Cl 



1 P 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 343 

and Tennessee into Kentucky, and followed in pursuit of Brag^g 
through the latter State, returning to Nashville in December. 
Marching with Rosecrans' army toward Murfreesboro, it participa- 
ted in the battle of Stone Eiver on the 31st of December, 1862^ 
and the 1st and 2d of January, 1863, losing many men and offi- 
cers. After the occupation of Murfreesboro, the regiment re- 
mained at that place until May when it moved forward with Rose- 
crans' army to TuUahoma, and afterward to Chattanooga. In 
addition to the engagements before mentioned the Twenty-ninth 
after joining Rosecrans' army, participated with the skirmishes 
had with the enemy at Lavergne, Triune and Liberty Gap. 

In the great battle of Chickamauga the regiment was engao-ed 
both days, and sustained heavy losses. After this battle the 
regiment was stationed at Bridgeport, Ala., where it re-enlisted as 
a veteran organization, on the 1st of January, 1864, and the same 
month proceeded to Indianapolis on veteran furlough. 

On returning to the field the regiment was stationed at Cliatta- 
nooga, where it remained until December, when it moved to- 
Decatur, Ala., and was engaged in a skirmish at that place on 
the 27th of December, 1864. Returning to Chattanooga it re- 
mained at that place until May, 1865, when it moved to Dalton^ 
Ga., where it participated in a skirmish with the enemv. Subse 
quently the Twenty -ninth marched to Marietta, Ga., where it was 
stationed, performing post duty, for some' time. It was muster- 
ed out of the service Dec. 2, 1865. On the 5th of January, 
1864, Colonel Miller (who, since the month of Feburary, 1862^ 
had been serving as post and brigade commander at j^ashville and 
elsewhere) was promoted Brigadier-General, whereupon Lieutenant 
Colonel David M. Dunn was commissioned Colonel. 

As Company A was the first company raised in Steuben County,, 
and contained the scions of many of the best families, a more ex- 
tended sketch would be of interest. For this purpose we take the 
following, from the pen of Lieutenant Irenus McGowan, who was 
one of the best soldiers in the regiment, was for fifteen years after 
the war a prominent citizen of Mill Grove Township, and in 1880 
went West: 

" R. W. Melendy commenced the enrollment of soldiers in Au- 
gust, 1861. I went into the service as Second Lieutenant of Com- 
pany A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, which was the first com. 
pany organized in Steuben County. Some soldiers had left previous- 
to that who had joined the Forty-fourth Illinois. They went from 

* • ^j~ ~~ — y , 






e_ 






zu 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



bere expecting to go into an independent organization called the 
IN ortli western Riflemen. Company A, of the Twenty-ninth In- 
<iiana, rendezvoused at Angola, Aug. 16,1861. The officers elected 
-were: J. H. M. Jenkins, Captain; Ed Sergeant, First Lieutenant; 
and R.W. Melendy, Second Lieutenant. The first night we re- 
mained at the Russell House, and the following morning left town 
with all the enthusiasm imaginable for La Porte, that being the 
rendezvous of the Twenty-ninth. 

^' The I^inth also rendezvoused at La Porte, their regiment being 
nearly full. Colonel Milroy, afterward Brigadier-General, was 
Colonel of that regiment. There being a call for help on the part 
of our army in Virginia, Milroy obtained permission to fill his 
regiment from volunteer enlistment from ours. He made a speech 
one night, telling the boys how imminent the peril was and called 
for volunteers. Two of the boys from Angola left Company A and 
joined the Ninth, their names being John Nichols and George 
Leavitt. They had cause to regret such a step as that, for soldiers 
that left their original organization and went into a new stood no 
chance for promotion. The majority of those who went into 
La Porte continued enthusiastic for two weeks and were ready to 
•go on but some were sad after the first novelty wore away. Some 
became quite despondent. Several cases of illness were reported, 
•caused mainly by homesickness. 

*' The majority of the regiment went on into Kentucky and spent 
the first winter. The experience in Camp Kevin was when we 
lirst began to realize the actual hardships of soldiering. We then 
«carae down to Government rations and some of the boys experi- 
enced the effects of Government whisky, which was dealt out to 
prevent camp difficulty. I was satisfied then, and have been ever 
€ince, that whisky was a curse. After leaving Camp Nevin we 
moved down to Munfordville. In the afternoon we reached there 
w^e experienced our first speck of war. Colonel Willich with the 
'Thirty-second Indiana was there. The regiment was a finely 
^drilled one composed mostly of Germans. The afternoon we arrived 
there one battalion was across the river drilling. Before they had 
'Completed the drill and were ready to return to the north bank, 
4hey were attacked by a regiment of rebel cavalry and thirteen were 
Skilled. The long roll was beaten in the camp on the 29th, but as 
the river was high we did not cross. Willich's regiment was more 
than a match for the Black Horse cavalry. We then realized we 
were in war. 



•<^ 



"^ 






< » — (B 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 345 

" We spent two or three months there in camp on the Green River 
and then pressed on toward Bowling Green, reaching there about 
the time of the engagement at Fort Donelson. The rebels were 
withdrawn from our front so as to concentrate their forces at that 
place. Buell had command then of the Twentieth Army Corps, 
We next moved on to Nashville and were thrown forward to rein- 
force Grant's army which was being concentrated at Shiloh. When 
within twenty or twenty-live miles of Shiloh we heard the guns on 
the tirst day. All extra baggage was thrown one side and we 
went forward in light marching order. We spent the night of the 
6th of April in the streets of Savannah, on the banks of the 
Tennessee. In the morning we were put on board the vessels and 
moved up toward Pittsburg Landing. We reached the field of 
battle on the 7th. 

"Disembarking from the vessel we climbed a hill which was 
thoroughly lined with soldiers who had been whipped the day be- 
fore. They had fled, taking refuge on the bluff. The Twenty-ninth 
was pushed on the field in support of Rosseau until his troops 
had exhausted their ammunition. His brigade was then withdrawn 
and the Twenty-ninth was put in the front. We were kept there 
until sundown at which time the rebels retired. That was the 
tirst experience the company had in battle and it suffered severely, 
twenty-three men being killed or wounded. I was struck twice, 
once in the hand and once in the leg. I was quite glad to see the 
rebels disappear. The night following was a terrible one. We 
had no shelter nor provisions, and had marched the previous day 
and night with the exception of the time we were on the river, and 
had been on the battle-field, all day. We were completely ex- 
hausted and had nothing to eat. A terrible rain-storm set in and 
we were without shelter tents of any kind. The rain, however, was 
an actual blessing to the soldiers as otherwise many would have 
perished with thirst. The soldiers were so completely exhausted 
that when they awoke they found themselves in several inches, 
of water. It was then that they realized the full sense of all the 
terrors of warfare. 

" Previous to that time Ed Sergeant had resigned. On the 
battle-field of Shiloh, I received my commission as Second Lieu- 
tenant. The recollection of those days following the battle is very 
vivid. I witnessed then for the first time all the horrors of the 
battle-field, mangled bodies of horses and men and broken caissons ► 
We remained some days camped immediately upon the field and 



-** 






<3l 



^ 



346 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

then began to press forward to Corinth, General Halleck being 
assigned command of all the forces in front of that place. "We 
approached the town gradually by means of parallels constructed 
by the army. We remained there besieging Corinth nntil the lat- 
ter part of May. The army suffered ranch from camp complaints, 
many of the boys being disabled from sickness. They stood the 
trials well until that siege, but being in a malarious country they 
succumbed on account of constant watchfnlness; digging in 
ditches and heavy rains falling in the spring of the year, many 
were attacked with inflammatory rheumatism. 

"After the evacuation of Corinth, Buell's army was separated and 
sent easterly through Northern Mississippi and Alabama and laid 
at Battle Creek, Tenn., for some time previous to what is known 
as the Bragg-Bnell campaign. Bragg moved around the bend of 
the river and commenced his famous march toward Louisville- 
Buell concentrated his forces and followed. The Twenty-ninth 
Indiana was in the rear of the rebel army most of the way toward 
Louisville until Bragg turned his troops north toward Shelbyville. 
Buell moved west far enough to pass Bragg's left wing, the latter 
keeping to the right toward Shelbyville. Buell's army entered 
Louisville in time to prevent any assault from Bragg's 
forces. After lying there a few days we moved out to attack 
Bragg's army which was then at Frankfort. The retrogade move- 
ment then began and continued until after the battle of Ferry ville. 

"The Union army reached Nashville the second time and re- 
mained in that vicinity nearly all the winter following. The 
Twenty-ninth Indiana, with the other regiments in the division, 
laid in camp at the Asylum grounds, south of the city. We spent 
as pleasant a winter as possible for a body of men in camp. We 
had plenty of meat most of the time, but sometimes were short. 
Some contributions were received from the surrounding country, 
but, of course, they were enforced. At the commencement of the 
Stone Eiver campaign, Dec. 26, 1862, we broke camp. General 
McCook commanded our corps, and the Twenty-ninth Indiana led 
the advance toward Murfreesboro. General Rosecrans superseded 
Euell in the command of the Army of the Cumberland. We had 
a severe skirmish at Triune, Company A being on the line all day. 
After that skirmish the army got into position in front of Murfrees- 
boro on the 30th of December, 1862, McCook's corps holding the 
right wing. The Twenty-ninth Indiana was in the center and the 
Thirty-fourth on the right. Skirmishing had been going on for 



■<^ 



V 



•V 



Aiu- 



HISTORY OF STEDBEN COUNTY. 347 

three or four days. We deployed in double line on the night of 
the 30th in the expectation of action on the lollowing day. Were 
called up at two o'clock the next morning and stood in line until 
just at break of day, when the rebels massed their forces under 
Hardee and attacked the extreme right of the line. We deployed 
in single line of battle and they attacked in double line. The 
Twenty -ninth held its ground until the Thirty-fourth had been 
broken and one column of the rebel troops had passed, before the 
former regiment was ordered to retreat. The retreat was made 
in great haste from that position. The right swung back until it 
struck the railroad three-fourths of a mile distant. There, receiv- 
ing the support of fresh troops, the line held its own until the close 
of the battle. Fighting continued throughout the 31st of December. 
The 1st of January, 1863, was quiet. On the 2d the rebels made 
an assault on the right but were repulsed. There was consider- 
able fighting on the 3d but that night the rebels fell back. 

"After the conclusion of the battle of Murfreesboro the Twenty- 
ninth remained at that place the remainder of the winter, and with 
the balance of the brigade were engaged in working on the forti- 
fications, being aided by the engineer corps. We continued at 
that for fully three months, a portion of the time the work being 
prosecuted night and day. The companies of the regiment were 
divided into reliefs, working four hours at a time. After the com- 
pletion of the works the regiment remained there until Rosecrans 
made his advance to Tullahoma, where we remained in camp some 
two months. The regiment was actively engaged until the Chicka- 
mauga campaign, at which time it lost very heavily. More than 
one-half of the Twenty-ninth in that battle were killed, wounded 
or taken prisoners. Those of the regiment not captured suffered 
all the horrors of the confinement in Chattanooga. Company A 
remained at Chattanooga after the battle of Missionary Ridge, as 
part of the garrison, until the close of the war. 

" Of the 101 men of the company who left Angola in 1861, 1 do 
not know of but nineteen who are now living. Captain W. H. 
Cole, of Angola, was one of the original members of the company. 
At the battle of Shiloh, he was wounded in the foot and was dis- 
charged in consequence of the wound. He afterward enlisted in 
the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, and was 
elected Captain of one of the companies. Philip Haynes, of Salem 
Township, was shot through the head at the battle of Shiloh. 
William Jenkins was discharged in consequence of wounds received 

q) — — - — — — — -I to 

■ V I* — ' _ — y » 



jvt 



348 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

there. James Woodworth was killed in the same battle. Caleb 
Talbot was killed at the battle of Stone River. Fred Clock was 
killed at the battle of Chickaraauga, and N. P. Hanna was killed 
at the same place. David Allen, Edward Parker and Yalentiue 
Somerlott died at Anderson ville." 

FORTY- FOURTH REGIMENT. 

The companies composing the Forty-fourth Regiment were raised 
in the Tenth Congressional District, and rendezvoused at Fort 
"Wayne, where the organization of the regiment was completed on 
the 24th of October, 1861, with Hugh B. Reed as Colonel. Com- 
panies A and K, and parts of D, F and H were from Steuben 
County. In December the regiment was transported to Indian- 
apolis, and from thence to Henderson, Ky. Reporting to General 
Thomas L. Crittenden, it was assigned to General Cruft's brigade 
and went into camp at Calhoun, on Green River. Here it remained 
until February, 1862, when it was transferred to Fort Henry, and 
from thence to Fort Donelson, where it participated in the siege 
and battle at that place, suffering considerable loss in killed and 
wounded. 

After the capitulation the regiment marched to Fort Henry, and 
from thence it was transported on steamers to Pittsburg Landing, 
It was engaged on both days at the battle of Shiloh, losing thirty- 
three killed and 177 wounded, making a total of 210. After this 
it marched on Corinth, taking part in several skirmishes before 
Corinth, and upon the evacuation of that place joined in the pur- 
suit of the enemy, going as far as Booneville. Returning from 
this expedition it moved with Buell's army into Northern Ala- 
bama and Southern Tennessee, and when Bragg marched his army 
northward, it moved across the Cumberland Mountains to Nash- 
ville and thence to Louisville, Ky., reaching there on the 26th of 
September. In the campaign through Kentucky it was actively 
engaged, participating in the battle of Perry ville, and going as far 
as Wildcat in pursuit of Bragg. 

Returning to the vicinity of Nashville, it participated in a skir- 
mish on Russell Hill, at Silver Springs. About the first of De- 
cember it went into camp near Nashville. From the 20th of 
August to the 1st of December the regiment had marched over 
725 miles, being an average march of ten miles per day, and the 
whole performed without tents or shelter of any kind. The Forty- 
fourth moved with the army of the Cumberland toward Murfrees- 



v 



t ' 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 349 

bore, where it participated in the battle of Stone River on the 
31st of December, 1862, and the 1st and 2d of January, 1863, sus- 
taining losses as follows : Eight killed; fifty -two wounded ; twenty- 
five missing — a total loss of eighty-five. 

After remaining in camp near Murfreesboro for some months, it 
moved with Van Clove's division of Rosecrans's army across the 
Cumberland Mountains to Chattanooga, going by way of McMinn- 
ville, Dunlap, Jasper, Bridgeport, Shell Mound and Whiteside. It 
participated in the engagement at Chickamauga on the 19th and 
20th of September, and on the 23d, in connection with the Thirty- 
ninth Indiana, fought the enemy again at Mission Ridge. In 
these engagements the regiment lost three killed, fifty-nine 
wounded and twenty missing, making a total of eighty-two. 
About the middle of October it was assigned to provost duty at 
Chattanooga, and while here the regiment re- enlisted in January, 
1864, and returned to Indiana on veteran furlough, reaching In- 
dianapolis on the 26th of January. Returning to the field the 
regiment was again placed on provost duty at Chattanooga, on 
which duty it continued until the 14th of September, 1865, when 
it was mustered out of service. 

It then returned home, reaching Indianapolis on the 17th of 
September, in command of Colonel Curtiss, with thirty ofiicers 
and 670 men. Of these, 193 were original enlisted men, of whom 
thirty-three returned as commissioned oflScers, eighty-nine as non- 
commissioned ofiicers, and seventy-one as privates. The regiment, 
during its term of service, lost 350 in killed and wounded, and by 
death from disease fifty-eight. In July, 1865, 360 remaining re- 
cruits of the Sixty-eighth and Seventy-second Indiana were trans- 
ferred to the Forty-fourth, and these continued in service with the 
latter regiment until its muster out. 

Just before its final discharge the Forty-fourth was present at a 
reception given to returned troops in the capitol grounds at Indian- 
apolis, on which occasion it was addressed by Governor Morton, 
Generals Grose and "Washburn, and others. 

FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. 

The Forty-eighth was organized at Goshen on the 6th of Decem- 
ber, 1861, with Company H filled with Steuben County men. 
Under the command of Norman Eddy as Colonel it left for Fort 
Donelson by way of Cairo, Feb. 1, 1862, where it arrived the day 
of the surrender. It then moved to Paducah, where it remained 






\ 



M*- 



x> 



350 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



until May, when it moved up the Tennessee River and engaged 
in the seige of Corinth. After the evacuation of that city it was 
assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division of the Army of tlie 
Mississippi, and took part in the marclies and countermarches in 
pursuit of General Price. 

On the 19th of September it participated in the battle ol 
luka, losing 116 men in ivilled and wounded out of 420 engaged. 
On the 3d and 4th of October it was engaged in the second 
battle at Corinth (under Rosecrans), and lost twenty-six killed and 
wounded. The regiment moved down the Mississippi Central 
Railroad as far as Oxford, Miss., and on its return marched to 
Memphis, where, in January, 1863, it was assigned to the First 
Brigade, Seventh Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. 

After remaining here two months it was transported down the 
Mississippi, and then joining the army of General Grant marched 
with him to the rear of Yicksburg. During this campaign the 
regiment participated in the skirmish of Forty Hills, on the 3d 
of May; the battle of Raymond, on the 13th of May; the bat- 
tle of Jackson, on the 14th of May; and the engagement at 
Champion Hills, on the 16th of May, losing in the latter battle 
thirty-three killed and wounded. It was actively engaged in 
the trenches during the long siege of the rebel works at Yicks- 
burg, and took part in the assault on the 22d of May, losing 
thirty-eight in killed and wounded. 

After the surrender of Yicksburg it remained in that vicinity 
until August, and then moved up the river to Memphis, and from 
thence marched across the country to Chattanooga, and while in 
that vicinity engaged the enemy at Tunnel Hill. From the lat- 
ter place it marched back to Huntsville, Ala., and while stationed 
there, in January, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as a veteran 
organization and returned home on veteran furlough. The soldiers 
reached Indianapolis on the 6th of February, numbering 369 
veterans, and on the 8th were publicly received in welcoming 
speeches by Governor Morton and others. 

After the expiration of its furlough the Forty-eighth proceeded 
to Huntsville, Ala., where it remained until June. The regiment 
then moved to Cartersville, Ga., and was kept on duty in that 
vicinity looking after guerrillas and protecting General Sherman's 
railroad communications during the campaign against Atlanta. 
It was continued on this duty until Hood's invasion, when it 
joined Sherman's army and marched with the First Brigade, Third 



of 



~f> 



\ 



^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



351 



Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps in its campaign from At- 
lanta to Savannah. From Savannah it first moved to Beaufort, 
and then on the campaign through the Carolinas, going through 
Columbia, Cheraw, Fayetteville and Goldsboro to Kaleigh. 

From Raleigh it moved northward, after the surrender of John- 
son's army, making the distance from Raleigh to Petersburg, 165 
iniles, in six days. From Petersburg it marched to Washington, 
and soon after its arrival there was transferred to Louisville, Ky., 
where it was mustered out of service on the 15th of July, 
1865. Returning to Indianapolis it was present at a public recep- 
tion given to a large number of returned troops in the capitol 
grounds on the 18th of July, on which occasion addresses were 
made by Governor Morton, General Hovey and others. 

While at Washington about 250 men were transferred to the 
Forty-eighth from the Twelfth, Eighty-third, Kinety-seventh and 
Ninety-ninth regiments, being retained recruits whose organiza- 
tions had been mustered out. These transferred men served with 
the Forty-eighth until its final muster-out, and were discharged 
with it. Daring its term of service the regiment lost in battle 
213 men, in killed and wounded. 

ONE HUNDREDTH REGIMENT. 

The One Hundredth Regiment was organized in the Tenth 
Congressional District during the month of August, 1864, and 
rendezvoused at Fort Wayne. Steuben County furnished all ot 
Company B and parts of Companies D and K. Two companies 
recruited for the Ninety-eighth Regiment in the Eighth Con- 
gressional District were assigned to the One Hundredth Regi- 
ment, completing its organization, and the regiment was mustered 
into the service on the 10th of September, 1862, with Sanford J. 
Stoughton as Colonel. On the 11th of November the regiment 
left for Memphis, Tenn., arriving there on the 16th. The regi- 
ment was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Army 
of the Tennessee, and on the 26th moved with an expedition 
through Northern Mississippi, having Vicksburg for its objective 
point. This movement, however, was unsuccessful, owing to the 
surprise and capture of Holly Springs by the rebels. The column 
then returned to the vicinity of Memphis, and the regiment was 
assigned to garrison duty at Collierville, and as guards along the 
Memphis & Charleston Railroad. 

June 9, 1863, the regiment embarked on transports and 






\ 



^ 



©1 



352 HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

joined the army of General Grant at the siege of Vicksburg, ar- 
riving in front of the rebel works on the 14th. The regiment 
took part in the siege of Yicksburg, and after its surrender moved 
with Sherman's array upon Jackson, Miss., arriving in front of 
that place July 11. Five days were occupied in the siege of Jack- 
son, the regiment being constantly engaged. On the 16th the 
rebel army evacuated and our forces entered the place and 
destroyed its military resources. During these movements the 
regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Albert Heath, and 
formed part of the First Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Army 
Corps. From Jackson the regiment marched to the Big Black 
River, where it remained in camp during the summer. 

Sept. 28, the same year, the regiment marched to Yicksburg, 
embarked on transports and sailed to Memphis, arriving there 
Oct. 9. The regiment at this time belonged to the Fourth Divi- 
sion, Fifteenth Army Corps. It moved with its division on a 
rapid march across the country to Stevenson and Bridgeport, Ala., 
thence over Sandstone Mountain, and down Lookout Yalley to 
Trenton, Ga., and succeeded in turning the left flank of Bragg's 
army, then in position upon Lookout Mountain. This column 
secured a foothold on the mountain and drove the enemy from its 
position, but without following in pursuit pushed for Chattanooga, 
which place it reached after a rapid march, on the 23d of No- 
vember. 

On the 25th the column moved upon the enemy's stronghold on 
Mission Ridge, and took part in that severe battle. Its division 
gained the crest of the hill and held the position, notwithstanding 
the concentric tire of the enemy and his repeated assaults. The 
fight lasted from ten o'clock in the morning until dark, and the 
attack on the enemy's left was so persistent as to draw vast masses 
of the enemy to that flank, and enable General Thomas to 
break through the enemy's center. In this battle it sufiered a 
loss of 132 in killed and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Heath 
was severely wounded early in the action, and Major R. M. John- 
son assumed command of the regiment. 

• The next morning the command moved in pursuit of Bragg's 
army as far as Graysville. It then moved toward Knoxville, for 
the purpose of relieving General Burnside. This was accom- 
plished, the head of our column reaching Knoxville on the 6th of De- 
cember. But a few weeks before that, this army had left the banks 
of the Tennessee River with only two-days rations, and no extra 



TT 



JFT 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 853 

clotliing, and during that time had fought a severe battle, and 
marched over 800 miles through mud, rain and snow, part of the 
command barefooted, and yet all was endured without a murmur. 
The regiment remained in camp at Scottsboro until May 1, 1864. 

The entire army of General Sherman moved from Chattanooga 
early in May, 1864, on its campaign against the "gate city of 
Georgia," Atlanta. The two hostile armies were separated by 
Eocky Face Ridge, cloven by Buzzard's Roost Gap, through which 
runs the railroad. This pass was so fortified as to render it un- 
approachable. Sherman decided to turn the position. The Army 
of the Tennessee moved through Snake Creek Gap and threatened 
the enemy's rear at Dalton. The regiment was attached to this 
arm}^ and took part in all its movements and battles, being en- 
gaged at Dalton, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope 
Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Chat- 
tahoochie River, Decatur, Atlanta, Cedar Bluffs, Jonesboro and 
Lovejoy's Station. The regiment then moved with its corps to 
Atlanta, and camped at East Point, after marching and fighting 
nearly 100 days. 

On the 3d of October the regiment marched with its corps in 
pursuit of Hood, and after forced marches through Northern 
Georgia and Alabama, drove Hood across the Tennessee River, 
left General Thomas to meet and check his further career, and re- 
turned to its old camping ground near Atlanta. 

At daybreak on the 14th of November the regiment moved 
with the column for Savannah and the sea. Atlanta lay behind, a 
mass of smoldering ruins — before was an untrodden path, an 
unknown enemy and adventure. The march of that army was 
marked by destroyed railroads and a ruined country. The regiment 
svas assigned to the Second Brigade (Walcott's), First Division, 
Fifteenth Army Corps, in this march. On the 22d of ISovember, 
near Griswoldville, Ga., its brigade was engaged in a desperate 
fight. 

Our position was defended by a slight barricade. The eneraj' 
made an assault with a largely superior force, and four pieces of 
artillery; he was, however, completely repulsed. The action con- 
tinued four hours, and the enemy made several assaults, only to 
be met with severe loss. General Walcott was wounded, and 
Colonel Patterson, of the Ninety-seventh Indiana, took command of 
the brigade. Forty-nine prisoners were captured, and the regi- 
ment was complimented by the commanding General. After a 



-^- 



""F*" 



354: HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

perilous march through almost impassable swamps and morasses 
and over swollen streams, the column debouched in front of Sa- 
vannah on the 10th of December, and that city was entered by 
our army on the 23d. 

From Savannah the regiment moved with its corps by steamer 
to Beauford, S. C, and thence through the Carolinas, captur- 
ing successively Branchville, Columbia, Georgetown and Cheraw, 
S. C, and met the enemy at Bentonville, N. C, where a 
severe battle ensued, and the enemy were defeated and driven from 
the field. The column then moved to Goldsboro, reaching that 
place March 26, 1865, having marched 1,300 miles and fought 
seventeen battles since leaving Chattanooga in May, 1864. 

The regiment remained at Goldsboro until the 10th of April. 
It then moved with the army to Kaleigh, where it remained until 
after the surrender of Johnston's army. The regiment then 
marched by way of Richmond, Ya., to Washington, D. C, reach- 
ing that place May 20, 1865. The regiment remained in camp 
near Washington until June 9, 1865, when it was mustered out of 
service, the remaining recruits being transferred to the Forty-eighth 
Indiana, with which organization they continued to serve until its 
muster-out at Louisville, Ky., June 15, 1865. 

The One Hundredth left for the field with an aggregate of 937 
men, and returned with 618 men for muster-out. It lost in killed 
in action and died from wounds 89; discharged for disability by 
reason of wounds, or otherwise, 225; died from disease, 150; total 
casualties, 464. It marched during its term of service 4,000 miles, 
was engaged in twenty-five battles, and was on skirmishing duty 
nearly one-third of the time it was in the field. After its muster- 
out it started for Indianapolis, and upon its arrival there was pres- 
ent at a public reception in the State House grounds on the 14th 
of June, and welcomed with addresses by Governor Morton and 
others. Its members then dispersed to their respective homes. 

TWELFTH INDIANA. VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. 

The Twelfth Cavalry, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regi- 
ment, was organized at Kendall ville, Ind., in the Tenth Congres- 
sional District, March 1, 1864, eight companies of which were 
recruited by Colonel Edward Anderson in the Ninth Congressional 
District, in the fall and winter of 1863, and were rendezvoused at 
Michigan City; and four companies were recruited in the Tenth 
Congressional District in the fall and winter of 1863, and were 



■^ 



r 



•^T* — -- - — ^ k". 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 355 

rendezvoused at Kendallville, for the purpose of completing the 
regimental organization, and Colonel Edward Anderson was made 
Colonel of the regiment. Parts of Companies B, C and I were 
raised in Steuben County. 

Early in May, 1864, the regiment left camp at Kendallville and 
proceeded to Indianapolis, and on the 6th of the same month it left 
Indianapolis for the field, under orders to proceed to Nashville, 
Tenn. But six of the companies were mounted, and all were 
armed as infantry, for want of cavalry arms, until the regiment 
arrived at Louisville, where the infantry arms were turned over by 
the six mounted companies, and cavalry arms were issued instead. 
The mounted portion of the regiment, also the mounted portions 
of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Regiments marched from Louis- 
ville to Nashville, under the command of Colonel Anderson, while 
the dismounted portion of the regiment proceeded to Nashville by 
rail, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Reed. 

The Twelfth remained at Nashville in camp of instruction for 
about three weeks, when it was ordered to Huntsville, Ala., for 
"which place it started May 29, the dismounted portion proceeding 
thence by rail, under command of Colonel Anderson, and the 
mounted portion marching from Nashville, under the command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Reed. Colonel Anderson was assigned to the 
command of the railroad defenses from Decatur, Ala., to Paint 
Rock, Ala., a distance of about sixty miles, and to the command of 
all that district of country lying between Huntsville and Paint 
Rock, and between the Tennessee River and the Memphis & 
Charleston Railroad, that portion of the country being at the time 
infested with several bands of guerrillas and "bushwhackers." 

The dismounted companies were assigned to the especial defense 
of the railroad, and to the erection of block-houses, under the com- 
mand of Major Orris Blake, and the six mounted companies (which 
were the only mounted cavalry then at or near Huntsville), under 
command of Colonel Anderson, were employed very actively in 
fighting and ridding the country of guerrillas and "bushwhackers," 
in which numerous skirmishes and engagements were fought, and 
quite a large number of the regiment were killed and wounded. 

For about a month after the arrival of the regiment at Hunts- 
ville, the headquarters of the regiment were at that place, when 
they were removed to Brownsborough, where they remained until 
Sept. 15, 1864, when the Twelfth was ordered to Tullahoma, Tenn., 
to garrison that post, where it arrived on the night of the same 

M* — - - — ^ f^ 



61 



356 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

day, and reported to Major General Milroj. Colonel Anderson 
was assigned to the command of the post, and also retained com- 
mand of the regiment. On the 23d of September Colonel Ander- 
son was relieved bj orders from the Secretary of War, and was 
ordered to Indianapolis to report to Governor Morton for special 
service, soon after which he rejoined his command i n the field. In 
the absence of Colonel Anderson, Major Blake was assigned to the 
command of the post of Tullahoma and of the regiment, during 
which time the regiment was constantly employed in watching the 
movements of the rebel General Forrest, who, with a large force 
was then threatening Tullahoma and several other points along the 
Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. In the meantime the regiment 
had several skirmishes with a part of Forrest's command and with 
bands of guerrillas. In the month of October, 1864, Major Blake 
was ordered by the Secretary of War to report for duty to the 
Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General at Indianapolis as 
assistant. 

Three mounted companies, C, D and H, stationed at Huntsville 
under the command of Captain Major D. Williams, of Company C, 
participated in the defense of that place with the Thirteenth Cav- 
alry, Oct. 1, 1864, against the attack of a portion of the rebel 
Forrest's command. These companies subsequently joined the 
regiment at Tullahoma, and on the 26th of November, upon the 
evacuation of that post, the regiment proceeded to Murfreesboro, 
Tenn., and participated in the battle of Wilkinson's Pike and Over- 
all's Creek. It was also employed in the several skirmishes in the 
defense of Murfreesboro against the command of Forrest in De- 
cember, 1864, Lieutenant-Colonel Reed commanding the regiment, 
and Colonel Anderson commanding the brigade to which the regi- 
ment was attached. Soon after this the regiment proceeded to 
Nashville and went into winter quarters, and there received new 
arms, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, Seventh Division, 
Cavalry Corps. 

Feb. 11, 1865, the regiment embarked on board transports and 
steamers, under orders to proceed to New Orleans, La., which 
orders were subsequently countermanded, and the regiment disem- 
barked at Yicksburg, Miss., by order of Major General Canby, to 
engage in a raid along the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. These orders 
were also subsequently countermanded, and the regiment was newly 
mounted, arms changed, and embarked again for New Orleans, 
where it arrived March 12, 1865, thence proceeding to Navy Cove, 



\M<^ 



k. 



BISTORT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 357 

Mobile Bay. There it reported to Major-General Canby, and par- 
ticipated in the operations against the forts and defenses of Mobile, 
Ala., a portion of the regiment acting as escort to Major- General 
Canby, and the remainder engaged also in running a courier line 
into Florida, from near Fort Blakely, Ala. 

After the fall of Mobile the regiment reported, April 17, to Major 
General Grierson, and under the command of Major William H. 
Calkins, participated in the raid of over 800 miles through Ala- 
bama into Georgia, and then across the State of Alabama again to 
Columbus, Miss., where it arrived May 20, 1865. It was highly 
and specially complimented by Major-General Grierson, in a letter 
to Governor Morton, for its gallant conduct and military discipline. 
Here the regiment remained under the command of Major Blake 
until about the middle of July, when Colonel Anderson rejoined 
his command after a temporary absence, and proceeded with a 
portion of the regiment to Grenada, Miss., establishing the head- 
quarters of the regiment there. Three companies, D, K and L, 
proceeded to Austin, on the Mississippi River, in command of 
Captain D. M. Graves, where they remained about two months, 
employed in protecting Government cotton and other property, and 
then again reported for duty to Colonel Anderson at Grenada, 
where that portion of the regiment remained until orders were re- 
ceived for muster-out. 

The remaining six companies remained at Columbus, Miss., and 
vicinity, engaged in protecting Government cotton and otherwise, 
under the command of Major Blake, until they were ordered to 
proceed to Yicksburg, Miss., to join the remainder of the regiment 
which had preceded them. These companies arrived on the 2d of 
November, and Nov. 10, 1865, the Twelfth Cavalry was mustgred 
out of the service of the United States at Yicksburg, and ordered to 
proceed to Indianapolis, where it arrived on the 16th of November 
On the next day it was honored with a public dinner by the citizens 
of the city, and was welcomed home by a public reception at the 
State House grove, where addresses were delivered by Governor 
Baker and Colonel Trussler, Secretary of State, and were responded 
to by Colonel Anderson, Lieutenant-Colonel Reed, Major Calkins 
and Major Blake. The regiment was finally paid off, and its mem- 
bers received their discharge Nov. 22, 1865. 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 

The One Hundred and Twentv-ninth Regiment was recruited 
28 



V 



1 






358 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

from the Tenth Congressional District during the winter of 1863-'64:, 
rendezvoused at Michigan City, and was mustered into the service 
March 1, 1864, with Charles Case as Colonel and Charles A. Zol- 
linger as Lieutenant-Colonel. All of Company A and parts of 
Companies B, F, H, I and K were composed of Steuben County 
volunteers. 

On the 30th of March the regiment left camp at Michigan City, 
and was conveyed by rail via Louisville to Nashville, where it 
arrived on the 7th of April. Lieutenant-Colonel Zollinger was in 
command of the regiment. Upon its arrival at Nashville, it was 
assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Twenty-third Army 
Corps. On the 5th of April the regiment took up its line of march 
for Loudon, E. Tenn.. but, before reaching that point, its orders 
were changed, and the regiment marched for Charleston, E.Tenn., 
arriving there on the 2J:th, Thus was accomplished a march of 200 
miles by a regiment fresh from the hamlets and towns of Northern 
Indiana. As the column wound through the fertile valleys and 
over the rugged mountains that characterize the countr}^ through 
which it passed, the men were enthusiastic in their admiration of 
the natural beauty of the country. There was but a little time for 
rest, however, for as soon as the First Division had joined its corps 
at Charleston, orders came to move on a campaign that was to 
strike a formidable blow at the rebel strongholds guarding Atlanta, 

On the 3d of May the regiment moved with its corps toward 
Dal ton, reaching there in time to participate in the initiatory dem- 
onstration that opened the campaign a^rainst Atlanta. On the 
12th it marched through Snake Creek Gap, and, breaking through 
a dense forest, took position near Resaca. Three days later a 
heayy battle ensued at Resaca, the enemy being defeated and 
driven across the Oostanaula River. The regiment joined in the 
pursuit, movi g over blind roads on the left, and, crossing the 
Oostanaula River above Resaca, found the enemy strongly en- 
trenched near Cassville. On the 20th the rebel army fled across 
the Etowah River. The regiment reached the banks of that 
stream, and encamped for two days, waiting for supplies. On the 
25tli the regiment crossed the Etowah River and moved upon the 
enemy's position at New Hope Church. Before reaching there, 
however, the enemy, after a severe engagement wi:h a portion of 
our army, had fallen back to Lost Mountain. The regiment was 
for several weeks afterward almost constantly skirmishing with 
the enemy, pushing through deep defiles and heavy underbrush. 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 359 

During this period the rain fell almost continuouely, rendering 
the roads almost impassable. On the 15th of June Lieutenant- 
Colonel Zollinger was promoted Colonel, having had active com- 
mand of the regiment ever since its departure for the field. Colonel 
Case resigned early in June. On the 19th of July the regiment 
was engaged in a severe fight near Decatur, Ga., losinar very 
heavily in killed and wounded. Sherman's army was now closing 
around Atlanta, and brisk skirmishing met our advance in every 
new movement. On the 5th of August a brigade of Schofield's 
corps tried to break through the enemy's line about a mile below 
Utoy Creek, but failed to carry the position. The next day General 
Hascail, commanding the division to which the regiment was at- 
tached, attacked and turned the position, resulting in the engage- 
ment at Strawberry Run, in which the One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth lost twenty-five in killed and wounded. 

On the 29th of August the regiment marched with its corps 
around East Point, and came into position near Hough and Ready, 
on the railroad, which was at once destroyed. Other portions of 
Sherman's army were doing similar work, and on the 1st of Sep- 
tember it was ascertained that the enemy had abandoned Atlanta. 
The regiment then marched with its corps to Decatur, and went 
into camp. Thus, after four months' campaign, our army gained 
possession of the mountain regions of the center of the rebel 
dominion, and the Atlantic and Gulf slopes were open to the move- 
ment of our veterans. 

On the 4th of October the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth moved 
with its corps in pursuit of Hood, who had cut Sherman's com- 
munications at Big Shanty, and was demonstrating on the garrisons 
guarding our supplies along the railroad that formed our only line 
of supply. Moving by way of Marietta, Allatoona, Cassville, King- 
ston, Rome, Resaca and Snake Creek Gap, it arrived at Gayles- 
ville, Ala., where further pursuit of Hood's flying columns ceased. 
The Twenty-third Corps was then attached to the command of 
General Thomas, and the regiment marched with its corps to 
Chattanooga. Thence it was transported by rail to Nashville and 
Johnsonville, where it remained until the 20th of November. It 
then moved to Columbia and occupied the crossings of Duck 
River. 

For three days the enemy pressed our position at Columbia, and 
heavy skirmishing was carried on. On the 29th the roginient fell 
back across the Duck River, burning the railroad bridge in its rear. 

jf < 






*8J 1-1" 



360 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The enemy's column having passed our flank, the regiment marched 
rapidij with its corps to Franklin, The enemy followed closely, 
and on the 30th assaulted our position at that place. Our ground 
was well chosen, and after several severe assaults the enemy was 
decisively repulsed with great loss. The regiment met with heavy 
loss in the battle of Franklin. Our army fell back during the 
night to Nashville, and the regiment took position in the suburbs 
of that city, and threw up defensive works. 

On the 15th of December the regiment moved from Nashville, 
and, advancing with General Thomas's army on the fortified posi- 
tion of the rebel army of General Hood, participated in the two 
days' battle which resulted in the utter rout of the enemy, and in 
his disastrous retreat across the Tennessee River. The regiment 
joined in the pursuit until the same was discontinued. 

Jan. 5, 1865, the regiment marched with its division to Clifton, 
and embarking in transports sailed to Cincinnati. Thence it 
was' conveyed by railroad to Washington City, and thence by 
steamer to Cape Fear inlet. Fort Fisher being already captured, 
and Wilmington secured by General Schofleld, the regiment, with- 
out landing, sailed by sea to Morehead City, to reinforce the 
column about to move from Newborn. 

On the 6th of March the regiment moved with the main column 
from Newbern, and marched along the railroad in the direction of 
Kingston, repairing the railroad as it advanced. On the 8th the 
enemy encountered our advance^ and captured two regiments of 
Connecticut volunteers. Flushed with success his columns rapidly 
advanced and endeavored to check our further progress; but he 
was met and checked by Ruger's division of the Twerity- third Corps, 
to which the regiment was attached. Yery heavy skirmishing at 
once ensued, the enemy making bold attempts to drive our line 
from position. On the 10th, the enemy being largely reinforced, 
the heavy skirmishing culminated in a battle. The enemy made 
several desperate assaults, all of which were met and repulsed, with 
great loss to the enemy, and during the following night the enemy 
fled in great disorder, leaving his killed and wounded. 

Thus ended the engagement at Wise's Forks, in which the regi- 
ment took an active part, losing very heavily. Our way was now 
open to Kingston, and the regiment pushed on with the main 
column to that place, and thence to Goldsboro, reaching there 
on the 21st. From Goldsboro the regiment moved to Mosley 
ITall, where it remained until the 5th of April. It then moved to 



\ 



* - ■ -« S) ^ 

r 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. o61 

Goldsboro, rejoined its corps and marched to Raleigh. From that 
capital the command moved to Charlotte, reaching there on the 
9th of May. Here it was engaged in provost duty during the 
summer of 1865. On the 29th of August, 1865, the regiment was 
mustered out of the service of the United States at Charlotte, N. C, 
and started for home. It reached Indianapolis early in September 
with 503 officers and men, was present at a reception to returned 
soldiers in the State House grove, and welcomed by addresses from 
General Manslield'and others. The regiment soon received final 
payment and discharge, and its members returned to the peaceful 
vocations of life. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 

The One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment was recruited in 
the Tenth Congressional District, and was organized at Indian- 
apolis March 16, 1865, with Whedon W. Griswold as Colonel. It 
left Indianapolis on the 18th for Harper's Ferry, Ya., and on ar- 
riving there was assigned to duty with one of the provisional 
divisions of the Army of the Shenandoah. It was stationed for a 
short time at Charlestown, Stevenson Station and Summit Point, 
and then moved to Clarksburg, W. Va., where it remained until 
its muster-out, on the 30th of August, 1865. On the first of 
September it reached Indianapolis with 770 men and officers, 
where it was finally discharged. 

Following is a list of Steuben County volunteers, classified by 
regiments and companies. It is attempted to give not only the 
name of each soldier, but his rank, date of muster-in, promotions 
and date of discharge or muster-out; or if died in the service, when 
and where. The list is taken mainly from the Adjutant-General's 
report, and is consequently imperfect in many respects. Only 
those credited to Indiana regiments are given : 

' NINTH INFANTRY. 

Company E. 

Bear, W. S., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, killed at Shiloh, April 
7, 1862. 

Caldwell, L. W.. mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, out Sept 5, 1864. 

Colgrove, H. P., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, discharged for disa- 
bility July 9, 1862. 

Ireland, John R., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, died of disease;Jan. 
6, 1863. 

' ^'zz zr— ^>.i 



„ I 1 



c 



362 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTr. 

Klink, Wm., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, deserted Sept. 3, 1862. 

Leavitt, G. P., mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, appointed Corporal, 
mustered out Sept. 5, 1864. 

Nichols, J. H. mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, out Sept. 5, 1864-. 

RichardsoD, James, mustered in Sept. 5, 1861, discharged for 
disability Jan. 20, 1862. 

Tustison, W. R., mustered in Sept. 5. 1861, deserted Aug. 18, 
1862. 

TWELFTH INFANTRY. 

Com.jpany B. 
Miner, P. P., mustered in Aug. 8, 1864, ou^ June.8, 1865. 

THIRTEENTH INFANTRY. 

Compmiy F. 
Kelley, Thomas, mustered in Oct. 14, 1864, out Sept. 5, 1865. 

Unassigned. 
Baugher, John, mustered in Oct. 21, 1864. 

SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY. 

Company D. 
Reimer, J. W., mustered in June 12, 1861, out June 20, 1864.* 

TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY. 

Company A. 

Shaffstall, Adam, mustered in July 24, 1861, appointed Sergeant, 
mustered out July 31, 1864. 

Sitterlin, J. F., mustered in July 24, 1861, died at New Orleans 
Oct. 17, 1862. 

Van Pelt, Samuel, mustered in July 24, 1861, out July 31, 1864. 

Conger, P. S., mustered in May 17, 1863, out Jan. 13, 1866. 

Conger, S. L., mustered in Oct. 25, 1862, out Oct. 24, 1865. 

Knox, R. B., mustered in April 7, 1864, deserted April 18, 1864. 

Shaffstall, Franklin, mustered in Oct. 25, 1862, out Oct. 24, 1865. 

Woodford, J. C, mustered in March 8, 1864, out Jan. 13, 1866. 

TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 

Company A. 

Blake, A. E., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Cornell, G. W., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 



■/ 



\ 



k^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 363 

Furry, Richard, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
George, J. A., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Gardner, Adelbert, mustered in Feb. 25, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Gaylord, H. D., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Perfect, R. L., mustered in March 24, 1864, out June 9, 1865. 
Stetter, Daniel, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Steller, William, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Stewart, J. C, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Thompson, William, mustered in March 25, 1864, out July 24, 
1865. 
Towns, J. N., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 
Williams, S. R., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out July 24, 1865. 

TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY. 

Company A. 

Jenkins, J. H. M., commissioned Captain Sept. 10, 1861, Major 
March 1, 1864, resigned as Captain June 11, 1864. 

Melendy, R. W., commissioned Second Lieutenant Sept. 10, 
1861, First Lieutenant April 12, 1862, Captain Juue 11, 1864. 

Sergeant, W. E., commissioned First Lieutenant Sept. 10, 1861, 
resigned Feb. 17, 1862. 

McGowan, Irenus, mustered in as First Sergeant Aug. 27, 1861, 
commissioned Second Lieutenant April 12, 1862, wounded at Shi- 
loh, commissioned First Lieutenant June 11, 1864. 

Fales, Willard, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, veteranized, com- 
missioned Second Lieutenant Jan. 1, 1865, First Lieutenant June 
20, 1865. 

Ferrier, Jacob, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, as Sergeant, out Aug. 
26, 1864. 

La Rue, J. W., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, as Sergeant, dis- 
charged June 21, 1862, for disability. 

Allen, D. B., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 27, 1861, died in 
Andersonville Prison Sept. 24, 1864. 

Jennings, C. H., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, as Sergeant, dis- 
charged Nov. 3, 1862, for promotion. 

Melendy, E. G., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, as Corporal, dis- 
charged Aug. 5, 1862, for disability. 

Wordsworth, J. R., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 27, 1861, died 
in 1862 of wounds received at Shiloh. 

Everhart, J. M., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 27, 1861, out 
Sept. 26, 1864. 

^QJ ^ » I Is 

^ ® ^ -• ©R * 



-^ 



364 HISTOBY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Berger, Daniel, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 27, 1861, dis- 
charged June 21, 1862, for disability. 

McGowan, Miletus, mustered in as Corporal Sept. 6, 1861, died 
June 11, 1865, at Annapolis, Md. 

Cole, W. H., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 27,1861, discharged 
Feb. 12, 1863, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Jagger, Ziba J., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 27, 1861. trans- 
ferred to Veteran Reserve Corps Jan. 1, 1864. 

Hunt, John, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 27, 1861, discharged 
June 21, 1862. for disability. 

Hushey, M. B., mustered in as Musician Aug. 27, 1861, uut 
June 6, 1865. 

Hutchins, John, mustered in as Musician Sept. 2, 1861, out 
Dec. 2, 1866. 

Bundy, Hiram, mustered in Sept. 2, 1861, discharged April 20, 
1863, for disability. 

Allen, Webster, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, died at Louisville, 
Ky., Jan. 28, 1862. 

Adkins, J. J., mustered in Sept. 2, 1861. discharged Jan. 29, 1863, 
for wounds. 

Baker, Hiram, mustered in Sept. 13, 1861, discharged April 23, 

1862, for disability. 

Baker, T. J. , mustered in Sept. 2, 1861, discharged March 30, 1863. 
Beck, A. W., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps April 10, 1864. 

Berger, J. A., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged April 18, 

1863, for wounds received at Stone River. 

Beach, H., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Bender, William, mustered in Sept. 2, 1861, discharged for 
disability. 

Boyer, John, mustered in Sept. 20, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Brown, Ansen, mustered in Sept. 14, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Bromley, David, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861. deserted Aug. 
12, 1862. 

Carpenter, J. M., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged for 
disability. 

Cleveland, G. D., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out May 17, 1865. 

Courtney, Alonzo, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, died at Camp 
Wood, Ky., Feb. 2, 1862. 

Conrad, E. F., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, mustered out Dec. 2, 
1865. 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN CODNTY. 365 

Coe, Chester, mustered in Sept. 15, 1861, mustered out Dec. 2, 
1865, as Wagoner. 

Clock, Frederick, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, killed at Cliicka- 
mauga, Sept. 20, 1863. 

Cummings, Barney, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out May 21, 
1865. 

Dennis, J. T., mustered in Sept. 20, 1861, out Dec. 2. 1865. 

Deeler, William, mustered in Aug, 27, 1861, died at Nashville, 
Oct. 6, 1862. 

Dillingham, Claudine, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged in 
December, 1861, for disability. 

Delabaugh, J. J., mustered in Sept. 12, 1861, transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps Jan. 15, 1864. 

Elco, John, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, mustered out as Corpo- 
ral Dec. 2, 1865. 

Fisher, George, mustered in Sept. 20, 1865. 

French, Chauncey, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged May 
5, 1862, for disability. 

Frink, Eli IH., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged Jan. 29, 
1864, for disability. 

Gatehouse, James, mustered in Sept. 15, 1861, died at Camp 
Nevin, Ky., in December, 1861. 

Gibbons, Christian, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, killed at Stone 
River, Dec. 31, 1862. 

Gleason, A. H., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, mustered out Dec. 
2, 1865. 

Guthrie, G.^^E., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, mustered out Dec. 

2, 1865, as Sergeant. 

Guthrie, Hugh, mustered in Sept. 15, 1861, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Haines, David, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, deserted August, 1862. 

Hackett, George, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Hanna, Henry, mustered in Sept. 20, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Haines, Philip, mustered in Aug. 27, 1871, killed at Shiloh, 
April 7, 1862. 

Hanna, Nathaniel, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, died at Chatta- 
nooga in 1863, of wounds received at Chickamauga. 

Hanselman, William, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, transferred to 
Yeteran Reserve Corps. 

Hanselman, W. H., mustered in Sept. 22, 1861, died Oct. 9, 
1863, at Chattanooga. 

Holdridge, H. Y., mustered in Sept. 2, 1861, died at Columbia, 
Tenn., April 4, 1862. 



-71 






:<ii 



366 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Hutchins, Judah, mustered in Sept. 18, 1861, out Sett. 26, 1864. 

Hunt, William, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged for dis- 
ability. 

Huffman, J. W. , mustered in Sept. 9, 1861, mustered out Dec. 
2, 1865. 

Jenkins, William, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged Aug. 
5, 1862, for wounds received near Shiloh. 

Keyes, W. H., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Knowles, Reuben, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, died at Annapolis, 
Md., in February, 1863. 

Letcher, William, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Myers, George, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged Aug. 5, 
1862, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Melendy, H. B., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out as Sergeant Dec. 
2, 1865. 

Mc Gowan, Frederick, mustered in Sept. 9, 1861, discharged 
June 17, 1863. 

Moore, Cornelius, muftered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged May 
5, 1862, for disability. 

Moore, W. S., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Parker, E. A., mustered in Sept. 6, 1861, died in Andersonville 
Prison Julv 27, 1864. 

Parker, E. L., mustered in Sept. 6, 1861, discharged Sept. 4, 
1862, for promotion in Fifth Ind. Vol. Cav. 

Petty, John, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, died at Camp Nevin, 
Ky., Dec. 11, 1861. 

Phenecie, Lewis, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, mustered out as 
Corporal Dec. 2, 1865. 

Phenecie, James, mustered in Sept. 13, 1861, captured at Chick- 
amauga, mustered out June 6, 1865. 

Phenecie, W. C, mustered in Oct. 7, 1861, captured at Chicka- 
mauga, mustered out Feb. 21, 1865. 

Rhinehart, Eli, mustered in Sept. 6, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Ruth, Daniel, mustered in Sept. 2, 1861, out Sept. 26, 1864. 

Sattison,W. H,, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, mustered out as 
Sergeant Dec. 2, 1865. 

Sabin, C. E., mustered in Oct. 7, 1861, appointed Hospital Stew- 
ard, discharged Aug. 31, 1864, for disability. 

Sabin, O. C, mustered in Sept. 6, 1861, promoted Second Lieu- 
tenant Nov. 4, 1862, First Lieutenant Jan. 1, 1863, Quartermaster 
Aug. 1, 1863, resigned April 11, 1864. 



■r 



) >y ' 



^f 



^^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



367 



Spangle, L. R., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out as Sergeant Dec. 

2, 1865. 

Stewart, A. H., mustered in Oct. 5, 1861, out May 18, 1865. 

Stevenson, William, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, deserted in 1861. 

Stuck, Levi A., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged for dis- 
ability. 

Summerlot, Andrew, mustered in Sept. 20, 1861, out June 26, 

1865. 
Summerlot, Franklin, mustered in Sept. 29, 1861, out Sept. 26, 

1864. 

Seymour, F. B., mustered in Sept. 2, 1861, discharged April 25, 

1862, for disability. 

Talbot, Caleb, mustered in Sept. 6, 1861, killed at Stone River, 

Jan. 1, 1863. 

Taylor, J. E., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged Nov. 15, 

1862, for disability. 

Taylor, W. J., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged Dec. 21, 

1861, for disability. 

Tingler, Simeon, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged Dec. 
24, 1863, for disability. 

Tuttle, G. D., mustered in Sept. 2, 1861, discharged Aug. 5, 

1862, for disability. • 

Wells, C. L., mustered in Aug, 27, 1861, transferred to Yeteran 

Reserve Corps. 

West, J. J., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, captured at Chicka- 
mauga, mustered out June 15, 1865. 

Willaby, Frank, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged in Aug. 
1862, for disability. 

Wilkin, L. H., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, mustered out as First 

Sergeant Dec. 2, 1865. 

Wood, F. B., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, out Jan. 3, 1865. 

Woodard, H. W., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, died in Ander- 
sonville Prison June 23, 1864. 

Altman, J. P., mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, out June 26, 1865. 

Brown, George, mustered in Oct. 4, 1862, out Oct. 21, 1865. 

Berger, 0. J., mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, out Oct. 21, 1865. 

Bowerman, Michael, mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, out June 26, 1865. 

Crise, A. K. M., mustered in Oct. 29, 1862, died at Nashville, 
June 15, 1865. 

Carpenter, Gilbert, mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, died at Nash- 
ville, April 4, 1865. 



0> 



'V 



-'y. 



^ 



368 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN CODNTY. 



Craft, Jesse, mustered iu Dec. 12, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Garfield, B. K., mustered in Oct. 21, 1864, out Oct. 21, 1865. 

Dixon, Jacob, mustered in Oct. 7, 1861, out Oct. 21, 1865. 

Dennison, O. J., mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, out June 26, 1865. 

Eaton, John, mustered in Dec. 9, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Elliott, H. K, mustered in Jan. 3, 1865, out Dec. 2. 1865. 

Gaskill, R. J., mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Gwin, A. W., mustered in Oct. 7, 1863, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Howarth, Preston, mustered in March 5, 1864, out as Corporal 
Dec. 2, 1865. 

Hutcbins, E. W., mustered in Feb. 25, 1864, out Au^. 5, 1865. 

Haywood, Alfred, mustered in Dec. 9,1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Holden, Henry, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Hills, G. W., mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, out June 30, 1865. 

Hanley, P. W., mustered in Feb. 11, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Hall, J. H., mustered in Oct. 21, 1864, out Oct. 13, 1865. 

Hughey, T. M., mustered in May 20, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Hall, E. P., mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, died at Nashville, Feb. 
8, 1865. 

Ketchum, B. B., mustered in Sept. 26, 1864, out June 26, 1865. 

King, p. J., mustered in Oct. 4, 1862, out as Corporal Oct. 21, 
1865. • 

Lord, David, mustered in April 4, 1864, disch, rged Aug. 14, 
1865, for disability. 

Lacey, J. B., mustered in Oct. 29, 1862, out July 20, 1865. 

McCray, J. S., mustered in March 5, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Miller, Joseph, mustered in Oct. 7, 1864, discharged Sept. 15, 
1865, for disability. 

Northway, E. C, mustered in March 3, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Polk, W. S., mustered in Feb. 23, 1865, deserted July 20, 1865. 

Pattee, Alvah, mustered iu Oct. 4, 1862, captured at Chicka- 
mauga, discharged June 21, 1865, for disability. 

Priest, William, mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, died in Danville, 
Va., Prison Dec. 15, 1863. 

Rhodes, Hubert, mustered in Oct. 7, 1864, out Oct. 21, 1865. 

Seymour, Mortimer, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862, out Dec. 2. 
1865. 

Summerlot, Valentine, mustered in Oct. 4, 1862, died in Ander- 
sonville Prison May 5, 1864. 

Tillotson, J. P., transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps Aug. 
19, 1863. 



sfv" 



-^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



369 



Thompson, J. E., mustered in Oct. 14, 1864, died at ISTashville, 

April 28, 1865. 

Twichell, Theodore, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, ont Nov. 17, 

1865. 

Tinffler, John, mustered in Nov. 12, 1862, discharged July 18, 

,1863, for disability. 

Taylor, J. Z., mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, died at Chattanooga, 
May 12, 1865. 

folbert, W. H., mustered in Oct. 8, 1864, died at Chattanooga, 

Jan. 12, 1865. 

Van Cleve, W. A., mustered in Oct. 15, 1864, died at Nashville, 

Dec. 12, 1864. 

Wolcott, N. P., mustered in Oct. 29, 1862, captured at Chicka- 

inaiiga. 

Wolcott, W. H., mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, out as Corporal Dec. 

2, 1865. 

Wilson, A. G.. mustered in Nov. 14, 1862, discharged Oct. 17, 
1863, for disability. 

Waller, E. J., died at Tullahoma, July 10, 1863. 

Young, L. G. C, mustered in Oct. 18, 1862, out Oct. 21, 1865. 

Young, P. L., mustered in March 18, 1864, out Dec. 2, 1865. 

Company H. 

Holly, Byron, mustered in as Musician Aug. 27, 1861, trans- 
ferred to Company 1. 
Irish, C. L., mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, discharged June 25, 

1862. 

Company I. 

Deggo, Peter, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, deserted July 26, 

1863.^ 

Ryan, Patrick, mustered in Sept. 14, 1861, mustered out Dec. 

2, 1865. 

Ames, Robert, mustered in Dec. 27, 1864, out June 26, 1865. 
Burk, Eli, mustered in Oct. 30, 1861, died at Angola, Feb. 28, 

1862. 

Bixler, L. F., mustered in Oct. 16, 1861, deserted April 10, 

1863. 

Everhart, Edmond, mustered in Oct. 30, 1861, discharged July 

1, 1862, for disability. 

Everhart, J. T., mustered in Nov. 3, 1861, discharged Dec. 12, 
1863, for disability. 



"TT 



5pr 



i 

370 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Qui^lej, James, mustered in Aug. 27, 1861, deserted Oct. 
1, 1862. 

Rhea, Alexander, mustered in Nov. 3, 1861, transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps Jan. 15, 1864. 

Tucker, W. H., mustered in Nov. 3, 1861, discharged Dec. 17, 
1861, lor disability. 

THIRTY-FIFTH INFANTRY. 

Company C. 

Hitter, Jonathan, mustered in Oct. 12, 1864, deserted June 30, 
1865. 
Richardson, Carey, mustered in Sept. 23, 1864, out July 6, 1865. 

THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. 

Company C. 

Carver, O. P., mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865, as 
Sergeant. 
Shoultz, Emile, mustered in Jan. 8, 1864, out July 15, 1865. 

FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. 

Crosswait, B. J., om nissioned Lieatanmt-Colonel Sjpt. 12, 
1861, died Feb. 20, 1862. 

McConnell, G. W., commissioned Quartermaster Sept. 28, 1861, 
resigned Feb. 3, 1862. 

Compa?iy A. 

Kinney, C. F., commissioned Captain Sept. 20, 1861, resigned 
Feb. 26, 1862, commissioned Major Nov. 27, 1862, resigned as 
Captain Feb. 26, 1863. 

Burcb, J. W., mustered in as private Nov. 22, 1861, commis- 
sioned Second Lieutenant Nov. 27, 1862, Captain May 17, 1863, 
Major Jan. 1, 1865, mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Griffith, L. W., mustered in as private Nov. 22, 1861, commis- 
sioned First Lieutenant May 17, 1863, Captain April 1, 1865, 
mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Rose, E. O., commissioned First Lieutenant Sept. 20, 1861, re- 
signed July 22, 1862. 

Butler, M. B., mustered in as First Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, com- 
missioned Second Lieutenant Sept. 11, 1862, First Lieutenant Nov. 
27, 1862, resigned May 20, 1863. 

Twichell, G. W., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1S61, coni- 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 371 

missioned Second Lieutenant March 20, 1865, First Lieiiten.ant 
April 1, 1865, mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Smith, Birge, commissioned Second Lieutenant Sept. 20, 1S61, 
resigned Sept. 11, 1862. 

Scoville, O. D., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, commissioned 
Second Lieutenant May 17, 1863, Captain Company I Feb. 11, 
1865, mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Lewis, N. F., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, commissioned Second 
Lieutenant April 1, 1865, mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Ulam, John, mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Wright, W. W., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, died at 
St. Louis, March 2, 1862. 

Merriman, J. H., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged June 14, 1863, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Milnes, Joseph, mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, out 
Sept. 14, 1865. 

Jackraan, Joseph, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged April 10, 1863, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Brooks, S. S., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, deserted 
Oct. 2, 1862. 

Kyan, John, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, discharged 
in March, 1863, for disability. 

Imhof, John, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, transferred 
to Fifteenth United States Infantry Dec. 15, 1862. 

Parrott, J. M., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged Aug. 6, 1862, for promotion. 

Benedict, J. M., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged May 13, 1862, for disability. 

Tiffany, D. J., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, trans- 
ferred Aug. 29, 1862. 

Stealy, Christian, mustered in as Musician Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged in July, 1S62, for disability. 

Sage, A. B., mustered in as Musician Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Kinnear, J. W., mustered in as Wagoner Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged Jan. 1, 1862. 

Arnold, Nicholas, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 
1864. 

Aumend, J. A., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Barr, Chas. EL, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out June 14, I860. 



*K 









37-2 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Bennett, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Pittsburg 
Landing, March 26, 1862. 

Butler, T. D., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Bates, C. J., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 18G5. 

Belcher, Giba, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at McMinnville, 
Tenn., Sept. 9, 1863. 

Bigler, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, deserted Oct. 2, 1862. 

Burgett, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Oct. 22, 
1863, for disability. 

Brooks, Francis, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died Oct. 4, 1862. 

Beard, H. W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Clink, Charles, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Sergeant Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Culp, M. T., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged June 28, 
1862, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Carlin, W. C, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14. 1865. 

Cleveland, S. J., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Huntsville, 
Ala., Aug. 25, 1862. 

Carlin, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Cox, Solomon M., mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, out as Corporal 
Sept. 14, 1865. 

Dotts, Jesse, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, deserted Oct. 2. 1862. 

Dotts, W. H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Aug. 5, 

1862, for disability. 

Dotts, Jacob, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864. 

Eckhart, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died in Steuben 
County, April 20, 1862. 

Ewing, J. B., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died in Steuben 
County, May 14, 1862. 

Ewing, A. H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, promoted Aug. 16, 

1862. 

Ewers, Adolphus, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14,1865. 

Field, Henry, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Cairo, April 
5, 1862. 

Fegley, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, deserted Oct. 2, 1862. 

Grant, Marion, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evansville, 
Jan. 26, 1862. 

Grant, Harrison, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Feb. 16, 

1863, for disability. 

Goodrich, D. O., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corporal 
Sept. 14, 1865. 



_2- 



\ 



-*— * • (O 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 373 

Hall, Leander, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, killed at Shiloh, 

April 6, 1862. 

Hyatt, T. C, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to First 
United States Engineers Aug. 26, 1864. 

Humelbaugli, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at New 
Albany, Ind., Jan. 11, 1863. 

Hurlbert, C. F., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Calhoun, 
Ky., Feb. 17, 1862. 

Heller, Emanuel, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Hutchins, J. E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Sergeant 
Sept. 14, 1865. 

Heller, Daniel, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to Fifteenth 
United States Infantry Dec. 25, 1862. 

Hall, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Aug. 29, 
1862, for disability. 

Lords, H. A., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corporal Sept. 

14, 1865. 
Lutz, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged for disability. 

Moffett, T. K., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Oct. 2, 
1862, for disability. 

McMuire, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged 
March 22, 1863, for disability. 

Miller, Charles, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corporal Sept. 

14, 1865. 
Munday, Jasper, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corporal 

Sept. 14, 1865. 

Ryan, John, Jr., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Ryan, Stephen, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Sept. 13, 
1862, for disability. 

Ryan, Michael, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Ryan, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corporal Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Rosser, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864. 

Robbins, R. K., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corporal Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Raison, Robert, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to 
Fifteenth United States Infantry Dec. 15, 1862. 

Stealy, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Calhoun, Ky., 

Feb. 21, 1862. 

Swambaw, Fred., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864. 

Snyder, S. P., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as First Sergeant 
Sept. 14, 1865. 

24 



■^ 






9 



374 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Sailor, Allen M,, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, deserted Oct 6, 1862. 

Sowle, David, mustered ii; Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Showalter, Joshua, mastered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 
1865. 

Scoles, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, di=cliarged May 6, 
1863, for disability. 

Strong, G. W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Nov. 8, 
1863, for disability. 

Scoville, Hannibal, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Jan. 
12, 1863, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Swain, R. P., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died March 21, 1862. 

Sines, S. M., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Thrasher, Oscar B., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corpor-il 
Sept. 14, 1865. 

Tinsley, Samuel, mustered in Nov. 22, 186.1, discharged June 
17, 1862. 

Tliroop, Orange, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died April 1, 1863, 
from wounds recieved at Fort Donelson. 

Thompson, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Twichell, Henry, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged July 
26,1862, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Van Auken, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Oct. 
21, 1862, for disability. * 

Van Cleve, G. W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Evans- 
viile March 15, 1862. 

West, Henry, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864. 

West, Joshua, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Keokuk, Iowa. 
July 21, 1862. 

Wilkes, Kobert, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1861. 

Yeuner, William, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Mound 
Citv, 111., April 17, 1862, from wounds received at Shiloh. 

Aldrich, F. H., mustered in March 3, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Aldrich, J. L., mustered in March 3, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Andrews, Nehemiah, mustered in March 3, 1865, out Sept. 14, 

1865. 

Beil, Isaac, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Black, L. L., mustered in Feb. 15, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Chappel, J. H., mustered in April 18, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Crandle, S. L., mustered in April 18, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Crampton, Henry,substitute, mustered in Oct. 1, 1864, out July 
25, 1865. 

^ a/ 

' ^1(5 -^ -^ ■ e "N- 



IIliTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 375 

Crampton, John, mustered in Oct. 24, ISei, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Feltorlioof, Kobert, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, discharged Sept. 
17, 1864, for disability. 

Gannon, J. C, mustered in May 5, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Jordan, Alonzo, mustered in Feb. 15, 1865, out Sept. 14. 1865. 

Kratzer, Emanuel, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Sept. 14,1865. 

Kerr, George, mustered in April 18, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Larue, T. L., mustered in March 17, 1864, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., March 10, 3 865* 

Lewis, F. B., mustered in April 18, 1864, out Sept. 14. 1865. 

Lacy, T. T., mustered in Oct. 24, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Morrison, Leland, mustered in April 18, 1864, died at Chatta- 
nooira, Tenn., June 26, 1864. 

Miller, W. A., mustered in March 7, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Martin, Elias, mustered in March 3, 1865, out July 26, 1865. , 

Purvis, George W., mustered in Sept. 20, 1862, died at Camp 
Dennison, Ohio, in August, 1863, of wounds. 

PRrker, D. S., mustered in April 18, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Richardson, James, mustered in March 9, 1864, out Sept. 14, 
1865. 

Renner, J. M., mustered in Oct. 9, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Stewart. James, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Sowle, Robert, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Sept. 14. 1865. 

Truby, J. A., mustered in April 19, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Vanolstin, Walter, mustered in April 21, 1864,outSept. 14,1865. 

West, Lewis, mustered in April 18, 1864, out April 38, 1865. 

Wilson, ISr. A., mustered in March 21, 1864, died at home JuW 
20, 1864. 

Wagner, G. W., mustered in March 3, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Company D. 

Stowe, S. J., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, commissioned First 
Lieutenant Feb. 11, 1865, mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Moffett, T. C, mustered in as First Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged May 26, 1 862. 

Company F. 

Beverly, C. S., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Battle Creek, 
Tenn., July 20, 1862. 

Babcock, W. Y. , mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged April 
28, 1862, for disability. 

a^J 1 to 

^ (f ^ -^ — 



r 






3T6 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



^ 



Bender, A¥illiam, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Pittsburg 
Landing May 6, 1862. 

Dirrim, Richard, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864. 

Dirrim, R. R., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged July 11, 
1862, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Firestone, Isaac, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864. 

Freeby, G. W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out April 20, 1865. 

Haughey, F. M., mustered in Nov. 22, 3.861, discharged. 

Kinsly, Solomon, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged July 5, 
1862, for disability. 

Red, G. W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Jan.lO, 1865. 

Slentz, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 23, 1864. 

Sleutz, G. W., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 23, 1864. 

Turner, Stephen, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, missing at Stone 
River Dec. 31, 1861. 

Turner, M. B., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 1864. 

Compajiy G. 

Johnson, D. S., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, coni- 
missioned First Lieutenant Feb. 11, 1865, Captain April 1, 1865, 
mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

(Jarey, P. M., mustered in as Sergeant Nov, 22, 1861, died at 
Henderson, Ky., Feb. 22, 186:i. 

Blowers, Lyman, mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged Jan. 5, 1863, for disability. 

Ruth van, Neal, mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, died 
May 10, 1862, on steamer bound for Paducah. 

Rawson, O. Z, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged Feb. 6, 1863, for disability. 

Wright, Chauncey, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged Nov. 25, 1862, for wounds received at Shiloh. 

Wright, Samuel, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged March 22, 1863, for disability. 

Blowers, George, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died near Corinth 
Miss., June 12, 1862. 

Bailey, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to Fourih 
U. S. Cavalry Dec. 15, 1862. 

Johnson, F., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Newbern, Ind., 
July 15, 1862. 

Owen, Francis, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Tuscumbia, 
Ala., July 1, 1862. 



& 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 377 

Perkins, Job, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, mustered out 

Sept. 14, 1865. 

Company H. 

Wright, Jerome, mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, killed at Shiloh, 

April 6, 1862. 

Company K. 

Aldricb, S. C, commissioned First Lieutenant Sept. 20, 1861, 
Captain Dec. 10, 1861, Lieutenant-Colonel Nov. 27, 1862, Colonel 
July 27, 1863, died at home, as Lieutenant-Colonel Aug.15, 1864. 

Aldrich, E. S., mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, commis- 
sioned Second Lieutenant Nov. 27, 1862, First Lieutenant April 17, 
1863, mustered out Dec. 5, 1864. 

Long, J. G., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, veteran, 
commissioned First Lieutenant Feb. 28, 1865, mustered out Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Elliott, S. H.. mustered in as Sergeant Nov. 22, 1861, discharged 
March 27, 1863, for disability. 

Bennett, Malcolm, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged July 30, 1862, for disability. 

Bickler, C. N., mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged Feb. 8, 1862. 

Knapp, Oscar, mustered in as Corporal Nov. 22, 1861, deserted 
Oct. 6, 1862. 

Eldridge, Henry, mustered in as "Wagoner Nov. 22, 1861, dis- 
charged Oct. 3, 1862, for disability. 

Altman, H. H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Corporal Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Baylor, Elias, mustered in Nov. 22,. 1861, died at Nashville Jan. 
2, 1863. 

Cook, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Jan. 20, 

1863, for disability. 
Cutler, S. M., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Battle Creek, 

Tenn., July 20, 1862. 

Gaylord, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Oct. 3, 
1862, for disability. 

Guice, John, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged April 11, 

1864, for disability. 
Heffelfinger, M. V., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 

1864. 

Hawley, H. H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Nov. 10, 
1862, for disability. 



378 HISTORT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

HiggiiJS, Albert, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged March 
23, 1863, lor disability. 

Lemun, II. H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Sept. 21, 
1862, for disabilit}-. 

Mease, S. E., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at St. Louis, June 
15, 1862. 

Moore, Tobias, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, deserted Nov. 23. 
1861. 

McMillen, J. O., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at New Al- 
bany, lud. Oct. 10, 1862. 

Malaiiely. William, mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, died at Nash- 
ville, Nov.' 10, 1863. 

Miisser, Edward, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, died at Henderson, 
Ky., April 11, 1862. 

Morely, G., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, discharged Oct. 1, 1862, 
for disability. 

Roe, O. A., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Rodgers, Madison, mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, out Nov. 22, 
186i, 

Sisson, J. P,, mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, transferred to Fourth 
U. S. Cavalry Dec. 7, 1862. 

Shatto, J. J., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Quarter- 
master-Sergeant, Sept. 14, 1865. 

Sloan, James, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out as Sergeant Sept, 
14, 1865. 

Shank, Sylvester, mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, out Nov. 22,1864. 

Shank, N. C, mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Sept. 14,1865. 

Squier, S. E., mustered in-Nov. 22, 1861, transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps Oct. 21, 1863. 

Waters, S.- E,, mustered in Nov, 22, 1861, died at Keokuk, Iowa, 
July 4, 1862. 

Arnold, Jatne?, mustered in Aug. 19, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Arnold, Fearless, mustered in Aug. 19, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865, 

Anderson, E., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 2, 1865. 

Benson, J. C, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 2, 1865. 

Bullard, Shurban, mustered in Jan. 9, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Barekman, H. I., mustered in Oct. 27, 1864, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn,, June 28, 1865. 

Boran, W. H., mustered in April 4, 1864, out May 15, 1865. 

Barnes, John, mustered in March 27, 1864, out July 25,1865. 

Chilcoat, John, mustered in March 9, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

■/ s »- ^"^ 



, 4^ 



10 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 379 

Cook, D. C, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Connell, Joseph, mustered in Feb. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Curry, Archibald, mustered in Jan. 9,1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Chance, J. W., mustered in Jan. 27, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Chamberlain, F. M., mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out Sept. 14, 

1865. 
Clark, W. H., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
CuUison, Jer., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Cannon, Wm., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Clark, Wm. mustered in Dec 23, 1863, captured June 9, 1864. 
Catt, Fielding, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 
Diersch, John, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 
Dull, A. F., mustered in Feb. 24, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Dunwiddie, Isaac, miistered in Feb. 29, 1864, out Aug. 24, 

1865. 
Elliott, J. D., mustered in Jan. 23, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
Euglebright, John, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 

1865. 

Ernst, Andrew, mustered in Sept. 29,1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Ebert, Isaac, mustered in March 11, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865 

Fair, J. A., mustered in March 15, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Frazer, David, mustered in Jan. 16, 1864, out July 29, 1865. 

Foster, James, mustered in Sept. 28, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Foster, Richard, mustered in Dec, 23, 1S63, out Aug. 22, 1865. 

Fanning, H. L., mustered in Jan. 20, 1862, out Jan. 26, 1865. 

Guthrie, Levi, mustered in March 17, 1864, ont Sept. 14, 1865. 

Green, A. D., mustered in Oct. 25, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Glass, James, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, ont July 25, 1865. 

Gerard, Simon, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, deserted Dec. 23, 
1864. 

Holcomb, M. L., mustered in Jan. 9, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Harkrader, J. H., mustered in March 15, 1864, out Sept. 14, 

1865. 

Hay, John, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Harris, W. A., mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Harroll, I. C, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Hoodlemeyer, Leonard, mustered in April 14, 1864, out Sept. 14, 
1865. 

Hensler, Albert, mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Hickson, Charles, mustered in March 17, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Hodshier, Y. D., mustered in Dec. 26,1863, out Sept 14, 1865. 






\\<^ 



380 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Hooker, A. W., mustered in June 16, 1864, out Aug. 16, 1865. 

Imboden, II. J., mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Jones, James, mustered in Aug. 19, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Jordon, W. M., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Jackson, Milton, mustered in Nov. 12, 1864, out April 18, 1865. 

Javins, W. H., mustered in Sept. 30, 1864, out Juue 13, 1865. 

Killum, Jediah, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Keith, George W. H., mustered in Sept. 27, 1864, out July 25, 
1865. 

Kynett, W. H., mustered in Nov. 22, 1861, out Jan. 11, 1865. 

Koeliler, August, mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out July 2, 1865. 

Lockwood, Lyman, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Lynch, William, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Lorch, David C, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Morse, Jerome, mustered in March 11, 1864, out Sept. 6, 1865. 

Michael, John A. J., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 
1865. 

Montgomery, James, mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 
1865. 

Moffatt, Joab, mustered in Feb. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14,1865. 

Morehouse, Silas, mustered in Feb. 21, 1865, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Malott, W. H., mustered in Dec. 5, 1862, out as Sergeant Sept. 
14, 1865. 

Moore, Samuel, mustered in Sept. 15, 1864, out June 13, 1865. 

Moore, T. J., mustered in Sept. 12, 1864, out June 24, 1865. 

Muckenstorm, Joseph, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 26, 
1865. 

Newman, Jacob, mustered in March 17, 1864, out Sept. 14, 
1865. 

O'Byrne, G. F., mustered in Jan. 13, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Pepple, Albert, mustered in March 15, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Parker, DeForrest, mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, out Sept. 14,1865. 

Purcell, Isaac F., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Ross, William A., mustered in Oct. 26, 1864, out Jan. 5, 1865. 

Reynolds, R. E., mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Rustan, Matthew, mustered in Sept. 27, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Rust, F. M., mustered in Dec. 26, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Ryan, John M., mustered in Dec. 23, 1863, out Sept. 14, 1865. 
■ Rosell, Zachariah, mustered in Feb. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Rex, Emanuel, mustered in Nov. 21, 1862, out as Corporal 
Sept. 14, 1865. 



7 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN CODNTY. 



381 



Smith, Joel, mustered in March 15, 1864:, discharged Jane 2, 
1865, for disability. 

Sodder, Benj., mustered in Sept. 23, 186i, out July 25,1865. 

Smith, Ambrose, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. 14. 1865. 

Smith, Isaiah, mustered in April 2, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Simon, C. C, mustered in March 15, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Snyder, Isaac, mustered in Oct. 7, 1864, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., April 8, 1865. 

Stacy, J. L., mustered in March 15, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Segur, George, mustered in Oct. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Smart, W. F., mustered in Jan. 31, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Stutsman, Adam, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Thompson, D. K, mustered in Oct. 26, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Thomas, Samuel, mustered in Feb. 20, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

White, Dillard, mustered in Oct. 26, 1864, out Jan. 15, 1865. 

White, Kobert, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Westfall, Charles, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25,1865. 

Welton, Andrew, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Whitman, John, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, out July 25, 1865. 

Whittig, Martin, mustered in Jan. 7, 1864, transferred to Veter- 
an Keserve Corps May 11, 1865, mustered out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Williams, David, mustered in Jan. 14, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Washington, J. E., mustered in March 17, 1864, out Sept. 14, 
1865. 

Washington, Isaac, mustered in March 17, 1864,out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Webb, Eufus, mustered in April 17, 1864, out Sept. 14, 1865. 

Willis, M. B., mustered in Feb. 26, 1864, promoted. 

FORTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. 

Company C 
Fanshaw, J. H. mustered in April 19, 1864, out July 15, 1865. 

SEVENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. 

Company H. 

George, S. B., commissioned Captain Aug. 2, 1862, resigned 
Oct. 7, 1863. 

Gates, Lawrence, commissioned First Lieutenant Aug. 6, 1862, 
Captain Oct. 8, 1863, mustered out May 15, 1865. 

Pierce, Ora, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 9, 1862, commis- 
sioned First Lieutenant March 1, 1865, Captain May 16, 1865, 
mustered out as First Lieutenant June 9, 1865. 



V 



•*» 



382 HISTOBY OF STEUBEN COUKTY. 

Perfect, Middleton, mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 7, 1862, com- 
missioned First Lieutenant Ma}' 1, 1864, diseliarged Jan. 19, 1865, 
for wounds. 

Pew, James, mustered in Aug. 4, 1862, commissioned First 
Lieutenant May 1, 1865, mustered out as Sergeant June 9, 1865. 

Dawson, B. F., commissioned Second Lieutenant July 17, 1862, 
resigned Dec. 18, 1862. 

Snyder, John, mustered in as First Sergeant Aug. 5, 1862, com- 
missioned Second Lieutenant Dec. 29, 1862 resigned May 2, 1864. 

Hawver, Henry, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, promoted Sergeant, 
commissioned Second Lieutenant May 1, 1865, mustered out as 
Sergeant June 9, 1865. 

Clark, Newton, mustered in as Sergeant July 28, 1862. dis- 
charged Jan. 17, 1863. 

Slocum, Giles, mustered in as Sergeant July 31, 1862, dis- 
charged March 8, 1863. 

Pettibone, Nathan, mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 7, 1862, dis- 
charged March 17, 1863. 

Cole. Samuel, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 9, 1862, died at 
Nashville Dec. 13, 1864, from wounds. 

Rose, S. J., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 4, 1862, died at Chat- 
tanooga, Jan. 2, 1864. 

Stout, John, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 4, 1862, killed at 
Jonesboro, Sept. 1, 1864. 

Guthrie, W. P., mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, as Corporal, dis- 
charged Oct. 6, 1862. 

Burgess, D, R. mustered in as Corporal Aug. 2, 1862, died at 
Lebanon, Ky., Nov. 6, 1862. 

Rutumell, George, mustered in as Corporal July 29, 1862, out 
as Sergeant June 9, 1865. 

Fitting, Simon, mustered in as Musician Aug. 7, 1862, died at 
Chattanooga Oct. 10, 1863, of wounds. 

Flowers, A. S., mastered in as Musician July 30, 1862, dis- 
eliarged Nov. 29, 1862. 

Wolcott, James, mustered in as Wagoner, Aug. 7, 1862. 

Abbey, J, D., mustered in Aug. 7. 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Burch, H. C, mustered in Aug. 5, 1862, transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps, Dec. 30, 1864. 

Bennett, Abram, mustered in Aug. 5, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Jan. 17, 1862. 

BsQuett, J. G., mustered in Aug. 7, 1S62, killed at Chicka- 
mauga Sept. 19, 1863. 



Of 



® 



-♦- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 383 

Benedict, J. E., mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Barclow, J. H., mu stered in July 29, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Ttim., Jan. 2, 1863. 

Cleland, John, mustered in Julv 31,1862, discharged March 
21, 1863. 

Crawford, mustered in July 17, 1862, missing at Chickamauga, 
Sept. 20, 1863. 

Classon, E. W., mustered in Aug. 14, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Cope, David, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, died at Indianapolis, 
Aug. 18, 1863. 

Cole, Nelson, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Dove, Robert, mustered in Aug. 4, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Goodrich, E. E., mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, missing at Chicka- 
mauga, Sept. 20, 1863. 

Gilbert, Cornelius, mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Jan. 3, 1863. 

Griffith, Seaman, mustered in Aug. 8, 1862, out as Corporal 
June 9, 1865. 

Green, F. M., mustered in Aug. 4, 1862, discharged Jan. 
6, 1863. 

Geer, George, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, killed at Chickamauga 
Sept. 19, 1863. 

Hauver, J, M., mustered in Aug. 9, 1862. 

Huffman, Silas, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps Sept. 28, 1863. 

Huffman, Asa, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Hull, Andrew J., mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out as Corporal 
June 9, 1865. 

Hutchius, Theodore, mustered in July 17, 1862, died at Bowling 
Green, Ky., Nov. 10, 1862. 

Hoover, Henry, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out as Sergeant 
June 9, 1865. 

Ireland, J. R., mustered in July 31, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Jan 14, 1863. 

Jordan, A. J., mustered in July 24, 1862, discharged Jan. 17, 
1862. 

Knapp, Mortimer M., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out June 9, 
1865. 

Kemery, P. L., mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, killed at Jonesboro 
Sept. 1, 1864. 

Kope, David, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862. 



"V 



Q_ 



^ 



fi 



384 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Lowther, George, mustered in July 22, 1862, out June 9, 186 5. 

Letz, J. N., mustered in July 19, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Light, Orlenzo, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out as Corporal June 
9, 1865. 

Lee, E. M., raustere I in Aug. 2. 1862, transferred to Ei)gineer 
Corps Aug. 15, 186-1. 

Liniger, Samuel, mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, died at Bridgeport, 
Ala., Dec. 7, 1863, of wounds. 

Lonsdale, George, mastered in Aug, 6, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Lemon, J. B., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Lemon, J. M., mustered in Aug. 5, 1862, discharged Feb.25,1863. 

Lemon, R. M., mustered in Aug. 5, 1862, died at Gallatin 
Tenn., Jan. 16, 1863. 

Latson, Samuel, mustered in Feb. 7, 1862, died at Bowling 
Green, Ky., Dec. 1, 1862. 

Latson, Charles, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Moore, Michael, mustered in July 31, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Dec. 15,1862. 

Moore, William, mustered in July 31, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Morse, C. A., mustered in July 31, 1862, discharged Oct. 1, 1864. 

Morse, Jedediah, mustered in July 22, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Jan. 28, 1863. 

Miller, Pomeroy, mustered in July 31, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Merritt, F. M., mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, died at l^ashville, 
Tenn., Aug. 28, 1863. 

Nichols, J. B., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, discharged March 
21, 1863. 

Pomeroy, Henry, mustered in Aug. 5, 1864, died at Chat- 
tanooga, April 4, 1864. 

Phenicie, J. W., mustered in Aug. 9, 1864, out June 9, 1865. 

Parker, William, mustered in Aug. 9, 1864, out June 9, 1865. 

Parker, Solomon, mustered in Aug. 9, 1864, out June 9, 1865. 

Pew, James, mustered in Aug. 4, 1862, out as First Sergeant 
June 9, 1865. 

Pew, Edward, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, died at Gallatin, Tenn., 
Jan. 29, 1863. 

Rinehart, J. R., mustered in Aug. 14, 1862, deserted Oct. 
1, 1862. 

Rummell, Jacob, mustered in Aug. 5, 1862, out June 9, 1866. 

Steward, W. H., mustered in July 31, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Jan. 5, 1863. 



V - 



■^K" 



\ 



(9 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 385 

Smiley, Alonzo, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps March 23, 1864. 

Scovill, Err, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Sines, H. R., mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, died at Nashville, 
Tenn., March 19, 1863. 

Stutler, Jacob, mustered in July 31, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Summerline, C. N., mustered in July 28, 1862, discharged 
March 24, 1864. 

Thompson, Henry, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, discharged Jan. 
8, 1863. 

Tasker, William, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, out as Corporal 
Jun<; 9, 1865. 

Yose, George, mustered in July 31, 1862, out June 9, 1865, 

Vaughn, Walter, mustered in Aug. 5, 1862, transferred to 
Engineer Corps Aug. 16, 1864. 

Willis, William, mustered in July 31, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Wood, Hiram, mustered in July 24, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Feb. 8, 1863. 

Warren, W. H., mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Warren, R. R., mustered in Aug. 6, 1865, out June 9, 1865. 

Wolt, W. S., mustered in Aug. 7, 1862, missing at Kingston, 
Gh., Nov. 8, 1864. 

Wakefield, Harvey, mustered in Aug. 6, 1862, out June 9, 1865. 

Willowby, James, mustered in July 29, 1862, died at New Al- 
bany, Ind., Dec. 12, 1863, of wounds. 

Worden, Schuyler, mustered in Aug. 9, 1862, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., Jan. 3, 1863. 

Blake, A. E., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Cornell, G. W., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Dahuff, Simon, mustered in Feb. 24, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Dirlan, Cecil, mustered in March 24, 1864, transferred to 
Twenty-second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Furry, Richard, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Gaylord, H. D., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

George, J. A., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 



W 



J^ 



^ 



386 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Garder, Adelbert, mustered in Feb. 25, 1864, transferred to 
Twenty -second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

George, F. J., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, killed at Atlanta, Ga., 
Aug. 7, 1864. 

Gardner, Elisba, mnstered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., June 24, 1864. 

Jackson, Andrew, mustered in April 20, 1864, transferred to 
Twenty-second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Kusley, Noah, mnstered in Feb. 25, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Lemmon, Edward, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to 
Twenty-second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Lemmon, H. C, mnstered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Perfect, Robert L., mnstered in March 24, 1864, transferred to 
Twenty-second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Pendleton, Burgess, mustered in June 9, 1865, translerred to 
Twenty-second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Pixley, Luther, mustered in March 24, 1864, transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps Jan. 10, 1865. 

Stetler, Daniel, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty, 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Stetler, William, mustered in Jan 11, 1864, transferred to 
Twenty-secoiid Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Stewart, J. C, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Stewart, P. P., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, died at Nashville, 
Tenn., July 2, 1864. 

Speglemire, David, mustered in Feb. 25, 1864, died at Indian- 
apolis July 24, 1864. 

Thompson, William, mustered in March 24, 1864, transferred to 
Twenty-second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Tuell, W. H., mustered in Oct. 18, 1864, transferred to Twentv- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Towns, J. N., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Williams, S. R., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to 
Twentv-second Infantry June 9, 1865. 

Willard, R. J., mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, transferred to Twenty- 
second Infantry June 9, 1865. 



-71 



^^ 



♦ " T f _ » 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 387 

FIFTH CAVALRY (NINETIETH REGIMENT). 

Company M. 

Parker, E. L., commissioned Second Lieutenant Nov. 9, 1862, 
supernumerary, mustered out April 17, 1863. 

Cleveland, O. W., mustered in Aue^. 2, 1862, discharged Aug:. 
8, 1865. 

Finch, Lafayette, mustered in Ang. 2, 1862, out as Corporal 
Sept. 15, 1865. 

Finch, James, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, died at Annapolis, 
Md., March 18, 1865. 

Lower, Moses, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, died in a rel»e] prison 
in 1864. 

Miller, J. F., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out Sept. 15, 1865. 

Stafford, Charles, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out Sept. 15, 1865. 

Sheets, G. W., mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out Sept. 15, 1865. 

Walters, William, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, discharged Aug. 
23, 1865. 

White, Charles, mustered in Aug. 2, 1862, out June 16, 1865. 

ONE HUNDREDTH INFANTRY. 

Hand, H. H., commissioned Assistant Surgeon May 1, 1865, 
mustered out as Hospital Steward June 8, 1865. 

Company B. 

Gillespie, J. W., commissioned Captain Aug. 15, 1862, resiirncd 
Jan. 29, 1864. 

Frtst, O. J., commissioned First Lieutenant Aug. 15, 1862, Cap- 
tain Jan. 30, 1864, Assistant Adjutant-General United States 
Yolunteers April 24, 1865, resigned May 30, 1865, to accept 
promotion. 

Sabin, Marden, mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 15, 1862, com- 
njissiuned First Lieutenant May 1, 1864, Captain May 1, 1865 
mustered out June 8, 1865. 

Goldsmith, Edwin, commissioned Second Lieutenant Aug. 15, 
1862, First Lieutenant Jan. 30, 1864, Adjutant xipril 20, 1864, 
mustered out June 8, 1865. 

Parker, W. R., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, commissioned Second 
Lieutenant Nov. 22, 1864, First Lieutenant May 1, 1865, mustered 
out June 8, 1865. 

Blanchard, Samuel, mustered in as Sergeant Ang. 15, 1862 






-«_JU - 

s I 

388 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

commissioned Second Lieutenant May 1, 1865, mustered out June 

8, 1865. 

Gore, G. W., mustered in as First Sergeant Aug. 15, 1862, out 
as Sergeant-Major June 8, 1865. 

Gillespie, D. S., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 15, 1862, dis- 
charged Sept. 3, 1863. 

Conkey, M. S., mustered in as Sergeant Aug. 15, 1862, killed at 
Jonesboro, Ga., Aug. 31, 1864. 

Flint, Francis, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, out as 
Sergeant June 8, 1865. 

Chapman, A. B., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, deserted 
Nov. 1, 1862. 

Carver, H. W., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, dis- 
charged May 22, 1863. 

Rude, Charles, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, died at 
Grand Junction, Tenn., Jan. 22, 1863. 

Sutherland, A. J., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, out 
June 8, 1865. 

Chadwick, Samuel, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, died 
at Marietta, Ga., Aug. 26, 1864. 

Brooks, Henry, mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, died at 
Madison, Ind., Sept. 19, 1862. 

Wilder, C. H., mustered in as Corporal Aug. 15, 1862, out June 

8, 1865. 

Bodley, Aaron, mustered in as Musician Aug. 15, 1862, out 

June 8, 1865. 

Stafford, Joseph, mustered in as Musician Aug. 15, 1862, deserted 

Feb. 14, 1863. 

Abbott, William, mustered in as Wagoner Aug. 15, 1862, out 

June 8, 1865. 

Brockway, George, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Camp 
Sherman, Miss., Sept. 14, 1863. 

Bodley, James, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Bodley, Philo, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Holly Springs, 
Miss., Dec. 30, 1862. 

Bradley, James, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 30, 1865. 

Bradley, Daniel, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 80, 

1865. 

Brock, Monroe, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8,1865. 

Blass, C. D., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as Sergeant June 
8, 1865. 

e I _-^ ^— ————— ——_——--— ^^ 

■^-^ , » 



/ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 389 



-£> >>* 



■♦- 



Blass, Jefferson, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Bellefon- 
taine Station, Ala., Feb. 20, 1864. 

Burton, John, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out Aug. 9, 1865. 
Betzer, Peter, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Grand Junc- 
tion, Tenn., March 5, 1863. 

Betzer, Adam, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged. 

Bailej, Samuel, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as;,Corporar 
June 8, 1865. 

Carpenter, Chauncey, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 
8, 1865. 

Cole, Royal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged June 6, 
186i, for wounds. 

Cook, George, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as Corporal June 
8, 1865. 

Casper, Levi, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865, 

Casper, Lewis, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Grand Junc- 
tion, Tenn., Feb. 18, 1863. 

Carpenter, A. M., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, deserted May 
13, 1863. 

Cluck, George, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Colliersville^ 
Tenn., April 1, 1863. 

Chapman, E. A., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, deserted I^ov, 
11, 1862. 

Clark, J. C, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, killed at Atlanta, Ga., 
Aug. 21, 1864. 

Cleveland, Addison, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Dillingham, J. B., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Colliers- 
ville, Tenn., April 29, 1863. 

Dillingham, James, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Davis, Wm., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Dudley, Grove H., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Dimon, Henry, mustered in Aug. 15,1862,di8charged June 3,1863. 

Denman, Smitli, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out May 24, 1865. 

Ebert, J. M., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Ellis, C. O., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, killed near Cave Springs, 
Ga., Nov. 1, 1864. 

Emerich, Jonathan, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

French, George, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out May 30, 1865. 

Goodrich, Silas, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 17, 1865. 

Gillespie, R. R, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged March 
16, 1863. 
25 



-^«' 



J- 



390 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Grreen, David, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., Jan. 28, 1863. 

Goodrich, Sylvester, mustered in Ang. 15, 1862, deserted Nov . 
11, 1862. 

Hurd, H. M., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged Sept. 
3, 1863. 

Haynes, Martin, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., Sept. 22, 1863. 

Haynes, John, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Haines, M. J., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, but June 8, 1865. 

Hoover, Joseph, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Hilton, L. li., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as Sergeant June 

8, 1865. 

Hoolihan, Joseph, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged June 

9, 1863. 

Jarvis, Clement, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Johnson, Henry, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Johnson, Geo. W., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, deserted Feb. 
14, 1863. 

Jadwin, John P., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as Corporal 
June 8, 1865. 

Kellogg, Wra., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged March 

7, 1863. 

Kale, James, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at CoUiersville, 
Tenn., March 19, 1863. 

Keith, Lewis, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, killed at Jonesboro, 
Ga., Aug. 31, 1864. 

Lee, Clark, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Grand Junction, 
Tenn., Feb. 11, 1863. 

Musser, John, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as Sergeant June 

8, 1865. 

McLane, Ambrose, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged June 

9, 1865. 

Northway, G. F., mustered in Ang. 15, 1862, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., May 3, 1864. 

Pulver, W. 0., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Parker, Samuel, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Powers, G. W., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged Feb. 
16, 1863. 

Root, R. H., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., Nov. 7, 1864. 



r 



-^ 









HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 391 

Eollins, G. R., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Rhodes, Gilbert, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Rodgers, Bradley, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as Corporal 
June 8, 1865. 

Shumway, R. U., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged Sept. 
18, 1864. 

Sutherland, C. C, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Suppenaugh, Tuffle, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Sultz, Jacob, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Scott, H. M., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., June 6, 1864. 

Snyder, George, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., Nov. 14, 1863. 

Snyder, A. J., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Soule, David, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, killed before Atlanta, 
Ga., Aug. 25, 1864. 

Sperry, J. E., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged Feb. 
12, 1863. 

Taylor, Cornelius, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, deserted Feb. 
25, 1863. 

Taylor, Wm. J., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Taylor, Warren J., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, drowned in Mill 
Creek, K C, March 22, 1865. 

Taylor, O. R., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged June 3, 1863. 

Welch, W. J., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., April 15, 1863. 

Woodworth, H. S., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, discharged Sept. 
3, 1863. 

Wiggins, Kathan, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Young, Riley, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865, as 
Corporal . 

Zimmerman, John, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 

Fanshaw, J. H., mustered in April 19, 1864, transferred to Forty- 
eighth Infantry May 30, 1865. 

Van Allstin, C. E., mustered in April 19, 1864, transferred to 
Forty-eighth Infantry May 30, 1865. 

Corrvpany C. 

Hand, Henry H., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out as Hospital 
Steward June 8, 1865. 

Hand, C. E., mustered in Aug. 15, 1862, out June 8, 1865. 



*^ 



9- 



g^ — . 1(0 

392 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

Morrow, J. K., commissioned First Lieutenant Aug. 15, 1862, 
Captain June 3, 1863, resigned Feb. 29, 1864. 

Company K. 

Sims, Charles, mustered in Nov. 5, 1862, transferred to Forty- 
eighth Infantry June 27, 1865. 

SEVENTH (one HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT) CAVALRY. 

Frederick, George, mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, out June 5, 1865. 
Mortorff, Samuel, mustered in Sept. 3, 1863, transferred to 
Seventh Cavalry, reorganized. 

Company K. 

Burkett, Lafayette, mustered in as Sergeant Sept. 11, 1863, 
transferred to Yeteran Reserve Corps in September, 1864. 

Edwards, Danford, mustered in as Sergeant, killed by accident 
Dec. 26, 1863. 

Eldridge, W. H., mustered in as Corporal Sept. 11, 1863, trans- 
ferred to Seventh Cavalry, reorganized as Quartermaster-Sergeant. 

Carey, Edwin, mustered in Sept. 11, 1863, died of wounds Oct. 
28, 1864. 

Thomelson, David, mustered in Sept. 11, 1863, killed by acci- 
dent, Dec. 26, 1863. 

TWELFTH (one HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT) CAVALRY. 

Company B. 

Bower. Alfred, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Bell, Joshua, mustered in Dee. 16, 1863, discharged Aug. 15, 
1865. 

Bower, Michael, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out as "Wagoner 
Nov. 10, 1865. 

Cook, George, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at home April 2, 
1864. 

Cuffey, A. J., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Caffey,L. A, mustered in Dec.l6, 1863, discharged Sept. 25, 1864. 

Call, William, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Yicksburg, 
Miss., March 23, 1865. 

Harbaugh, H.W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Oct. 10, 1865. 

Jones, John, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Nashville^ 
Tenn., Jan.22, 1865. 

-C <5 ^ ^^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



393 



1^ 



fi 



Sutterlin, J. A., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Tullahoma, 
Tenn., Nov. S, 1864. 

Company C. 

Williams, Major D., commissioned Captain Dec. 12, 1863, re- 
signed Aug. 17, 1865. 

Burt, Cornelius, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 10, 1865. 

Bassett, J. A., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Baker, W. H., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Sept. 16, 1865. 

Case, Cyrus, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, killed at Huntsville, 
Ala., Sept. 30, 1864. 

Cole, Henry, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal Sept. 
21, 1865. 

Critchfield, Jacob, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out May 23, 1865. 

Cuttler, O. C, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died on hospital 
steamer June 13, 1865 

Clark, W. W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, deserted July 17, 1865. 

Conkey, Sorento, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Huntsville, 
Ala., Sept. 15, 1864. 

Cline, Lanson, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Cobb, William, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Daily, Cyrenus, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out May 11, 1865. 

Dirrim, W. C, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Dwelley, Archer, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Huntsville, 
Ala., Sept. 15, 1864. 

Depue, John, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Douglass, Robert, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal 
Nov. 10, 1865. 

Darrah, C. L., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Fuller, Wilson, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Huntsville, 
Ala., July 16, 1864. 

Gillitt, H. A., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Wagoner Nov. 
10, 1865. 

Green, Allen, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Gurtner, Henry, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal 
Nov. 10, 1865. 

Horn, Stephen, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Sergeant 
Nov. 10, 1865. 

Huffman, Joseph, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10,1865. 

Huffman, Samuel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10,1865. 

Holcomb, Walter, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Holcomb, Leroy, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 



^Jcr- 



"© 






^3 






394 HISTOBY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Hoadley, Howard, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal 
Nov. 10, 1865. 

Holdredge, Dudley, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Baton 
Kouge, La., May 9, 1865. 

Johnson, J. J., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Keyes, H. H., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out July 21, 1865. 

Latson, Alonzo, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Luton, Eleazer, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Sergeant Nov. 
10, 1865. 

Moore, S. C, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

McLaughlin, Andrew, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 
1865. 

Nichols, Benjamin, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out June 12, 1865. 

Osburn, Thomas, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 14, 1865. 

Parker, F. D., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Pendall, Samuel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 14, 1865. 

Seymour, F. B., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Vieksburg, 
Miss., July 24, 1865. 

Spear, M. L., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Smilley, David, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Sams, B. B., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Huntsville, 
Ala., July 31, 1864. 

Sherwin, Herlan, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Sizemore, Garner, mustered in Feb. 20, 1864, out as First Ser- 
geant Nov. 10, 1865. 

Storey, J. D., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Tuttle, J. E., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, discharged March 
15, 1865. 

Tiugley, G. "W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Huntsville, 
Ala., Aug. 10, 1864. 

Tingley, Warren, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out No7. 10,1865. 

Taylor, Ansel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal 
Nov. 10, 1865. 

Taylor, W. B., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Tinsley, Samuel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Sept. 27, 1865. 

Tabor, Joseph, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Pleasant Lake, 
Ind. , May 9, 1864. 

Tabor, Lafayette, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Pleasant 
Lake, Ind., May 12, 1864. 

West, W. J., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal Nov. 
10, 1865. 

______ — — -• af'V 



HI8T0KY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 395 

Wood, Ellis, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 
Wood, C. W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 
Wiggins, Endress, mustered in Dec 16, 1863, out May 29, 1865. 
Wilson, J. H. , mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Company I. 

Flowers, A. L. , mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Fee, N. H., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Fee, Moses, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Hunts ville, Ala., 
Sept. 19, 1864. 

Fee, W. H., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Huntsville, Ala. 

Firestone, D. J., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps, mustered out Nov. 2, 1865. 

Horn, Charles, mustered in April 28, 1864, out Nov. 10, 1865. 

Minard, Jesse, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 9, 1865. 

Eichard, H. B., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out June 13, 1865. 

Twiford, John, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Huntsville, 
Ala., June 30, 1864, of wounds. 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY. 

Eeese, A. T., commissioned Chaplain April 5, 1864, resigned 

Dec. 12, 1864. 

Company A. 

Cole, William H., commissioned Captain Jan. 5, 1864, Major 
April 8, 1865, mustered out as Captain. 

Smith, Birge, commissioned First Lieutenant Jan. 5, 1864, 
Captain April 3, 1865, died as First Lieutenant April 29, 1865. 

Cole, John, mustered in as Sergeant Dec. 16, 1863, commissioned 
Second Lieutenant April 8, 1865, First Lieutenant May 1, 1865, 
Captain June 1, 1865, mustered out as First Lieutenant. 

Manhood, J. D. , mustered in as Corporal Jan. 10, 1864, com- 
missioned Second Lieutenant May 1, 1865, mustered out as Sergeant- 
Major Aug. 29, 1865 

Melendy, E. G., mustered in as First Sergeant Dec. 16, 1863, 
commissioned Adjutant April 8, 1865, mustered out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Teeters, Lewis, mustered in as Sergeant Dec. 16, 1863, out as 
private Aug. 29, 1865. 

Bullard, W. S., mustered in as Sergeant Dec. 16,1863, out June 
7, 1865. 

Showalter, Hiram, mustered in as Sergeant Dec. 16, 1863, out 
Aug. 20, 1865. 



Si 



>^ 



396 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Yan Auken, Julius, mustered in as Corporal Dec. 16, 1863, out 
as Sergeant Aug, 29, 1865. 

Hall, John, mustered in as Corporal Jan. 10, 1864, out as Ser- 
geant Aug. 29, 1865. 

McKinley, Roderick, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Louis- 
ville, Ky., Feb. 3, 1865. 

Swift, D. K., mustered in as Corporal Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 
29, 1865. 

Boliart, Cornelius, mustered in as Corporal Jan. 10, 1864. out 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Classon, A. N., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, as Musician, out 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Bender, D. A., mustered in as Musician Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 
29, 1865. 

Stevens, Jacob, mustered in as Wagoner Jan. 10, 1864, out 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Barnard, O. Y., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Michigan 
City, Ind., March 30, 1864. 

Bromley, Henry, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Bennett, George, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Bromley, George, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out May 26, 1865. 

Clemens, H. J., mustered in Djc. 16, 1863, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., May 12, 1864. 

Crane, Leander, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Cartwright, William, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Cleve- 
land, Ind., June 19, 1864. 

Coles, J. P., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Cory, G. W., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out June 13, 1865. 

Clemens, James, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Charleston, 
Tenn., May 6, 1864. 

Dillingham, Jerry, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Dillingham, C. B., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Guyle, Hiram, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Gilbert, Armenus, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Gilbert, John, mustered in Jan 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Goff, O. D., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out May 31, 1865. 

Heath, H. B., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Knoxville, 
Tenn., April 26, 1864 

Hutchins, David, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Hutchins, Herbert, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out as Corporal 
Aug. 29, 1865. 



■^^ 



V 



HISTORr OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 397 

Hutchins, William, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Hanselman, D. A., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

James, AVilliam, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Jony, C. A., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Chattanooga 
Tenn., Sept. 12, 1864. 

Kope, Andrew, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Kope, Henry, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Washington, 
D. CFeb. 11,1865. 

Kelley, H. B., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Lovejoy, G. W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 29, 1865. 

Lee, William, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Michigan City, 
Ind., March 20, 1864. 

Leech, J. H., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, discharged May 26, 1865. 

Metz, J. J., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

McGrew, James, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Musser, Samuel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn. 

McMinn, Joseph, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, discharged June 

28, 1865. 
Moore, John, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Nashville, Tenn., 

June 29, 1865. 

Mock, George, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died near Atlanta, 
Ga., July 29, 1864, of wounds. 

Morgan, David, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, discharged. 

McGrew, Benjamin, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Powers, Josiah, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., Aug. 4, 1864. 

Pettee, Cornelius, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29,1865. 

Parker, J. K, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Richee, Adam, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal Aug. 

29, 1865. 
Eyan, John, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Renner, John, Jr. , mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Sharp, S. C, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Charlotte, N. 

C, June 11, 1865. 

Shatto, I. N., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Stewart, W. L., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Sergeant, Theodore, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out June 8, 1865. 
Sabin, A, D., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Sept. 20, 1865. 
Sowle, Hiram, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 



"^T 



9 



♦ ' ■ 



^ 



398 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN CODNTr. 



Stephens, J. M., mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, discharged May 23, 
1865. 

Stewart, Charles, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Shafer, Eli, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, died Sept. 5, 1864, of 
wounds. 

Taylor, Isaac, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Taylor, J. S., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Jan. 5, 1866. 

TrisketjLeo, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, discharged May 23, 1865. 

Townsend, Hiram, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Van Auken, Amos, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 29, 
1865. 

Vanghan, A. M., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, discharged Feb. 
7, 1865. 

Yan Auken, J. H., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Sergeant 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Weatherwax, H. H., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out June 3, 1865. 

Williams, J. W., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Willoby, Francis, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out as Corporal 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Zimmerman, Joseph, mustered in Jan. 10, 1864, out Aug. 
29, 1865. 

Company B. 

Rosenberger, John, mustered in Dec. 17, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Sultz, Isaac, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865, as 
Corporal. 

Bundy, Nathaniel, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Michigan 
City, March 16, 1864. 

Cooley, Matthew, mustered in Jan. 16, 1864, discharged June 
1, 1865. 

Crandall, C. L., mustered in Jan. 16, 1864, out as Corporal 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Gunn, Morrison, Sr., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, discharged 
July 10, 1864. 

Gunn, Morrison, Jr., mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, died at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., June 10, 1864. 

Gunn, Robert, mustered in Dec. 16, 1863, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Ryan, H. R., mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Marietta, Ga., 

July 27, 1864. 

Company F. 

Berlingham, J. J., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Delong, Henry, mustered in Jan. 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 



'^K 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 399 

Company JS. 

Pinchin, A. F., commissioned First Lieutenant March 4, 1864, 
mustered out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Daniels, Sheldon, mustered in as Sergeant March 7, 1864, out 
June 10, 1865. 

Musser, W. A., mustered in as Sergeant March 7, 1864, out 
Aug. 29, 1865. 

Baker, W. F., mustered in March 7, 1864, out May 14, 1865. 

Boyer, Francis, mustered in March 7, 1864, died in Anderson- 
ville prison, Aug. 4, 1864. 

Bender, A. H., mustered in March 7, 1864, out June 14, 1865. 

Bender, J. A., mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Knoxville, 
Tenn., Aug. 22, 1864. 

Bender, Andros, mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Knoxville, 
Tenn., Aug. 22, 1864. 

Beard, A. W., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Berlin, John, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Carpenter, J. C, mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Knoxville, 
Tenn., Aug. 19, 1864. 

Crall, J. A., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Greenameyer, John, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 
1865. 

Hart, Andrew, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Hand, John, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Hendricks, J. S., mustered in March 7, 1864, died in Anderson- 
ville prison, Aug. 22, 1864. 

Mayberry, Charles, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Messerva, J. B., mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Norix, W. L., mustered in March 7, 1864, out June 7, 1865. 

Pettee, Aaron, mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Allatoona, 
Ga., June 23, 1864. 

Khion, Lawrence, mustered in March 19, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Swihart, Morgan, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 
1865. 

Somerlott, George, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Slentz, Abner, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Spits, Carl, mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Nashville, Tenn., 
Oct. 31, 1864. 

Vinton, Jacob, mustered in March 7, 1864, died at New Albany, 
Ind., Feb. 1, 1865. 

^\< a ■^ — — "• e \ 



^ 



(O 



400 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Company I. 

Alverson, William, mustered in March 7, 1864, deserted March 
15, 1864. 

Eurk, Henry, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Cook, Henry, mustered in March 7, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

Cook, John, mustered in March 7, 1864, discharged Aug. 7, 1865. 

Getter, Marcus, mustered in March 19, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 

McCoy, Henry, mustered in March 7, 1864, deserted March 16, 
1864. 

Sutton, Alfred, mustered in March 19, 1864, died at Washing- 
ton, D. C, Feb. 8, 1865. 

Sutton, T. W., mustered in March 7, 1864, out June 14, 1865. 

Sines, C. W., mustered in March 7, 1864, died at Nashville, 
Tenn., May 24, 1864. 

Teft, Franklin, mustered in March 7, 1864, discharged June 5, 
1865. 

Thorp, J. M., mustered in March 7, 1864, out June 13, 1865. 

Company K. 

Clark, Charles, mustered in April 11, 1864, died at Indianapolis, 
Ind., May 3, 1864. 

Duguid, M. F. mustered in April 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Duguid, David, mustered in April 11, 1864, out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Kelso, Adelbert, mustered in April 25, 1864, out Aug.29, 1865- 
Kosencrans, L. N. mustered in April 11, 1864,out Aug. 29, 1865. 
Yockey, Andrew, mustered in April 11, 1864, out June 30,1865. 

ONE HUNDEED AND FORTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 

Company A. 

Casebeer, Samuel, substitute, mustered in Sept. 13, 1864, out 
June 28, 1865. 

Ingersoll, Willard, mustered in Sept. 24, 1864, died Feb. 9, 
1865. 

Vancleve, J. H., mustered in Sept. 14, 1864, died in Nashville, 
Tenn., March 8, 1865. 

Yan Auken, Philonzo, mustered in Sept. 14, 1864, out June 28, 
1865. 

Richards, J. L., mustered in Sept. 17, 1864, out June 28, 1865. 

Company D. 

Keys, Hiram, mustered in Sept. 27, 1864, out June 28, 1865. 
Morrow, Henry, mustered in Sept. 29, 1864, out June 28, 1865. 



i^ 



^- __^ — c, > 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 401 

Comjpany E. 

Baker, Samuel, substitute, mustered in Sept. 30, 1864, out June 
28, 1865. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND INFANTRY. 

Young, G. E., commissioned Adjutant Feb. 4, 1865. 

Company C. 

Abbey, George, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Alcott, George, muster ed in Feb. 17, 1865, deserted May 24, 
1865. 

Donihue, Daniel, mustered in Feb. 22, 1865, died at Quincy, 
Mich., March 10, 1865. 

George, Jeremiah, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Hart, John, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Manger, Israel, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

More, Eobert, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out May 12, 1865. 

Shaffer, Andrew, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out May 30, 1865. 

Thompson, Alexander, mustered in Feb. 22, 1865, out Aug. 30, 
1865. 

Wolf, A. C, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Woodford, B. D., mustered in March 8, 1865, died at Cumber- 
land, Md., March 25, 1865. 

Company F. 

Lamore, Cyprian, mustered in as Corporal Feb. 16, 1865, out 
Aug. 30, 1865. 

Alliman, Samuel, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Barber, D. K., mustered in Feb. 22, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Kline, James, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Lounsbury, ]^Jehemiah, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 

30, 1865. 
Markle, Albert, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, deserted March 10, 

1865. 

Mundy, Alanson, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Nichols, Henry, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, died at Indian- 
apolis, Ind., March 28, 1865. 

Partridge, Joseph, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Sams, Abdillah, mustered in Feb. 22, 1865, out Aug. 30,1865. 

Sutherland, W. G., mustered in Feb. 22, 1865, out Aug. 30, 
1865. 

Wilson, Henry, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 



< _ ' ■ — -1 1 > 

402 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Company H. 

Richardson, Henry, mustered in as Corporal March 7, 1865, out 
as Sergeant, Aug. 30, 1865. 

Company K. 

Everhart, J. M., commissioned Captain March 16, 1865. 

Rogers, Madison, commissioned First Lieutenant March 16, 
1865. 

Young, J. T., commissioned Second Lieutenant March 16, 1865. 

Hyler, C. J., mustered in as Sergeant Feb. 16, 1865, out June 
21, 1866. 

Everhart, Edmund, mustered in as Sergeant March 16, 1865, 
out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Barron, Justus, mustered in as Sergeant March 10, 1865, out as 
private Aug. 30, 1865. 

Taylor, Orrin, mustered in as Corporal Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 
30, 1865. 

Woodworth, George, mustered in Feb. 15, 1865, out Aug. 30, 
1865. 

Calvin, J. P., mustered in as Corporal Feb. 16, 1865, died at 
Indianapolis, March 28, 1865. 

Laughrie, James, mustered in as Corporal Feb. 16, 1865, out 
Aug. 30, 1865. 

Evans, Robert, mustered in as Corporal Feb. 16, 1865, out as 
Sergeant Aug. 30, 1865. 

Douglas, D. C, mustered in as Corporal Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 
30, 1865. 

Jackson, W. H., mustered in as Corporal Feb. 16, 1865, out 
Aug. 30,1865. 

Abrahamson, Eugene, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 
1865. 

Brugh, Wilson, mustered in March 4, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Babcock, David, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out June 13, 1865. 

Beck, P. S., mustered in March 4, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Chaffee, Addison, mustered in March 4, 1865, out July 1, 1865. 

Cole, Charles, mustered in March 3, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Dewitt, William, mustered in March 4, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Dawson, M. D., mustered in Feb. 15, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Dotts, Philip, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Donehue, Henry, mustered in March 4, 1864, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Debow, James, mustered in Feb. 16, 1864, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

* „< _ _ — — — 1 ■ » 

^ « ^ a ^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 403 

Everett, Benjamin, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Au^. 30, 1865. 

Freygang, Edward, mustered in Feb. 15, 1865, out as Princi- 
pal Musician Aug. 30, 1865. 

Fleage], David, mustered in March 4, 1865, out June 6, 1865. 

Griffith, B. F., mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865, 

Gilbert, Joseph, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Graham, Seymour, mustered in March 4, 1865, died at Fred- 
erick, Md., April 3, 1865. 

Gillatt, Nelson, mustered in March 3, 1865, died at Baltimore, 
Md., April 22, 1865. 

Hunt, Joshua, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Hayden, Oliver, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out May 27, 1865. 

Jackson, Benajah, mustered in March 3, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Lemeraux, Isaac, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Leavitt, W. W., mustered in Feb. 15, 1865, out as Corporal 
Aug. 30, 1865. 

McEntire, W. C, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, died at Indian- 
apolis, March 19, 1865. 

Morse, E. D., mustered in Feb. 10, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Morse, E. K. mustered in Feb. 15, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Morse, Orrin, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out May 19, 1865. 

Miller, George, mustered in March 4, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Newville, Solomon, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30. 1865. 

Norton, A. A., mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 1, 1865. 

Nolen, Meseck, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out May 17, 1865. 

Otto, Christian, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30. 1865. 

Pillsbury, Nehemiah, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 
1865. 

Pillsbury, Daniel, mustered in March 7, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Packer, Oliver, mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, out Sept. 12, 1865. 

Phenicie, George, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 

Parsons, Seymour, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out May 9, 1865. 

Kapley, George, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1866. 

Pima, William, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out as Corporal 
Aug. 30, 1865. 

Rhodes, Richard, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out June 7, 1865. 

Rumrael, David J., mustered in Feb. 17, 1865, died at Indian- 
apolis, March 8, 1865. 

Ruth, Daniel, mustered in March 7, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
• Rosenberger, Daniel, mustered in March 4, 1865, out as Ser- 
geant Aug. 30, 1865. 



-# 



T- 



<0 



404 HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, 

Eeed, John M., mustered in March 3, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Kejnolds, William, mustered in March 6, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Shero, Franklin, mustered in March 4, 1865, out July 31,1865. 
Saterson, Godfrew, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Stocker, DewittC, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Swartz, Jacob, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, died at Indianapolis 
March 10, 1865. 
Smith, Alonzo A., mustered in Feb. 10, 1865, out May 17, 1865. 
Welds, M. O., mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 1865. 
Williamson, James, mustered in Feb. 16, 1865, out Aug. 30, 

1865. 

Williams, Washington, mustered in March 4, 1865, out Aug. 
30, 1865. 

REUNION. 

Steuben's veterans often have attended 'celebrations at points 
outside the county, but the iirst attempt at holding a reunion at 
Angola was not made until as late as 1879, or sixteen years after 
the last of the armed bands were sent peacefully to their liomes 
after the suppression of the rebellion. Sept. 9, 1879, a very suc- 
cessful meeting was held, after due preparation. 

At the preliminary meeting held July 26, previously, twenty- 
five veterans attended, and elected the following ofiicers: President, 
Kewell Lewis, of Angola; Vice-Presidents, Irenus McGowan, of 
Mill Grove; Frank Green, of Jamestown; J. D. Mawhood, of Fre- 
mont; R. H. Johnson, of Clear Lake; G. W. Powers, of York; 
Charles Stafford, of Scott; G. W. McConnell, of Pleasant; George 
Twichell, of Jackson; D. Gillespie, of Salem; George E. Young, 
of Steuben; Lew Griffith, of Otsego; John Williams, of Richland; 
Secretary, E.J. Fitch; Treasurer, O. Carver; Marshal, E. G. Me- 
lendy; Chaplain, William Keyes; Executive Committee, Lawrence 
Gates, E. G. Melendy, Irenus McGowan, Samuel Beight and Mar- 
vin Butler. 

At an early hour on the 9th of September the inhabitants of 
Angola were awakened by the firing of a military salute, and soon 
after the streets were alive with people. Those who had flags, or 
who could beg or borrow them, soon decorated their places of 
business with the red, white and blue in honor of the reunion. 
The morning trains brought large delegations of ex-soldiers and 
others from the surrounding towns, and by ten o'clock there was a 
perfect jam, it being almost impossible to move in the vicinity of 
the public square. The old battle flags of the Twelfth, One Hun- 



>.^ 



r 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 405 

dred and Twenty-ninth, One Hundredth, Forty-fourth, Eighty- 
eighth and Seventy -fourth Indiana regiments were exhibited near 
Kinney & Co.'s bank, and attracted universal attention. 

At ten o'ch>ck the marshals began to form the procession, and 
promptly at 10:30 the veterans took up tiieir line of march in the 
following order : 

1. Marshals. 

2. Angola Cornet Band. 

3. Drum Corps. 

4. Forty-fourth Indiana Regiment. 

5. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Regiment. 

6. Seventy-fourth Indiana Regiment. 

7. Twenty-ninth Indiana Regiment. 

8. Thirtieth Indiana Regiment. 

9. Boys' Cornet Band, Pleasant Lake. 
10. Representatives from the Twenty-fifth, One Hundred and 

Fourth, One Hundred and Seven tj^-seventh. One Hundred and 
Eighty-second, Twenty-ninth, Fifty-second, Seventy-first, Sixty- 
eighth, Twenty-first, Forty-ninth, One Hundred and Second, 
Eleventh, Twentieth, Sixtieth, Thirty-eighth, Fifty-seventh, One 
Hundred and First, Seventy-sixth, Twenty-fifth, One Hundred and 
Eleventh, Twenty-first, One Hundred and Thirty-first, Fourteenth, 
Sixty -fifth. Tenth, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth, Eighty-second, 
One Hundred and Eighteenth, One Hundred and Twenty-third, 
Twenty-sixth, One Hundred and ]N"inety -fifth. Thirty-second, One 
Hundred and Ninety-seventh, One Hundred and Forty-second, 
One Hundred and Twenty-eiglith, Eighty-eighth, One Hundred 
and Fifth and Sixth Ohio Infantries; Second and Third Ohio 
Cavalry; First and Nineteenth Ohio Artillery; First Ohio Sharp- 
shooters; Ninth, Twenty -first. One Hundred and Twenty-eighth, 
Twentieth, Eighty-eighth, Forty-first, Ninetieth, Thirty-eighth, 
One Hundred and Eighteenth, Thirteenth, Nineteenth, Fifty- 
second, Thirty-second, Thirty -filth. Eighty -fourth, One Hundred 
and Forty-seventh and Eighty -ninth Indiana Infantries; First, Fifth, 
Seventh, Second and Twelfth Indiana Cavalries; Twenty-third 
Indiana Light Artillery ; First, Fifth and Eleventh Indiana Heavy 
Batteries; One Hundred and Forty-second, Forty-second, Sixty- 
first, Tenth, Thirteenth and First Illinois Infantries; Sixty-fifth, 
One Hundred and Fifty-fourth, Seventy-fifth, Twenty-third, Thirty- 
third, Forty-second, Fiftieth and One Hundred and Seventeenth 

New York Infantries; Twelfth and Thirty-seventh Wisconsin In- 
26 



^^ 



406 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

fantries; First Wisconsin Artillery; Eighteenth, Fifteenth and 
Sixth United States Infantries; Fourth, Seventh, Twenty-first, Six- 
teenth, Eleventh, Seventeenth, Thirteenth, Second, Thirtieth, 
Twenty-eighth and Eighteenth Michigan Infantries ; Sixth and 
Ninth Michigan Cavalries ; Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry ; 
Second and Fifty third Kentucky Infantries ; Fourth Iowa In- 
fantry ; Third Iowa Artillery. 

11. Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry. 

12. Angola Fire Department. 

There were more than TOO soldiers present, many of whom were 
from other counties and States, and eighty distinct commands 
were registered. The procession marched to Wickwire's Grove, 
where a previously prepared programme of exercises was carried 
out. The ladies who had taken upon themselves the providing 
and arranging of the dinner tables did nobly. Owing to the ab- 
sence of General Gibson, who was expected to address the audience, 
but whose attendance was prevented on account of sickness, the 
time was taken up and the meeting well entertained by a number 
of short, impromptu speeches by soldiers and others. General 
Lewis J. Blair, of Waterloo; Judge Melendy, of Centreville, Mich., 
and Captain J. K. Morrow were among the speakers. 




-J 9 



'^ 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE BAR. 



Early Lawyers. — First Resident Attorney. — Sketches of 
Those who have Practiced Here. — Present Bar. — Sketches 
OF Prominent Attorneys. 

The pioneer members of the bar of Steuben County were from 
abroad, mostly from Fort Wayne. From our earliest courts until 
1849, the legal business of the county was done chiefly by non- 
resident attorneys. At the head of this list stands the name of 
Charles Ewing, who, in his time, was considered the ablest jurist 
of the West. Among other prominent lawyers from the Summit 
City, who, during this time, took an active part in the legal mat- 
ters of the county, may be mentioned the names of Breckenridge, 
Colerick, Ferry, Dawson, Johnson, Cooper and Coombs. The last 
named, still at Fort Wayne, is the only one living. 

Hon. John B. Howe, of Lima, practiced here during this time. 
Afterward came Andrew ^Ellison, of Lagrange (now one of the 
wealthiest men in that county), and Judge Morris, of Auburn 
(now of Fort Wayne), both able jurists and able men in their pro- 
fession. The first resident attorney at law of the county was 
Rubert L. Douglass, who came here from Ohio in 1839. He is 
said to have been an able, energetic lawyer. He remained here 
until 1849, when he removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Daniel E. Palmer was the second resident attorney. He was born 
among the Delaware hills, in Delaware County, K. Y., Jan. 10 
1816. He read law with Judge Tiffany, of Lenawee County, Mich. 
He was the first lawyer admitted to practice in No bie County, this 
State, and came from there here in the spring of 1840, and at that 
time was admitted to the bar, but did not commence active prac- 
tice until 1841; he continued in practice here for about thirtj-five 
years, when the infirmities of age compelled him to retire from 
practice. In his day, he was considered good, and his opinions 
were well respected by the legal profession. At times he had a 
large though not a paying practice. Mr. Palmer was Auditor of 

(407) 



T» 






|0 



408 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



this county, by appointment, from 1844 to 1847; lie was Circuit 
Prosecutor in 1849-'50, and Common Pleas Prosecutor from 1852 
to 1854. 

Hon. Edward R. May graduated at Yale College in 1838, and 
although one of the youngest members of his class, he had ac- 
quired a reputation which gave promise of future distinction. 
After leaving college, he was for two years engaged in teaching 
school in the East. Having, at the same time, entered upon the 
study of the law, he was in due time admitted to the New London 
County Bar, in the State of Connecticut. Influenced by the hope 
of benefit to his health, he removed to Angola, this county, and 
was here admitted to the bar in 1843. By skill in his profession, 
and by heartily identifying himself with the public interests, sus- 
taining and promoting the cause of education, of temperance, and 
the institutions of religion, he rapidly acquired position and in- 
fluence. He was a member of our State Legislature. He was also 
a member of the State Constitutional Convention. He went from 
here to California in the year 1852, and returned the same year, 
when his forecasting mind fixed upon St. Paul, Minn., as a point 
of commanding importance in tlie future Northwest. He had 
hardly located there when, Aug. 2, 1852, after only a few hours' 
sickness, he died of cholera. 

Dr. James McConnell, the first County Clerk, resigned his office 
in 1843 to enter the legal profession, and enjoyed a fi'ir and in- 
creasing practice until his early death, in 1844. 

Hon. Alanson W. Hendry was an active practitioner from 1843 
to 1865, when he engaged in the mercantile business for some 
years, and is now engaged in extensive agricultural pursuits. He 
was a member of the State Senate, and has held other offices of 
trust and responsibility. 

Jesse M. Gale commenced the study of law with Mr. Hendry, 
and soon went into partnership with him. He retired from active 
practice in 1883, but is still a resident of Angola. 

Leland H. Stocker began the practice of his profession in 1855, 
and was an active member of the bar till 1881. 

From 1850 to 1860 there maybe mentioned, as accessions to the 
bar, the names of Howard, Tinker and Blake. 

In 1860 William G. Croxton came here from Columbiana County, 
Ohio, and began practice in partnership with A. S. Blake. Soon 
afterward, upon the removal of Blake from the county, he formed 
a partnership with A. A. Chapin. This partnership lasted for 






T 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 409 

about three years, when Mr. Croxton entered into partnersliip 
with Hon. Joseph A. Woodhull. Mr. Chapin had a very success- 
ful practice in Kendallville for a number of years, and in 1883 
sought a wider field in Fort Wayne. Mr. Woodhull began the 
practice of his profession at Fremont in 1859, and removed to An- 
gola in 1860, engaging in partnership with Daniel E. Palmer. He 
is still an active member of the legal profession. 

E. B. Glasgow was for several years an active lawyer, and also 
dealt extensively in real estate. A few years since he went to 
Kansas. He was twice elected to the State Legislature. Captain 
John K. Morrow came here from Lagrange in 1864, and com- 
menced practice here with Daniel E. Palmer, and is still engaged 
in a good business. 

The above are the early lawyers of Steuben County. The 
present bar, arranged in the order of admission to practice, is as 
follows : W. G. Croxton, J. K. Morrow, J. A. Woodhull, E. G. 
Melendy, G. B. Adams, D. R. Best, S. A. Powers, A. Paterson, 

B. F. Dawson, W. W. Birce, W. M. Brown, E. A. Bratton, J. B. 
Langworthy, Joseph Butler, F. M. Powers, Cyrus Cline and W. 

C. Chadwick. 

BIOGKAPHICAL. 

George B. AdamSy attorney at law, Angola, Ind., was born in 
Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 18, 1844, a son of Charles 
H. and Sophia A. (Clark) Adams, his father a native of Massa- 
chusetts, and his mother of Connecticut. His father was by trade 
a millwright, but subsequently embarked in land speculation, and 
acquired a large property. He was an old-line Whig, and a great 
admirer and personal friend of Henry Clay. In 1858 he moved 
to Coldwater, Mich., where the mother died in 1867. He after- 
ward went to New Jersev, and died there in 1874. George B. 
Adams received a good common-school education, and after going 
to Michigan attended the High School at Coldwater. He served in 
the late war. He then returned to Coldwater, and in 1866 began the 
study of law, and so continued for four years at intervals, working 
in the meantime to support himself and two sisters. In 1870 he 
came to Angola, and for a time thought of abandoning his profes- 
sion, but changed his mind, and in 1873 was admitted to the bar, 
and has built up a good practice. He is a strong pleader, an elo- 
quent speaker, and his arguments are convincing and have weight 
with the jury. He was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Steu- 
ben, DeKaib and Noble counties by Governor Williams in 1878, 



• 



V" 



\ 



>> 



410 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



to fill a vacancy, and in 1878 was elected, on the Democratic ticket, 
to the same position. In 1880 he represented his county in the 
State Democratic Convention, at Indianapolis. Mr. Adams was 
married in 1876 to Helen Darrah, daughter of Peter Darrah, of 
Ohio, and to them were born two children. Mrs. Adams died 
Nov. 18, 1883. She was a lady of rare intelligence, and had hosts 
of friends to mourn her loss. 

EiiiTnet A. Bratton^ attorney at law and Deputy Prosecuting 
Attorney of Steuben County, was born in Williams Count}', Ohio, 
July 16, 1855, a son of Ira and Deborah (Thomas) Bratton, his 
lather a native of Mifflin County, Pa., born March 12, 1829, and his 
mother of Bucks County, Pa. His parents moved to Ohio when 
young, and were there married in 1851, His father died July 18, 
1882, and his mother is still living. When eighteen years of age 
he attended the fall term of the High School in Angola, and taught 
the next winter. He prepared for college by his own efforts, and 
in 1876 entered the freshman class of Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, 
Mich., and attended two years. He then came to Angola, and 
entered the office of WoodhuU & Croxton, remaining with them 
till 1880, when he went to Ann Arbor, Mich., and attended the law 
department of the University, graduating March 23, 1881. After 
his admission to the bar lie formed a partnership with Stephen A. 
Powers, under the firm-name of Powers & Bratton, which was dis- 
solved by mutual consent Aug. 8, 1884, and since then he has prac- 
ticed with the Hon. D. H. Best, under the firm-name Best & Bratton. 
He is a young man of ability, and is gaining a good reputation in 
business and social circles. He is Secretary of the Steuben County 
Agricultural Association, and in 1884 was appointed Deputy 
Prosecuting Attorney. He has served his city as Clerk and Treas- 
urer four years in a very acceptable manner. In politics he is a 
Republican. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order (lodge 
and encampment), and in 1884 represented his lodge in the Grand 
Lodge of the State. Mr. Bratton was married in 1888 to Delia 
Rice, daughter of Dr. C. D. Rice. They have one daughter. 

Gyrus Cline^ attorney at law, a member of the firm of Cline & 
Dawson, Angola, Ind., was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 
12, 1851, a son of Michael and Barbara (Orewiler) Cline. In 1853 
his parents moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 
16, Scott Township. Eight acres of the land were cleared and there 
was a good house and barn on it. In 1872 the family moved to 
Angola that the children might have better educational advan- 



-f" 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 411 

tages, and here the father died Feb. 28, 1878. He was in early life 
a "Whig, and afterward affiliated with the Republican party. From 
1868 till 1874 he was a County Commissioner, and always dis- 
charged his duties in a satisfactory manner. He also held various 
local offices of trust, and at the time of his death was Trustee of 
Pleasant Township. His family consisted of eight children, two 
sons and six daughters, all of whom are living. Cyrus Cline was 
reared on the farm, and in early life attended the district schools. 
After his parents moved to Angola he attended the Academy one 
winter, and in 1873 entered the freshman class at Hillsdale Col- 
lege. Being in limited circumstances, he was obliged to procure 
his college education by his own efforts. He therefore taught 
school in the winter, still pursuing his studies at home, and in the 
spring entered his class in the college. He graduated in 1876. 
The following September he was elected County Superintendent 
of Schools of Steuben County, a position he held till June, 1883. 
In the spring of 1880 he entered the office of WoodhuU & Oroxton, 
and began the study of law, remaining with them till February, 
1882, when he was admitted to the bar and formed a partnership 
with Joseph Butler, which continued till July, 1884, when he be- 
came associated with Mr. Dawson, Mr. Cline is a young man of 
fine natural ability, which, added to his close study and determi- 
nation to succeed, will make him one of the best and most influ- 
ential lawyers in the county. He was married Oct. 6, 1880, to 
Jennie E., daughter of Dr. Bush and Susan S. Gibson. Dr. Gib- 
son died in Vermont, and in 1869 Mrs. Gibson came with her three 
daughters to Steuben County. Mr. Cline is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, lodge and chapter. 

Ho7i. A. W. Hendry, attorney at law, Angola, Ind., was one of 
the early settlers of Steuben County. He was born near Buffiilo, 
Erie Co., N. Y., March 22, 1820, a son of Samuel and Eunice 
(Foote) Hendry, his father of Massachusetts and his mother of 
Connecticut. His parents were married in Delaware County, N. 
Y., Feb. 16, 1803, and before the war of 1812 removed to Erie 
County. Samuel Hendry was a minute-man in the war of 1812. 
He was an old-line Whig, and a strong anti-slavery man. In 1827 
or 1828 he moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and in 1832 to 
Wellington, Lorain County. Mrs. Hendry died in Sandusky, 
Ohio, Sept. 3, 1853, and Mr. Hendry in Angola, Ind., April 12, 
1861. They had a family of nine children, eight of whom are liv- 
ing. A. W. Hendry learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, 



•j^ <r 



to 



\ 



412 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



but not liking it, he and his twin brother determined to take up 
the profession of law. They procured a Blackstone and Kent and 
studied evenings and when not otherwise employed until they were 
familiar with the main points of common law. In 1842 our sub- 
ject came to Indiana, and taught school in Orland, Steuben County, 
the following winter, and in the spring of 1843 went to Lima, La- 
grange County, where he was admitted to the bar. He then lo- 
cated in Angola, and practiced here till 1866, when he embarked 
in the mercantile business, which he continued till 1872. In 1852 
Mr. Hendry was elected to the State Senate and served eight years, 
although he has never sought official honors. He takes especial 
interest in the up-building of local interests and is President of the 
Old Settlers' Association and Steuben County Agricultural Society. 
In politics he is a strong Republican. Mr. and Mrs, Hendry 
were at Baltimore at the time Abraham Lincoln received the second 
nomination for President of the United States, and at Philadelphia 
when General Grant was nominated for the same office. Mr. 
Hendry was married June 15, 1847, to Louisa Gale, daughter of 
Judge Thomas and Sarah (Goldsmith) Gale. They have had four 
children; but three are living — Thomas P., Victor, and Mattie E., 
wife of G. W. McBride, an attorney of Grand Haven, Mich. 
Judge Gale was. a native of Orange County, N. Y., and when a 
young man went to Ohio and located near Columbus. In 1831 he 
came to Indiana, and founded the town of Lima, Lagrange County. 
In 1836 he came to Steuben County and bought the land where 
Angola is now located, and in company with Cornelius Gilmore 
laid out the town. He also laid out the town of Augusta, ]Noble 
County. He was a member of the Legislature in 1836 and 1837. 
He was an old-line Whig and one of tlie first to advocate the anti- 
slaver}' movement. 

Joseph B. Langworthy, attorney at law, Fremont, was born in 
Bainbridge, Geauga Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1858, a son of Joseph B. 
and Soplironia (Merry) Langworthy, early settlers of Ohio. His 
mother died Nov. 10, 1863, and in 1869 his father moved to Steu- 
ben County, where he died June 21, 1882. They had a family of 
eleven children, nine of whom lived till maturity, Joseph B. Lang- 
worthy, Sr., was in early life a Whig, but affiliated with the Republi- 
can party from the date of its organization. Our subject came to Steu- 
ben County with his father. He attended district school till he was 
seventeen, going winters only; then attended the graded schools of 
Fremont for two terms; then the Valparaiso Normal and Business 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 413 

Institute three years; was a member of the scientific class of 1877, 
but was taken ill and was compelled to leave a few weeks before 
graduating. In the spring of 1880 he began reading law in the 
office of Gale & Best, of Angola, and June 5, 1881, was admitted 
to the bar. In 1882 he attended the law department of Ann Arbor 
University. Immediately after his return from Ann Arbor the 
firm of Gale, Best & Langworthy was formed, which continued till 
spring of 1884, when Mr. Gale withdrew, and the firm was dis- 
solved, Mr. Langworthy is a talented young man, of fine address, 
pleasing manners, and has many friends in business and social 
circles. He has a promising future, being one of the rising young 
men of the county. He was married Jan. 7, 1881, to Carrie M. 
Caswell, daughter of A. M. Caswell, of Fremont. 

Emory Q. Melendy, attorney at law, Fremont, Ind., was born 
in Chenango County, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1841, a son of Norman and 
jSophia (Welch) Melendy, his father a native of Vermont, and his 
mother of Connecticut. In 1845 his parents moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and soon after to Branch County, Mich., where the 
father died in 1855. He was a prominent man of his day, taking 
an active interest in the growth and development of the county. 
Mrs. Melendy is living in Branch County. To them were born 
eleven children, seven in New York — Lois B., now Mrs. Devine. 
Richmond "W. enlisted in Company A, Twenty-ninth Indiana In- 
fantry, and was appointed First Lieutenant, and afterward pro- 
moted to Captain. After the war he studied law, and was admitted 
to the bar. In 1872 he was elected Circuit Judge of his district. 
He died at Eaton Rapids in September, 1883. Daniel W. is a 
farmer in Nebraska. Squire "VV. enlisted in the First Micligan 
Infantry, and participated in the battle of Bull Run; he died in 
the fall of 1864. Sally S. is the wife of James Hughes, of Branch 
County. E. G., our subject. Edward N. enlisted in August, 1862, 
in the Nineteenth Michigan Infantry. He was captured at Spring 
Hill, Tenn., and was incarcerated in Libby Prison; died from the ef- 
fects of cruelty and exposure soon after leaving the prison. Mary E. 
is the wife of James M. Lindsley, of Detroit, Mich, Abbie M., 
now Mrs. M. B. Wakeman, of Branch County. John M., of Eu- 
reka, Cal., is a prominent attorney. Horace died in infancy. E. 
G. Melendy was but fourteen years of age when his father died, 
and from that time his maintenance and education were the result 
of his own efibrts. When twenty years of age, Aug. 27, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company A, Twenty-nintli Indiana Infantry. He par- 



^<r 



\ 






J- 

>— 
to 



414 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



ticipated in the battles of Shiloli and Stone River, serving till 
August, 1863, when he was discharged, and the following fall en- 
listed in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and 
was appointed Orderly Sergeant. He was at the battle of Resaca, 
Decatur, through the Atlanta campaign, at Franklin and Nash- 
ville. In February, 1865, he was promoted to Adjutant of the 
regiment. They were sent to North Carolina via Washington, 
and were with General Sherman at Kingston, and from there were 
sent to Charlotte, N. C, where they were mustered out Sept. 13. 
Soon after the war he began the study of law, and was admitted to 
practice in all the courts. He has a fair law practice, and also 
gives some attention to collecting and insurance. May 5, 1868, 
Mr. Melendy was married to Alma Follett, a daughter of John W. 
and Angeline Follett, early settlers of Steuben County. They have 
one child — Maud. Mr. Melendy is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, Northeastern Lodge, No. 210, chapter, council, and 
Apollo Commandery. He is Master of his lodge, and has repre- 
sented it in the Grand Lodge of the State. He is also a member 
of Steuben Lodge, No. 231, I. O. O. F., and Kilpatrick Post, No. 
45, G. A. R. He has passed all the chairs of the subordinate lodge, 
and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge of I. O. O. F. of 
Indiana. In politics Mr. Melendy is a Republican and has served 
as a delegate to the State convention. 

Captain John K. Morroiv^ a native of Richland County, Ohio, 
was born in Mansfield, March 5, 1827, a son of James Morrow, a 
native of Dublin, Ireland, and Mary (Turk) Morrow, a native of 
Scotland. James Morrow came to America in his early manhood. 
He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was wounded at the battle 
of Lundy's Lane. He subsequently returned to his native country, 
and was married in Scotland to Mary Turk. In 1816 they came to 
the United States, and lived a year in Allegheny County, Pa., and 
in 1827 moved to Mansfield, Richland Co , Ohio, where he died in 
1848. He was a sculptor and builder, and a very fine artisan. 
After the father's death John K. moved to Williams County, Ohio, 
with his mother, where she died in 1854. He received a liberal 
education, and at the time of his father's death was attending 
Oberlin (Ohio) College. He was then obliged to leave school, and 
began teaching to support his mother and sister. In the meantime 
he began the study of law in the office of Case & Foster, and in 
1853 was admitted to the bar at Perrysburg, Wood County. He 
soon after began the practice of his profession at Bryan, Ohio, and 



-r 



IV 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



415 



in 1856 went to Lagrange Centre, Lagrange Co., Ind. In Janu- 
ary, 1857, he established the Lagrange Standard, the first paper 
of the county. The motto of his paper was, "Eternal Hostility 
to the Extension of Slavery." In 1863 he enlisted in the One 
Hundredth Indiana Infantry, raising Company C, of which he 
was commissioned First Lieutenant. He was at the battle of 
Yicksburg at the time of Sherman's defeat, Jackson, Miss., the 
siege and capture of Vicksburg, second battle of Jackson, Mission 
Ridge. March 4, 1864, he resigned on account of failing health. 
He was commissioned Captain of his company June 3, 1863. 
When he left the regiment the ofiicers gave him the following let- 
ter, expressive of their esteem and fraternal friendship: 

" Bellefonte Station, Ala., March 4, 1864. 
" Capt. J. K. Morrow, Coiri'pany C, One Hundredth Indiana: 
" Dear Sir: We have just learned of the acceptance of your res- 
ignation, which reminds us that we are to be separated from a 
brave soldier and true friend, and one who has shared for a long 
time with us the hardships and privations of a soldier's life. 
Your soldierly bearing and your generous heart has won for you 
the confidence and esteem of the officers and men of the entire 
regiment, and it is with much reluctance that we part with you. 
You will leave the field of strife, and when you retire to a quiet 
home, surrounded by family and friends, we trust that we will not 
be forgotten; that your influence will ever be on the side of right 
and support of our brave old flag. 

" Yery respectfully, 

" W. H. Vernon, Captain Company D. 

" John W. Headington, Captain Company H. 

"Gideon Rathbun, First Lieutenant Company H. 

"J. M. Carr, Captain Company G. 

"Leonard Aker, First Lieutenant Company F. 

" A. H. LiNHAJBT, Second Lieutenant Company F. 

"J. W. GusiNGER, Lieutenant Company E. 

" T. C. Dalby, Captain Company I. 

" Noah S. Ootterlin, First Lieutenant Company 1. 

"Ed, Forbes, First Lieutenant Company C. 

"J. H. More, First Lieutenant Company A. 

' ' Orla J. Fast, Captain Company B. 

" Ed. Goldsmith, First Lieutenant Company B. 

" W.H. Q^^, Adjutant One Hundredth hid. Infantry ^ 
In 1865 Captain Morrow moved to Angola, where he has since 






\ 



^ 



416 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



lived. He has established a good record as an attorney, and has 
served on the bench as Jndgepro tern. He has held the office of 
Justice of the Peace two terms. He was married May 5, 1853, to 
Mary A. Coblentz, a native of Ohio, of German descent. To them 
have been born three children; but two are living — James H. and 
John M. Captain Morrow is a member of the Knights of Honor 
and Grand Army of the Republic. 

Frank M.. Powers^ attorney at law, Angola, Ind., was born in 
York Township, Steuben Co., Ind., April 2, 1860, a son of Calvin 
and Luc}'' A. (Gilbert) Powers, his father a native of Allegany 
County, N. Y., and his mother of Ohio, and early settlers of Steu- 
ben County, locating in York Township in 1836. Frank M. Pow- 
ers received a good education, attending the district schools of 
York Township, and the graded school of Angola. In 1878 he 
came to Angola, and while attending school began the study of 
law, and subsequently entered the office of WoodhuU & Croxton. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1881, and has since practiced in 
Angola. Mr. Powers is a youug man of good address and fine 
ability, and is building up a good practice. His courteous man- 
ners and affability make him a general favorite in society, and his 
close attention to business and strict integrity have won him the 
esteem of business circles. 

Leland H. Stocher^ retired attorney, and one of the early and 
prominent settlers of Steuben County, was born in Windham Coun- 
ty, Vt., May 21, 1817, a son of John and Betsey (Howard) Stocker. 
His mother was a sister of Rev. Leland Howard, an eminent Bap- 
tist clergyman, for whom our subject was named. Of a family of 
nine children eight lived till maturity. In 1833 Chester Stocker, 
the eldest son of the family, came to Steuben County, and entered 
land in Mill Grove Township, and in the spring of 1834 the father 
followed him and built a cabin, and the first of October the rest of the 
family came. His was the third cabin built in the county, and the 
first in Mill Grove Township. John Stocker was politically in 
early life a Democrat, but subsequently gave his support to the 
Abolition party. He and his wife were active members of the 
Baptist church. They both died in 1849. Leland 11. Stocker 
was educated in his native State, and attended the Baptist Literary 
and Scientific College at Brandon, founded by Rev. Hadley Proc- 
tor. He was in his junior year when he left Vermont for the 
West. After reaching Indiana his time was spent in clearing the 
land and splitting rails. The first five years he was in the county he 



9 



jsk 



1^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 417 

cut and split 100,000 rails, lie then for a time ran a breaking 
team with his brotlier, and in 1810 abandoned the farm and began 
preaching for the Baptist denomination, traveling in Southern 
Michigan. He formed the acquaintance and became a close friend 
of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, who once said of him, when asked where 
he got his force as a speaker, ''I learned it of a little Baptist 
preacher in Steuben Count}'." Mr. Stocker continued preaching 
seven years, when, on account of hemorrhage of the lungs, he was 
obliged to abandon the pulpit. He took up the study of law, and was 
admitted to the bar in Auburn, DeKalb Coounty, in 1848. In 1856 
he formed a partnership with W. I. Howard, and subsequently was a 
member of the firm of Stocker & Morrow three years. In 1866 he 
became associated with J. M. Gale, and afterward the firm was 
changed to Gale, Stocker & Best. He continued his law practice till 
1883, when he retired to a more quiet life. Soon after his admission to 
the bar he was appointed Deputy Recorder and Clerk, and after- 
ward served six years as County Auditor. Mr. Stocker was mar- 
ried in April, 1837, to Lucy Mallory, a native of Castleton, Yt., 
born in 1818. She came with her parents to Steuben County in 
1836. Mr. Stocker has passed all the chairs of the Odd Fellows' 
order, and is a member of the Good Templars. 

Stephen Powers^ attornej' at law, An<rola, Ind., was born in 
York Township, Steuben Co., Ind., Dec. 28, 1851, a son of Clark 
and Hannah (Ketchum) Powers. He received a good literary ed- 
ucation, attending the Angola High School and the Hillsdale 
(Mich.) College. In 1865 he began the study of law with Wood- 
hull & Croxton. In the winter of 186S and 1869 he taught school 
in the Town Hall in York Township. In 1870 he was appointed 
a cadet in the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, but resigned in 
1871, an act he has always regretted. He then taught three years 
in the graded school of Fremont, and in January, 1874, went to 
Chicago and attended the Northwestern Law School one term. He 
was admitted to the bar of the Steuben Circuit Court at the Sep- 
tember term of 1874, and Oct. 1 began his practice in Fremont, 
Ind. May 1, 1875, he came to Angola, and was admitted to the 
firm of WoodhuU & Croxton, changing the name to WoodhuU, 
Croxton & Powers. In the fall of 1876 Mr. WoodhuU was 
appointed Circuit Judge, and withdrew from the firm. A 
short time afterward the firm of Croxton & Powers was dis- 
solved, and Mr. Powers practiced alone until March 17, 1877, 
when he formed a partnership with A. T. Bratton, which continued 



f 



418 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



till September, 1878. April 1, 1883, he forined a partnership with 
Emmet A. Bratton, which was dissolved Aug. 8, 1884, and he is 
now practicing alone. He is ambitious, and bends all his energies 
to succeed in his profession. Oti May 20, 1885, he was admitted 
to practice in the Supreme Court of Indiana. He is one of the 
most popular attorneys in Angola, and is regarded as a rising man 
by his brother practitioners. His practice has been a lucrative 
one, and he has a large landed estate in the county, besides consid- 
erable city property. In politics he is a Democrat, and has held 
several offices in the town of Angola, but does not aspire to official 
honors. He is an honored member of the Odd Fellows' order. 
Mr. Powers was married Oct. 9, 1876, to Dora Ferrier, daughter 
of William and Olive Ferrier, old settlers of Angola. They have 
one child — Clela. 




-♦■ 






V 






CHAPTEK YII. 



MEDICAL. 



Pioneer Physicians.— Union Medical Society,— Steuben County 
Medical Society. — Organization. — Requirements. — First Of- 
ficers. — Changes in Membership. — Present Officers. — The 
Steuben County Medical and Surgical Society. — Organiza- 
tion. — First Officers. — Membership. — Sketches of Prominent 
Physicians of the County. 

With the advaucement of civilization in*everj country, the phy- 
sician has always been found in the front rank, encouraging and 
assisting in the education of the masses, and in the propagation 
of every measure intended to better and elevate the community 
among whom he practiced. Dr. James McConnell will ever be re- 
membered as the pioneer physician of Steuben County. He set- 
tled in Lima, Lagrange Co., Ind., in May, 1835, and in]S"ovember 
1836, came to the "Vermont settlement, "where he practiced until 
April, 1837, when he was elected as the first Clerk and Eecorder 
of the county, and located his office in the log cabin of John 
Stayner, on Jackson Prairie, and in the fall of the same year 
moved to Angola, where he continued his practice as much as the 
duties of his office would allow until his death in 1844. After him 
came his brother, Geo. W. McConnell, who is now a resident of 
Angola. Besides these, we find among the early physicians of 
the county the following well-known names: Peter "W. Ladue 
Madison Marsh, M. F. Morse, Alonzo P. Clark, John Moore, Love 
Moore, D. B. Griffin, Joyce, Pink, Stewart, Patterson, Sloss 
Fitzgerald, Hoopengarner, Reynolds, Hendricks, Robinson, Will- 
iam Southard, L. E. Carver, Drake and Carpenter, besides the 
two Drs. Weicht, father and son, who were homeopathists. An 
Union Medical Society of Steuben and De Kalb County physi- 
cians was organized about 1859 or 1860, which did not exist very 
long and some of the early physicians whose names we have men- 
tioned were connected with a medical society in Lagrange County. 
No record exists, however, of these. 

(419) 

^-7=^ ^;=^fv^ 



G 



>> 



420 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 
THE STEUBEN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 



This society owes its existence to a few physicians who, imbued 
with a spirit of progress, published a call in the Steuben Repub- 
lican of July 18, 1863, to the physicians of Steuben County, Ind., 
to meet at the court-house at Angola, for the purpose of organiz- 
ing a medical society. This call was signed by W. Alphonso Wood, 
C. D. Rice, H. L. Smith and Hugh D. Wood. Pursuant to this 
call, a meeting was held in the court-house July 30, 1863, and the 
society organized by the following physicians: W. Alphonso 
Wood, C. D. Eice, H. L. Smith, Hugh D. Wood, J. J. Hoopen- 
garner and J. W. Badger. The society was to be auxiliary to and 
under the control of the Indiana State Medical Society, and its 
object the advancement of medical knowledge, the elevation of 
professional character, the protection of the interests of its mem- 
bers, the extension of *the bounds of medical science, and the pro- 
motion of all measures adopted for the relief of the suffering. 
To become a member, it was necessary to be a graduate in medi- 
cine of a respectable medical school, a licentiate of any regularly 
organized medical societ}'^, or to have a certificate of qualification 
to practice medicine from the Board of Censors, as well as to be 
in good moral and professional standing. The first ofiicers of the 
Steuben County Medical Society were: W. Alphonso Wood, Presi- 
dent; Hugh D. Wood, Vice-President; Cornelius Dalford Eice, 
Secretary; and J. J. Hoopengarner, Treasurer. 

THE STEUBEN COUNTY MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SOCIETY. 

Believing that the best interests of the medical profession in 
Steuben County demanded the organization of a society in which 
the free expression of thought on the various topics in medicine 
and surgery would not only be tolerated but encouraged, and that 
by the exchange and encouragement of a true friendship they 
could aid one another, the following-named phj^sicians assembled 
at Granger's Hall, Angola, Ind., April 4, 1876. for the purpose of 
forming such an organization: Drs. J. L. Hagerty, of Fremont; T. 
B. Williams and W. H. Waller, of Angola; T. C. Frary, of Pleas- 
ant Lake; H. Petree, of Hamilton; S. H. Fuller, of Fremont, 
and E. A. Swan, of Eay. The society was organized by adopt- 
ing a constitution auxiliary to that of the Indiana State Medical 
Society, and elected the following ofiicers: President, J. L. Hag- 
erty; y ice-President, T. C. Frary; Secretary, W. H. Waller; 



•f 



^ 



^ 



(0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



421 



Treasurer, T. B. Williams; Censors, A, E. Swan, H. Petree and 
S. H. Fuller. Since the organization of this society the follow- 
ing have become members: 1^. B. McNabb, S. Scofield, T. M. 
Sullivan, Welker, J. Merry, D. C. Mitchell, D. N. E. Brown, 
McIIenry, G. J. Wilder, Woodcox, Ayers and M. R. Ransburg. 
The society has not met for a year or more, and its future is 
uncertain. 

Since its first organization the society has undergone two re- 
organizations; but these in no wise changed its first intents and 
purposes. Of the organizers of the society, but one is now a resi- 
dent of the county, Dr. Hugh D. Wood, of Angola. Dr. Rice 
died in 1875. Dr. W. Alphonso Wood was killed in 1868. Dr. 
Badger is living in Michigan; Dr. Smith in Nebraska, and Dr. 
Hoopengarner near Milford, Ind. Since its organization, the fol- 
lowing physicians have become members: Samuel Scofield, T. B. 
Williams, D. N. E. Brown, A. W. Carpenter, T. F. Wood, Theo- 
dore Mc Nabb, J. L. Hagerty, W. H. Waller, S. L. Dart, D. W. 
Fenton, M. F. Crain, Solomon A. AVood, Charles Bates, B. S. 
Woodworth, J. C. Brown, J. B. Blue, Lyman Abbott, James Mc- 
Lean, S. H. Fuller, D. B. Grifiin, T. R. Morrison, J. H. Stough, 
Dr. Snooks, J. F. Jenkins, W. W. Fox, J. J. Wilkinson, A. F. 
Whelan, J. H. Beach, C. C. Cutter, R. F. Lipes, N. E. Bauch- 
mau, C. Van Antwerp, J. L. Gilbert, A. C. Yengling, H. A. 
Clark, C. W. Goodale, Edward B. Simmons, Frank M. Crain, M. 
Y. Ransburg, Frank A¥illett, J. F. Wallace, E. B. Crone, and E. 
R. Taylor. The following do not reside in the county, but are 
honorary members: J. W. Badger, J. J. Hoopengarner, A. W. 
Carpenter, James Mc Lean, H. L. Smith, A. F. Whelan, C. C. 
Cutter, N. E. Bauchman, C. Yan Antwerp, A. C. Yengling, H. A. 
Clark, C. W. Goodale, J. F. Jenkins, and W. W. Fox. 

The society has lost the following: Drs. J. H. Beach (died), T. 
B. Williams, Theodore Mc Nabb, J. L. Hagerty, W. H. Waller, 
J. B. Blue (died), J. H. Stough (in Nebraska), R. F. Lipes (in Al- 
len County), Charles Bates (died), John Brown (in Michigan), Frank 
Willett (in Michigan), Frank M. Crain (in Dakota), M. F. Crain 
(in Dakota), C. C. Cutter (died), S. L. Dart (died), and Dr. Snooks 
(died). 

The present officers are: Lyman Abbott, President; M. Y. 
Ransburg, Yice-President; Hugh D. Wood, Sec; E. B. Simmons, 
Treas. ; T. F. Wood, S. H. Fuller and D. B. Griffin, Censors. 

27 



5) 



-F\<s- 



© 



_ , • 

422 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

T.R Biery^ M. Z>., of Pleasant Lake, was born in Columbiana 
County Ohio, in 1841;came to Pleasant Lake in 1875. He attended 
a course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College in 1868, and 
at Detroit Medical College in 1869, graduating in June of that 
year. He is engaged in the photographic business in connection 

with the practice of medicine. 

John B. Blue,M. D., deceased, was born in Allen County, Ind., 
in 1839. He grew to maturity in his native county, and in his 
early manhood taught school. In 1862 he began the study of 
medicine, and the fall of the next year attended a couise of lect- 
ures at the medical department of the Michigan University, 
Ann Arbor. He subsequently graduated from Kush Medical 
College, Chicago. He located in Flint, Steuben Co., Ind., in 1864, 
and began the practice of his profession, but soon after moved to 
Newville, De Kalb County, where he remained but a short time. 
He returned to Flint, and in the years that followed built up an 
extensive and lucrative practice. A few years before his death one of 
his leo-s became diseased and amputation seemed necessary to save 
his life. For a time the result was favorable, and he resumed his 
practice, but finally the disease took a cancerous form, which ter- 
minated his life, July 5, 1884. He was a successful physician, and 
enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all his patrons. Politically, 
he was a Democrat, and was one of the trusted leaders and advis- 
ers of his party in Steuben County. He was a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, Corinthian Lodge, Flint; Angola Chapter, No. 
58, and Angola Council, No. 28. He was married July 13, 1867, 
to Mary H. Cleveland, a native of Jackson Township,born in 1846, 
a daughter of Amasa Maro and Sophronia (Lobdell) Cleveland. 
Her father was born in Ontario County, N. Y.,in 1812, and was 
one of the early settlers of Jackson Township, where he died in 
October, 1863. His wife died Jan. 25, 1 852. Their children 
were three in number— Mrs. Blue; Louisa, of California, and 
Adelpha, wife of George Golden. To Dr. and Mrs. Blue were 
born three children; but two are living— Nellie M. and John. 
Ludellie died in infancy. 

David N.K Brown, M. D., was born in Columbiana County, 
Ohio, Nov. 30, 1831, a son of Rev. Levi and Pliebe A. (Kirk) 
Brown, who settled in Richland Township in 1844. His literary 
education was received in this county. He commenced his medical 
studies under preceptorship of Dr. E. L. Pattee, of Metz; con- 

"^s ^ '■ ^^ sf'v' 



>t 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 423 

tinued with him about two years, then attended a course of lect- 
ures at Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College. Commenced the 
practice of medicine in August, 1855,in Branch County, Mich., 
remaining there about two years,then came to this county, and 
after one year in Clear Lake Township, moved to Hamilton, where 
he has since resided. The Doctor attended a course of lectures at 
Ann Arbor, Mich., in the winter of 1864-'5. He is a member of 
the Steuben County Medical Society. By strict methodical attention 
to his business and care for his patients he has won an enviable 
reputation, and a large practice, and is enjoying the full confidence 
of the people in connection with his profession. The Doctor 
up to 1884 has always voted the Kepublican ticket, but still con- 
siders himself a Republican. He was married Sept. 23, 1855, 
to Lydia Ann Hoopes, daughter of Thomas and Charity Hoopcs, 
who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1828. They 
have seven children— John M., Mrs. Elizabeth A. Sewell, Phebe 
C. (died aged five years), Levi B., Sarah I., Thomas I., and Ira T. 
Johii M. Brown, M. Z>., one of the oldest practitioners of Steu- 
ben County, was born in Great Barrington, Mass., Dec. 25, 1814, a 
son of Henry and Harriet E. Brown, natives of Massachusetts, but 
later residents of Broome County, N. Y., where they died. Our 
subject began the study of medicine in 1836 with his uncle. Dr. 
Stephen Brown, of New York City, and subsequently graduated 
from the Geneva Medical College. He began his practice in 1842, 
in Medina County, Ohio. In 1855 he came to Steuben Countv, 
Ind., and bought a farm in Eichland Township, where he has since 
resided. He built up a good practice which he continued till 1879 
when, on account of rheumatic troubles, he was obliged to sur- 
render a part of it to younger hands. He is a successful practi- 
tioner, and by his straightforward dealings has won many friends. 
For over forty years he has been in active practice, and to-day 
stands at the head of the profession in the minds of those inside 
and outside the medical fraternity. Dr. Brown was married in 
Richland County, Ohio, to Rosannah Montgomery, a native of that 
county, born Jan. 24, 1823, daughter of John Montgomery. To 
them were born three children — Huldah, born Feb. 21, 1861; John 
M. and Margaret. John died in infancy, and Margaret in the 
third year of her age. Huldah was married Sept. 2, 1883, to Samuel 
Brooks, a native of York Township, born Nov. 5, 1861, a son of 
Henry Brooks, who died while in the service of his country. Mrs. 
Brown died March 29, 1883. She was an exemplary Christian, a 



'\ 



^4- 

<^ r 






t 2 4 HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Dr. Brown 
is a Kepublicaii. He is one of the representative men of Richland 
Township, public spirited and liberal, contributing with an open 
hand to all objects worthy his aid. 

H. M. Byall, M. D., o, promising young physician of Metz, in 
the office with Dr. Theo. F. Wood, was a graduate of the class of 
1884, at Rush Medical College, Chicago. His preparatory studies 
were made in Huntington County, this State, and with Dr. Wood, 
at Metz. 

John F . Camei'on, M. D-, one of the medical corps of Steuben 
County, resides in the village of Hamilton. He was born in Rich- 
land Township, this county, May 8, 1855, where his parents, John 
and Mary Cameron, settled in 1841. John Cameron was born in 
Scotland, Dec. 21, 1814. His parents were George and Janet 
Cameron, who came to America and located in Canada, in tlie 
Province of Ontario, in the fall of 1834. George Cameron died in 
1848, and his wife in 1838. Their son John preceded them a few 
months, coming to America in the spring of 1834. He, not long 
after, went tu New York State, and from there to Ohio, where he 
was a contractor on the Wabash & Erie Canal. He was married 
at Napoleon, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1841, to Mary Carlin, a native of Ohio, 
born Feb. 5, 1823, a daughter of Robert Carlin. They became 
residents of this county the following year. Nine children were 
born to them, eight of whom are living — James G., of Eden, Ohio; 
Louisa, wife of O. A. Mathews, of Eden, Ohio; Robert, of Colum- 
bia, Ohio; Mary, residing in Richland Township with her widowed 
mother; Dr. John F., our subject; Margaret, wife of Samuel Ans- 
paugh, of this county; Josina, wife of Uriah Egbert, of this county; 
William C, now attending the Tri-State Normal, at Angola; 
George, the eldest, was born Sept. 10, 1842, and died Oct. 29, 1850. 
John Cameron died April 4, 1878. He was a man of thrift, a 
sterling citizen. When he came to this county he was possessed 
of some capital and bought 160 acres of land, which he rapidly im- 
proved. The wife that he brought with him to the wilderness, that 
shared his joys and sorrows, amid hardships and toils, a true com- 
panion, and now in a fair degree of health, is living with her 
daughter Mary, on the old homestead. Mr. Cameron, for a num- 
ber of years, was a faithful and consistent member of the United 
Brethren church at Metz. He was one of the trusty and trusting 
men of Richland Township. He was elected Township Trustee, 
performing the duties two terms in a manner creditable to himself 



el 



^IL 

(0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 405 

and satisfactory to bis townsmen. He also served as Justice of the 
Peace twelve years. In 1874 he was elected County Commissioner, 
and re-elected to that responsible position in 1876, and was, at the 
time of his death, Chairman of the board. He was a man of more 
than ordinary intelligence, upright and honest in business, oblig- 
ing as a neighbor, an aflfectionate father, who ever held the inter- 
ests of his children dear to himself. Dr. John F. Cameron 
attended the schools of Richland Township till seventeen years ot 
age, after which he attended Hillsdale College a term and the An- 
gola High School six terms, receiving a diploma from the latter. 
Then commenced his medical studies under the tutorship of his 
brother, James G. Cameron, of Eden, Ohio; remained with him 
three years, and attended three courses of lectures at Rush Medi- 
cal College, Chicago, 111., graduating in the spring of 1880. May 
1, of that year, he commenced practice in the village of Hamilton, 
where by strict attention to his business, good judgment and faith- 
ful attendance upon his patients he is fast winning favor and 
friends. He was married Dec. 12, 1880, to Elnora Powers, daughter 
of Clark and Hannah Powers. She was born in York Township, 
March 7, 1854. In 1883 Dr. Cameron bought of Hon. Hugh Mc- 
Culloch the Hamilton hotel property, where the traveler is enter- 
tained and given, in every sense of the word, the comforts of home. 
Alonzo P. Clark, M. D., was born at Pratt's Hollow, Madison Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 23, 1807; his father was a native of Cape Cod, Mass., 
and emigrated with his wife to Chenango County, N. Y., in 1799. 
He and wife were descendants of the earliest New England stock. 
Dr. Alonzo Clark, when a boy, removed with his parents to Onta- 
rio County, N. Y. He early directed his attention to the study of 
medicine, and began the practice of his profession in 1831, at Port 
Gibson, Ontario Co., N. Y. He was married October, 1828, in 
Madison County, to Betsey Bump, who was born in that county 
Jan. 14, 1808. In the spring of 1836 Dr. Clark came to Steuben 
County and bought a mill-site and saw-mill in Jackson Township. 
He also bought a tract of land, a part of which composes the farm 
of his son Omar and on which was located the original plat of Steu- 
benville. He brought his family later in the season of the same 
year. He was the first physician in Steuben Township, and per- 
haps the first in the county. He was a man highly respected, and 
an excellent physician, and one of the most energetic and progres- 
sive of Steuben's pioneers. He died Feb. 3, 1S67. Politically he 
was originally a Whig, and later a Republican. He also practiced 

■r « ^ ""• B > 



^ 



(3 



426 HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

law in the early history of the county, and served a term in the 
Legislature of the State, and was a public speaker of much ability. 
His wife died March 26, 1878. Dr. Clark had six children, three 
of whom are living. 

Mark T. Clay, M. D., was born in Erie County, in 1855. He 
was reared in his native county, and received a good academical 
education. When nineteen years of age he began the study of 
medicine with Dr. Israel Wheeler, of East Gilead, Branch Co., 
Mich., and later took a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical 
College, Cincinnati, Ohio. He began the practice of his profession 
in Erie County in 1875, and in 1880 came to Steuben County, Ind., 
and located in Salem Center. He is a member of the Indiana 
Eclectic Medical Association, and was granted a diploma by this 
society May 15, 1884. He is the only practicing physician of Sa- 
lem Center, and is fast winning his way into the confidence and 
esteem of the citizens. He is a young man of pleasing address, 
courteous manners, and readily inspires confidence in his patients 
and their friends. He is also the proprietor of one of the drug 
stores of Salem Center. He was married to Amelia Beigh, a 
native of Indiana. They have two children — Leo and Lura. 

Albert Eastman^ M. D., is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., 
born in 1832, a son of Amasa and Catherine Eastman, and grand- 
son of Peter Eastman, a native of England, who came to the United 
States in the early part of the eighteenth century and settled in 
Connecticut, and subsequently moved to Oneida County, N. Y. He 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His mother, Catherine 
Eastman, was a descendant of the Stuyvesant family, of New York. 
She was left an orphan at the age of twelve years, and supported 
herself by working at a sixpence a week. She had one sister, but 
they were separated after their mother's death and were never again 
united. Albert Eastman spent his early life on the home farm. 
When twenty-two years of age he came West, and located in Illinois, 
subsequently moving to La Porte, Ind. Having from his boyhood 
a desire to be a physician, as soon as he was able he devoted his 
time to the study of medicine. He is a close student, and has been 
a successful practitioner from the first. His genial, courteous man- 
ners and sympathetic, kindly ministrations have won him many 
friends, and he has a large and constantly increasing practice. His 
friends are not confined to his patients; the medical fraternity rec- 
ognizing in him a devoted and successful brother, he enjoys their 
confidence and esteem. Dr. Eastman was married in 1873 to Ella 



-f- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNT F. 427 

A., daughter of Jeffrey and Malvina (Fillmore) Francis, natives ot 
New York, her mother being a niece of Millard Fillmore. They 
have three children — Edward, Ruby and Abby. Dr. and Mrs. 
Eastman have a pleasant home, where they are surrounded by all 
that betokens comfort and refinement, and their friends find a wel- 
come that assures them of the pleasure it gives to greet and 
entertain their guests. Dr. Eastman enlisted in the war of the 
Rebellion, in the Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and participated 
in all the varied fortunes of his regiment. 

Stephen H. Fuller^ M. D.^ was born in Montgomery County, 
N. Y., in 1847. When six years of age he came to Indiana with 
his parents, locating at Chesterton, Porter County, where he was 
reared. In February, 1864, he enlisted in the One HuYidred and 
Twenty-Eighth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the 
war. At the time of his enlistment he was but little past sixteen 
years of age, and his weight was less than 100 pounds, but he en- 
dured the hardships of war like a veteran. He participated in 
Sherman's march from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and then his regi- 
ment was assigned to General Thomas's Division, and joined in the 
Nashville campaign. He began the study of medicine in the spring 
of 1874, at Chesterton; attended two terms at Rush Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago, 111., and graduated at Fort Wayne Medical College 
in 1879, having practiced two years prior to his graduation. He 
located in Pleasant Lake in April, 1877, and has built up a large 
practice. He has been Coroner of the county three terms, and is 
one of the Pension Examiners of the State of Indiana. Dr. Fuller 
married Harriet FoUett, daughter of Almarion FoUett. They have 
two sons — Fern and Forest. 

Charles TF. Goodale, M. Z>., is a native of York Township, 
Steuben County, Ind., born May 11, 1844, a son of Burdett and 
Mary Ann Goodale. In October, 1842, his parents moved from 
Cleveland, Ohio, to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in York 
Township, where the father died June 15, 1855, aged thirty-eight 
years. His mother is living with a daughter, Mrs. Stevens. They 
had a family of four children, of whom our subject is the second. 
Albert N. was a member of the Forty-second Illinois Infantry in 
the war of the Rebellion, and died in October, 1863, from the ef- 
fects of wounds received at Chickamauga. Orville F. is clerk of 
Steuben County Court, and resides at Angola. Amelia is the wife 
of Abraham Stevens, of Metz. In his early life our subject made 
the best use of time allotted for attending school, and in addition to 

0/ I 1 I IS 

' -^S <s ^- —• © S- 



>> 



428 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the district school attended the High School at Angola, and Hills- 
dale College. While a student at Hillsdale he enlisted in the Thir- 
tieth Michigan Infantry and served about six months. After his 
return home he began the study of medicine under the preceptor- 
ship of Dr. H. D. Wood, now of Angola, then of Metz, and re- 
mained with him three years. He then attended Rush Medical 
College, Chicago, 111., graduating in 1869. He began his practice 
at Metz, and in 1871 went to Reed City, Mich., where he remained 
till 1874. Then returned to Metz, and engaged in the mercantile 
business almost exclusively for four years, and in 1878 went to St. 
Joseph, DeKalb County, and resumed the practice of his profes- 
sion. In 1880 he returned to the home of his childhood, with the 
intention, of remaining, but his love for traffic, rivaling the love of 
his profession he again, the following fall, embarked in the mer- 
cantile business, and in October, 1881,admitted as a partner Abra- 
ham Stevens, an enterprising business man. In the spring of 
1884 he left the charge of the business to his partner, and again re- 
sumed the practice of medicine. Dr. Goodale has many friends, 
and as he is a close student and has kept himself informed on all 
the advanced theories of his profession, has no trouble in building 
up a good practice. In the spring of 1885 he sold his interest in 
the mercantile establishment of Goodale & Stevens to Jeff War- 
ner. Dr. Goodale was married Sept. 5,1869, to Miss Margaret A. 
Parrott who was born Jan. 9, 1842, daughter of Sylvester and Hen- 
rietta Parrott. They have six children — Burdett, Alice, Frank, 
Paul, Amelia and Ford. In politics Dr. Goodale is a Republican. 
He and his wife are members of the Disciple church. 

Dt. David P. Hathaway was born in the State of New Jersey, 
Nov. 4, 1791. When eleven years of age his parents, Jacob and 
Lydia (Day) Hathaway, moved to Washington County, Penn., 
where the Doctor was reared, and July 27, 1810, married Elizabeth 
Bennett. She was born in that county July 22, 1790. The Doc- 
tor commenced the practice of medicine in Washington County, 
then emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, in 1836, and in the fall of 
1849 settled on section 5, York Township, which has since been called 
Hathaway's Corners. The new country demanded his continuous 
professional services; and by hard work, attending to all calls at all 
hours, he soon broke down and died — May 11, 1850. His useful 
life was given to the help of the sick and distressed of the new 
country. His widow survived him and died Aug. 11, 1878. 

George W. Mc Connelly M. D. In writing the biographies of 



\ 



HISTORY OF STETJBEN COUNTY. 429 

Steuben's pioneers, we have tried to place before our readers the 
simple record of those most worthy of representation, and we be- 
lieve that Steuben County has never had a citizen more deserving 
of this honor than the old pioneer whose name stands at the head 
of this sketch. He comes of pure Celtic stock, his great-grand- 
father,Robert McConnell,beinga native of County Antrim, Ireland, 
born in 1695, whose ancestors went from Scotland to the Green 
Isle in the sixteenth century. Robert McConnell and wife immi- 
grated to the American colonies early in the eighteenth century, 
and settled in Franklin County, Penn., where he died in 1770. In 
that county was born James McConnell, the grandfather of George 
W., in 1745, where he grew to manhood and married a Miss Mc- 
Connell, to whom were born six sons and six daughters, one of 
whom is living — Mrs. Judge Denny, of Lagrange County, Ind. 
On the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, he raised a com- 
pany of patriots, and Aug. 16, 1776,left his native county asCaptain 
of his company, and served throughout that struggle for indepen- 
dence. He was placed at Kings Bridge at the head of the island, 
where New York City now stands. After the war closed, he returned 
to Franklin County, Pa., where he was a Justice of the Peace 
for several years. County Commissioner in 1788, a member of the 
State Legislature from 1804 to 1806, and an Elder of the Rocky 
Spring Presbyterian Church for many years. He died inl809,and he 
and his father, Robert, are buried in Rocky Spring graveyard, near 
Charabersburg, Penn. His brother, John McConnell, was also a 
Captain in the Revolutionary war, and served from first to last in 
that struggle against tryanny, participating in the battles of Paoli 
and Brandywiue and a number of others. The father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch was James McConnell, who was born in Frank- 
lin County, Penn., Oct. 9, 1784, being the third son in a family 
of twelve children. His youth was passed in his native county, 
and in May, 1808, he was married, near Winchester, Va., to Eliza- 
beth Luckey, who was born at that point April 5, 1785, daughter 
of Joseph Luckey. Of the above marriage, twelve children were 
born, viz.: Mary J., James, Rebecca, Joseph, George W., William, 
Caroline, Robert, Eliza A., and three died in infancy. The grand- 
father of Mrs. McConnell and great-grandfather of our subject, 
Hugh Luckey, removed from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled at 
Fag's Manor, Chester Co., Pa., about the same time of Robert 
McConnelTs immigration to Franklin County, Pa. His family, 
consisted of four sons and one daughter — William, Joseph, Isaac, 



430 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

George and Elizabeth. The latter married Kev. James Duu- 
lap, the second President of Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, 
Pa. William and Joseph each raised a company of vs^hich they 
were appointed Captains and served throughout the Revolutionary 
war. Isaac enlisted as a private and was killed at the battle of 
Brandywine. Joseph was a Quartermaster under "Washington as 
well as Captain. George Luckey entered Princeton College from 
which he graduated and afterward became an eminent Presbyte- 
rian divine, settling near Baltimore, Md. He was a classmate of 
Dr. John McMillan, the founder of Jefferson College, Aaron Bnrr 
and Luther Martin. James McConnell was a very fine scholar and 
excelled as a linguist. After graduating he studied law, at same 
time taught a classical school at Mercersburg, Penn., during which 
time he prepared James Buchanan for college, who became Presi- 
dent of the United States in 1857. He entered upon the practice of 
law at Morefield, Ya., which he followed but a short time; but, as 
duty called him, he studied theology and entered the Presbyterian 
ministry, being licensed to preach at Richmond, Ya. His health 
soon failing he again took up teaching and taught at the following 
places: Morefield, Ya. ; Lovingston, Ya. ; Brownsville, Penn.; 
New Glasgow, Ya.; New London, Ya., and Chester, S. C. At 
the latter place, his continued failing health compelled him to 
quit teaching, whereupon he returned to" Pennsylvania and settled 
on a farm in Greene County. His brothers Robert, William, Alex- 
ander and Joseph were soldiers in the war of 1812. Robert and 
Alexander settled in Morgan County, Ohio, and laid out the town 
McConnellsville, in that county. James McConnell died Oct. 
7, 1840, near Mansfield, Ohio, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. 
Andrews, whom he was visiting at the time. His wife survived him 
many years, dying at Waynesburg, Pa., Sept. 6, 1863. The subject 
of this sketch was the fifth in the family, and was born in Loving- 
ston, Nelson Co., Ya., March 16, 1816. He received a good literary 
and scientific education, and in 1836 came out to the "Yermont 
settlement," Steuben Co., Ind. He studied medicine with his 
brother James, and, in the spring of 1838, began practicing on 
Jackson Prairie, moving to Angola the following year, where he 
continued practice until his brother's death, Oct. 9, 1844, when he 
retired from the profession. He was married near West Alexan- 
der, Penn., Aug. 13, 1846, to Miss Eliza Bonar, daughter of Barnet 
Bonar, who was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 14, 1778, and Jane 
Bonar, nee Donahey, born in Ireland, Dec. 13, 1782. Barnet 






>> 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



431 



Bonar was an Elder of the Presbyterian church for over fifty 
years, and died Feb. 1, 1870, on the farm where his birth occurred 
ninety-two years previously, his wife having died Dec. 10, 1869. 
Mrs. McConnell was born in Washington County, Penn., April 22, 
1828, and has had the following children: James, William B., 
Joseph, Robert, George W., Alexander, John L., Thomas C, 
Samuel, Elizabeth J., Mary A. and Sarah M. McConnell. Of those, 
Robert, Samuel and Sarah M. died in infancy, Joseph in his eighth 
year, Mary A. in her ninth, and John L. was accidentally drowned 
in the lake when in his eighteenth year. Mrs. McConnell is 
kind and sympathetic in her nature, feeling deeply for the suffer- 
ings of others, and bearing her own with gentle fortitude. Firm 
in her attachments and friendships, she cannot understand what 
wealth or position has to do with either. To her, all humanity is 
molded alike and she knows no other guide for her relations 
toward her neighbor than that laid down in the divine law. Gen- 
erous and hospitable to a fault, she has ever wielded a power for 
good in her sphere of life. Christianlike and charitable, she loves 
to minister to God's poor, and has never sent away a homeless 
waif hungry from her door. Throughout her life she has always 
been an industrious, faithful wife, and a fond, loving mother. Dr. 
McConnell was Sheriff of Steuben County from 1847 to 1849, and 
was elected to a seat in the State Legislature for the winter of 
1851-'2 at which session the statutes were revised under the new Con- 
stitution of Indiana. He has been engaged principally in farm- 
ing and dealing in real estate. He was one of the organizers of 
the first select school of Angola, and, with others, was instrumental 
in having the present school building erected, for which he con- 
tributed generouslv. The citizens of Steuben know well the 
prominent part taken by Dr. McConnell in having the Fort Wayne, 
Jackson & Saginaw Railroad come through Angola, as well as all 
other public improvements which have added to the wealth and 
prosperity of the county. Politically a Democrat, he was always 
a firm upholder of the Union. He was at For t Wayne when the 
first shot was fired on the nation's flag at Sumter, attended a war 
meeting in that city, returned to Angola and called a similar meet- 
ing, and ever after took an active part in raising volunteers for 
the defense of the Stars and Stripes. He went into the Forty-fourth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was Quartermaster, and 
remained with his regiment until his private business and sickness 
in his family compelled his returning home. He and his wife are 



V 



■k^ 



432 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



members of the Presbyteriaa church, and have always been earn- 
est advocates of temperance. We can safely say that Steuben 
County owes as much to George W.McConnell for its present pros- 
perity as to any citizen it has ever had, and we have been told by 
Angola's best citizens that Steuben has been known throughout 
Indiana and bordering States more through his name and efforts 
for the county's welfare than those of all other citizens combined. 
In adversity, many have deserted him, but for all time to come he 
will bo remembered as a man of active business enterprise, un- 
bounded public and private liberality, and imbued with every princi- 
ple calculated to benefit the county of which he has so long been a 
worthy citizen. 

Dr. James McCotmell, deceased. — Among the men who took an 
active and prominent part in the early history of Steuben County few 
are more worthy of mention than Dr. James McConnell. He was born 
in Morefield, Ya., Sept. 17, 1810, and was the second in the family 
of James and Elizabeth McConnell. He received his education 
at Lovingston, New Glasgow and New Loudon, Ya., under his 
father's watchful care, and soon after entered the office of Dr. Lamb, 
of Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa.., completing his medical studies 
with Dr. Porter, formerly Professor of Anatomy in Jefferson Med- 
ical College, Philadelphia. He began practice at Brownsville, Pa., 
and about 1833 moved to McConnellsville, Ohio, and in May, 1835, 
came to Lima, Lagrange Co., Ind. The territory of which Steuben 
County, Ind., now consists was then a part of Lagrange County, 
and it will thus be seen that he was identified with Steuben County 
from the very commencement of his career in Indiana. He re- 
mained at Lima until Nov. 1, 1836, when he moved to the " Yer- 
mont settlement," now Orland, where he continued the extensive 
practice he had enjoyed in Lima. He was the first physician of 
Steuben County, and a man of fine education and undoubted ability. 
In April, 1837, he was elected Clerk and Eecorder of Steuben 
County for the term of seven years, and located his office in the log- 
cabin of John Stayner, on Jackson Prairie, removing to Angola in 
the fall of 1837, where the county-seat had been located and a frame 
office erected for his occupancy. While practicing medicine in Steu- 
ben County he was called to attend all the more difficult and im- 
portant cases which arose, one of which deserves, from the singular 
circumstances of its origin, a more detailed account. A young man 
named Munson was in the woods hunting, and started some deer. 
While maneuvering to get a shot at them, he put down his loaded 



"7" 







l/jl^ (^f^ (^(TLOVO 





'^^)Uy-ttit 



4 ■»■ — 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



433 




and cocked rifle, holding the barrel with his hand and letting the 
butt rest on the ground. As it happened, the butt came squarelv 
down on a large rattlesnake, which young Munson, intent on the 
deer, did not see. The snake lashed its tail, which, striking the 
trigger of the gun, caused its discharge, the bullet passing through 
Munson's neck. The surprised snake hastened to escape, leavino- 
Munson bleeding from his very dangerous wound. Dr. McConnell 
was hastily summoned, and by his skillful treatment of the wound 
saved Munson's life. He was married in Angola in January, 1841, 
to Mrs. Julia Whittaker, sister of Judge Thomas Gale, one of the 
pioneers of Angola. In 1843 Dr. McConnell resigned his oflSce, 
and began practice as an attorney, but death cut short his labors, 
he dying Oct. 9, 1844. Most of the old settlers remember him as a 
man of integrity and true worth; energetic, obliging and capable; 
possessed of the finer attributes of manhood, and endowed with a 
strong, logical brain. Although first settling in Lima, he was 
from the beginning intimately associated with the early, sturdy 
pioneers of " Old Steuben," of whom their descendants may well 
feel proud. Dr. James McConnell, though dead over forty years, 
is still spoken of in words of kindness and honor. 

William II. Miller, M. B., was born in Toronto, Canada, Sept. 
20, 1851, a son of Simeon and Louisa (Frink) Miller. His father 
was a native of Yorkshire, England, and when fourteen years of 
age came to America, and lived in Monroe County, N. Y., till after 
his marriage, when he moved to Toronto. Li 1856 he returned to 
Monroe County, and in 1866 moved to Jackson County, Mich., 
where he still resides. The family consists of six children — four 
sons and two daughters. When our subject was seventeen years 
of age he left home, and from that time maintained and educated 
himself. Being ambitious to obtain a thorough education and ul- 
timately enter a professional life, he went to Jackson, Mich., where 
he attended the graded schools three years, working when not in 
school to defray his expenses. He then attended the literary de- 
partment of Ann Arbor University, and while there decided to 
take up the profession of medicine. After leaving the University 
he returned to Jackson and entered the office of Drs. Anderson & 
Towne, remaining with them, when jiot attending lectures, till 
March, 1884. In the winter of 1880-'81 he attended the Hahne- 
mann Medical College, Chicago, and also in 1881-'82, graduating 
in the spring of 1882. He continued his practice under the guid- 
ance of his former tutors till 1884, when he removed to Fremont, 



T 



434 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

where he is gaming the confidence of the people and is building up 
a good practice. He is a young man of good address, unquestion- 
able habits, courteous and genial manners, and his close attention 
to his profession and alertness to comprehend any new departure 
combine to make him a successful practitioner. Dr. Miller was 
married in Napoleon, Jackson Co., Mich., to IdaC. Russell, daugh- 
ter of Levi and Harriet (Kilmer) Russell. They have two chil- 
dren — Arthur R. and Franklin. 

John H. Moore, M. />., is a native of Ohio, born June 9, 1820. 
He was reared in Ohio, and there began the study of his profession, 
graduating from the Ohio Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati. 
He began his practice in Mahoning County, Ohio, and in 1853 
came to Steuben County, and lived in Angola four years, then 
moved to Scott Township, where he has since lived and built up an 
extensive and successful practice. His residence is on section 17, 
and is one of the pleasantest in Scott Township. Dr. Moore was 
married in Mahoning County, to Abigail Lee, who died in 1857, 
leaving live children — Mrs. Sarah James, of Angola; Mrs. Mary 
Allen, of Fremont; Mrs. Eliza Lamareux, of Allegan County, Mich. ; 
Duane, of Otsego Township, and Mrs. Harriet Hulwick, of Otsego 
Township. Li 1858 he married Kate Gushart, who died after six 
years of married life, leaving two children — Mrs. Alpharetta 
Hutchins and Mrs. Cora Kilburn. Jan. 1, 1867, he married Har. 
riet Holdredge, who was born Feb. 7, 1837, daughter of Dudley 
and Abigail Holdredge, who came from Portage County, Ohio, to 
Steuben County in 1840. To them have been born two children — 
Dudley H. and Minneola. The Doctor's sentiments are, universal 
mental liberty; the world is his country; to do good, his religion^ 

A. 0. Parsell, M. D., was born in Essex County, N. J., Jan. 
21, 1826, a son of Moses S. and Hannah B. (Crilley) Parsell, natives 
of New Jersey. Moses S. Parsell was born in 1797, and was reared 
in his native county, where he learned the trade of a shoemaker. 
He married Mary Campbell, who died a few years later, leaving 
two children — John, who died in boyhood, and Mary C, who lives 
on Long Island, N. Y. Mr. Parsell afterward married Hannah 
B. Crilley, and to them were born five children, three of whom are 
living — A. G., Sarah W. and Elizabeth S., wife of Avery Emerson. 
Abijah died in 1882, aged fifty-five years. Thomas B. died at the 
age of forty-one years. In 1838 the family came to Indiana with 
the intention of locating in Lagrange County, but changed their 
location to Steuben County, and bought a tract of unimproved land 



i 



/O 



BISTOEY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 435 

of Judge Emerson on section 35, Jackson Township. He built a 
frame house and began the improvement of his land. After 
paying for his land and buying a cow he had no money. He 
died in November, 1839, leaving a wife and six children, the 
eldest but fifteen years old. The mother kept the children to- 
gether till they were old enough to take care of themselves, the 
boys taking charge of the farm. She died in 1846. A. G. Par- 
sell remained on the homestead till manhood. In the fall and 
winter of 1845-'46 he had a severe sickness and another in the 
spring of 1847, which so weakened his constitution that he was un- 
able to perform the duties of a farmer's life, and he turned his at- 
tention to the study of medicine. He entered the office of Dr. 
William Bevier, of Salem Center, and remained with him two 
years. He then attended a course of lectures at tlie Eclectic Medi- 
cal Institute, Cincinnati, and afterward studied with Dr. Bevier 
another year. He began the practice of his profession in 1852, 
locating at Salem Center. Two years later he moved to Fairfield 
Center, De Kalb County, and in 1858 returned to Salem Township, 
and located on a farm, although he continued his practice. In 1881 
he sold his farm and moved to Hudson, and engaged in the mer- 
cantile business with his son George. He was married in 1846 to 
Emily Emerson, daughter of Judge Avery Emerson. They have 
had ten children, seven of whom are living — Albert A., in Texas- 
George A.; Ida A., wife of R. R. Redfield, of Humboldt, Kas.;' 
James R., in Colorado; Henrietta S., wife of Elmer Ransburg, of 
Edgerton, Ohio; Nellie and Thomas A. Three daughters died in 
infancy. Dr. Parsell is well known for his sterling integrity and 
his strong advocacy of all principles he believes to be right. He 
is in all respects a worthy representative of the pioneer element of 
Steuben County. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife 
are members of the Presbyterian church. 

Elisha S. Robison^ M. Z>., was born in Morrow County, Ohio, 
Feb. 12, 1838, a son of Isaac and Nancy (Kilborn) Robison, who 
were slaves. His father was liberated by an act of the State in 
1817. He purchased his wife's liberty a year later, for $500. To 
them were born three children — two daughters, deceased, and 
Elisha S. The mother died in 1848, and his father afterward 
married Alby Lennox, and to them was born one son — Isaac, a 
clerk in a bank in California. The father died in 1862, and his 
wife in 1871. She was a daughter of her master, her mother be- 
ing a house servant. Our subject was reared in a Quaker family. 



\ 



>^ 



436 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTr. 

and was educated in their scliools, not being allowed, on account 
of color prejudice, to attend the common schools, which his father's 
money helped to build. When twenty years of age he went to 
Iberia, Ohio, and the latter part of 1S59 to Massilon, Ohio, where 
he was in the office of Dr. J. B. Bowen a short time, and then went 
to Kent County, Mich., and engaged in farming. Oct. 20, 1S63, 
he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Second Michigan In- 
fantry, and served two years. After hi,s return home he again 
studied medicine and subsequently attended two courses of lectures 
at the Montreal Medical College. April 9, 1876, he moved to 
Branch County, Mich., and Feb. 16, 1882, to Fremont, Ind. He 
has built up a good practice. He is a hard student and has ac- 
quired a thorough knowledge of medicine and its effects on the 
human system, and is a successful practitioner. Dr. Kobison was 
married in Grand Kapids, Mich., in 1862, to Julia A. Sloat, a 
daughter of Commodore Sloat, a prominent slaveholder of North 
Carolina, and one of his house servants, by whom he had two chil- 
dren. He became involved and was obliged to sell some of the 
slaves, and among them was Mrs. Robison and her mother. They 
were sent to the Red River country, at that time a dreaded point. 
While on the boat a colored man, named Moses Cleveland, asked 
the mother if she would like her liberty. Being answered in the 
affirmative, he assisted her to escape. She was put into a hack at 
the wharf and taken to another part of the city. There she donned 
male attire and thus made her way to the North. Mrs. Robison 
died in 1865. He afterward, April 19, married Maggie M. Barker, 
a native of Fulton County, Ky. They have had two children — 
Pearl and Floyd, the latter deceased. 

M. F. Shaw, M. Z>., is a native of Indiana, born in Noble 
County, Aug. 26, 1858, a son of Thomas and Susannah (Stump) 
Shaw, natives of Ohio. In 1857 his parents moved to Noble 
County, Ind., where his mother died in 1862. His father after- 
ward married Rachel Grisamere and still resides in Noble County. 
Our subject remained on his father's farm till twenty years of age. 
After spending three years in Ft. Wayne Medical College and 
teaching public school, he went into the office of Dr. E. W. Knip- 
per, of Ligonier, Ind., and studied with him three years. In the 
winter of lS82-'83 he attended a course of lectures at Bellevue 
Hospital Medical College, New York City, and the next winter at- 
tended a second course, graduating in the spring of 1884. He 
than located in Angola, Ind., where he is building up a good 






\k ^ -^ ^ K> 

^ ^ , ■ 1 (0 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 437 

practice. He is a bard student, is determined to succeed in his 
profession, and by bis energy and incessant application to bis pro- 
fession is winning the confidence of the people and the esteem 
of the medical fraternity. His pleasing address, genial manners 
and good habits have won for him a place in the best society ot 
Angola. 

Frederick Sherman, M. D., is a native of Branch County, 
Mich., born in 1859, a son of Arthur H. Sherman. He was 
reared and educated in bis native county, and after leaving school 
began the study of medicine with Dr. L. Sanders, now Professor 
of eye and ear surgery in Beach Medical Institute, Indianapolis. 
He matriculated at Bennett Medical College, Chicago, 111., where 
be attended two courses of lectures, in 1879-'80 and 18S0-'81, 
graduating in the spring of 1881. He began his practice in 
Branch County, remaining there three years, and in September, 
1884, located in Flint, Ind. He is a young man of pleasing ad- 
dress, courteous manners, and by his sympathy and tact inspires 
confidence in his patients and their friends, and is rapidly build- 
ing up a wide and lucrative practice. Dr. Sherman was married 
in 1880 to Zada Miller, a native of Branch County, Mich. They 
have one daughter — Maud. 

E. B. Simmons, M. D., is a native of Crawford County, Ohio, 
born June 26, 1855, a son of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth (Souder) 
Simmons, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents were married in 
Crawford County in 1845, and to them were born three children — 
Isaac N., Ira H. (deceased) and E. B. His mother died July 16, 
1862, and in 1864 his father married Henrietta Chapman. But 
one of their two children is living — Lawrence. E. B. Simmons 
was reared on a farm, receiving his early education in the com- 
mon schools. He afterward entered Otterbein College at Wester- 
ville, Ohio, and remained there two years. He then taught four 
terms in the district school and one year in the graded schools of 
Osceola, Ohio. In 18T5 he attended the University at Columbus, 
Oliio, and in 1877 began the study of medicine with T. F. Wood, 
of Metz, Ind., remaining with him three years. In the winter of 
1878-'79 he attended lectures at Eush Medical College, Chicago, 
and the following winter at Fort "Wayne Medical College, grad- 
uating in the spring of 1880. He then commenced his practice 
with H. D. Wood, of Angola, and in 1881 went to Bucyrus, Ohio, 
where he remained a year. In the fall of 1882, be located in 
Fremont where he has built up a good practice. He is a young 
28 



438 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

man of more than ordinary ability and his stndious habits and 
love for his profession have combined to make him successful in 
his practice and to rank at the head of young physicians in the 
county. He is a member of the Steuben County, JN'ortheastern 
Indiana, and State medical associations. Dr. Simmons was mar- 
ried March 23, 1881, to Edith Quamtance, daughter of Joseph 
Qiiamtance, of Bucyrus. 

Robert Smithy M. D., one of the early physicians of Steuben 
County, was born in Hancock, Hillsboro Co., N. H., April 25, 
1797, and when six years of age was taken by his parents, James 
and Elizabeth (Wiley) Smith, to the State of Ohio where they 
died. While yet a young man he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and 
there studied medicine under the tutorship of Dr. Mcintosh. He 
commenced his practice in the province of Ontario, Canada, and 
there married, Feb. 6, 1828, Eliza Pomeroy, who was born in 
County Cork, Ireland, Feb. 10, 1810. In 1837 he moved to 
Seneca County, Ohio, two years later to Williams County, and in 
1842 to Steuben County, Ind., and bought eighty-nine acres of 
land on section 2, Otsego Township and commenced making a 
home in the wilderness. Here he lived a life of great usefulness 
being for some time the only physician in this part of the county. 
He continued his practice till 1860 when failing health induced 
him to abandon all except his practice among personal friends. 
He was a man of dignified bearing but genial and courteous man- 
ners, and endeared himself to liis patients and their friends. He 
was a member of the Masonic fraternity, Angola Lodge, No. 236. 
In politics he was a Republican from the time of the party's or- 
ganization. He died April 5, 1878, and his wife Oct. 1, 1879. 
Their family consisted of nine children, four of whom are living 
— Catherine, wife of L. P. Sisson; Robert, of Branch County, 
Mich. ; Louisa, wife of John Foster, and Lewis Cass. Byron died 
at the age of twenty years and the rest in infancy. 

Edward A. Taylor, M. Z>., York Center, Ind., was born in 
Columbiana County, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1849, a son of Dr. James B. 
and Sarah P. Taylor. In 1853 his parents moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and located in Angola where, for a short time, his 
father was engaged in the mercantile business, and then moved to 
Hamilton, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. In 
1863 they moved to Newville, De Kalb County, and from there to 
Edgerton, Ohio, where they still live. Edward A. Taylor pursued 
his literary studies in the schools of JSfewville, and afterward 

©I 



-v.l« 



w»- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



439 



attended Fort Wayne College. He began the study of medicine 
with his father when nineteen years of age, and in March, 1876, 
graduated from the Iowa Medical College, Keokuk. He practiced 
with his father for a time and then located in York Center, Steu- 
ben County. He is a close student, and keeps himself well in- 
formed in the science of his profession. He is a worthy member 
of the medical fraternity of Steuben County. By his careful atten- 
tion to his patients and readiness to answer all calls he has gained 
a good practice which is constantly increasing. Dr. Taylor was 
married Sept. 22, 1878, to Allie Hathaway, a native of Steuben 
County, Ind., born March 26, 1855, daughter of Park and Parthe- 
nia Hathaway, who moved to Steuben County in 1860. 

William Henry Waller, M. D., is one of the most popular and 
successful physicians of Steuben County. Few have risen so 
rapidly as he to the prominence he has attained. His natural taste 
for the profession added to a liberal education fitted him for the 
commencement of his practice, and constant study and experience 
have perfected his knowledge. His kind, sympathetic disposition 
and calm, dignified bearing make his presence in the sick room 
welcome to the patient and reassuring to the friends. Straight- 
forward and honorable in all his dealings, he is esteemed alike by 
his brother practitioners and those with whom he has any trans- 
action. Plain and unassuming in his manner, modest and retir- 
ing in habits, he is nevertheless possessed of a strong determina- 
tion, which is the precursor of success. He is polite and courteous 
to rich and poor alike, and his services are never denied to those 
from whom he expects no remuneration. Dr. Waller was born in 
Kichland Township, Steuben Co., Ind., Nov. 3, 1849, a son of 
Garrett and Jane (Sinkey) Waller, natives of Ohio, who moved to 
Steuben County in 1846. He is the eldest of eight children, three 
sons and five daughters. His summers in early life were spent on 
the farm, attending school in the winter. He began teachino- 
when nineteen years of age, and taught four consecutive winters. 
In the meantime he had resolved to become a physician and in 
May, 1871, he began reading medicine. In 1872 he entered Detroit 
Medical College, one of the best institutions of the kind in the 
country, and attended two courses of lectures, 1872-'73 and 
1873-'74, graduating as a physician and surgeon March 4, 1874. 
He immediately located in Angola where he has since resided. He 
is a member of the Steuben County Medical and Surgical Societv, 
the Northeastern Indiana Medical Society, the Southern Michigan 



"B 









I <2 li^ ^ ■* "^ V^ 



440 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In the 
fall of 1878 he took a special course of lectures on the treatment of 
the diseases of women at the Detroit Medical College, and in 1880 
attended lectures on tlie same subject at the Chicago Medical Col- 
lege. Dr. Waller was married at Metz, Ind., April 15,1875, to 
Amanda Terrier, daughter of William and Olive M. Ferrier, and 
a native of Steuben County, born March 8, 1853. They have two 
children — Zora, born March 1, 1876, and William F., born May 

1, 1881. 

Thomas B. WilUains, M. D.^ located in Angola in April, 1864, 
and is the oldest regular practitioner now a resident of the county 
seat. His father, John R. Williams, was born in Wales, in May, 
1808, and received a fine education in his native country. In 1830 
lie came to the United States and settled in Baltimore, but being 
the possessor of ample means he engaged in no active pursuit. 
He was married in Pittsburg, Penn., in 1834, to Ann June Bur- 
gess, a native of England, and to them were born ten children. 
Becoming permanently identified with the Washington temperance 
movement he moved, in 1841, to Pittsburg, where he labored 
zealously for the cause, and became well known throughout the 
United States as one of the most earnest temperance advocates of 
the day. He was well informed, a pleasant speaker, and well 
calculated to rescue and exalt fallen humanity. He continued his 
noble work till his death in Cleveland, Ohio. The subject of this 
sketch is the second of his family, and was born in Baltimore, Md., 
Sept. 6, 1838. He removed with his family to Pittsburg in 1841, 
and in 1847 to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he grew to man- 
hood, and received a liberal literary and scientific education. In 
1860 he entered the oflSce of Dr. B. W. Speer, of Salem, Ohio, 
remaining a year, when he went to Cleveland, and continued his 
studies with Dr. M. F. Brooks, Chief Surgeon of the United States 
Marine Hospital, remaining there as student and physician until 
April, 1864, when he located in Angola, Ind. AVhile studying at 
the Marine Hospital he attended lectures at the Cleveland Medi- 
cal College and graduated in the winter of 1863. His training 
in the hospital fitted him for the many arduous duties that fall to 
the lot of an experienced practitioner, and his courage and skill in 
dangerous cases have won him the confidence of his patients and 
the esteem of his brother practitioners. He has a large practice 
which yields him a good revenue. Of a kind, sympathetic nature 
his presence in the sick room is comforting, as well as reassuring. 



^ 



.1 \:/ 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 441 

A man of keen perceptions, quick to read human character, he is 
especially adapted to the sphere of a physician. Dignified in his 
beariog, yet pleasant and affable, he has many social friends who 
prize his friendship and admire his upright and straightforward 
course. Benevolent and liberal, he is the friend of the poor and 
needy, never refusing medical aid to any. Dr. Williams is a 
member of the Steuben County Medical and Surgical Society, and 
of the Michigan Southern Medical Society, and is one of the 
Censors of the Wayne Medical College. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. He was married in Angola, Aug. 9, 1866, to 
Mary Carkhoff, daughter of William Carkhoif, one of the leading 
early citizens of Angola. They have one child — William. 

^ugh D. Wood, M. D. — The majority of men who have attained 
eminence in our country have struggled up from poverty and ob- 
scurity to positions of fortune, or fame. Here nature's true noble- 
men come to the front by industry and energy and the people 
recognize their worth and give them the honor due as a reward for 
the exercise of their learning, genius or moral worth. They make 
our laws, shape our institutions and lay the foundation for the devel- 
opment of the minds of the masses. In the gentleman whose name 
heads this brief sketch the citizens of Steuben County have a 
leader in all that goes to make their county, as it is, one of the best 
in the State. Of untiring energy and restless activity, he is ever 
pressing toward the mark that insures the victor with the highest 
praise given the American citizen and attained only by close appli- 
cation and devotion to the pursuit chosen as his lifework. Hugh 
D. Wood was born in Bainbridge, Chenango Co., N. Y., June 28, 
1836, and was the son of Joseph Wheeler Wood, who was born in 
New York in 1801, of English origin, and Sarah Wood, nee Farn- 
ham, who was born in Connecticut, Aug. 5, 1804, of Welsh descent. 
His parents were married in New York, and about 1843 moved to 
Williams County, Ohio, removing in 1846 to De Kalb County, 
Ind., where the father died in 1851, and the mother in 1859. Hugh 
D. was the sixth of a family of nine children. He attended the 
district schools in Williams County, Ohio, and De Kalb County, 
Ind., the most of which he paid for by doing chores before and 
after school hours. In 1856 he attended the Northeastern Insti- 
tute at Orland, Ind., one year and subsequently Hillsdale College, 
Mich., till 1859, which completed his literary and scientific educa- 
tion. During his college life he taught school several terms and 
thus was enabled to work his way through college, independent 



-r' 



3 



\ Q fc_ ' ^ [k*- 



6 



442 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and unaided. His vacations and leisure hours were spent in read- 
ing medicine under his brother, "W. A. Wood, at that time a resi- 
dent of Metz. In 1860-'61 he attended a course of lectures at the 
medical department of the University of Buffalo, N. Y., and in 
February, 1861, be^^an to practice in Metz in connection with his 
brother, and the following year practiced alone. In the winter of 
1863-'64 he attended lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- 
lege, New York, and the medical schools of Philadelphia, and in 
1866-'67 again attended Bellevue Hospital College, graduating in 
1867. May 6, 1869, he moved to Angola to fill the vacancy caused 
by the death of his brother, W. A. Wood, and in 1873-'74 attended a 
general course of lectures at three of the medical schools of New 
York. Thus he has obtained a thorough education in every branch 
of his profession, and by constant study and practice keeps apace with 
the leading physicians of the age. He was one of the organizers 
of the Fort Wayne Medical College and is Treasurer of the Board 
of Trustees and Dean of the facult)^ His specialty is surgery and 
he has performed many difficult operations. He is Professor of 
gynecology and clinical surgery in the Fort Wayne Medical Col- 
lege and delivers a lecture there twice each week. In 1879 he 
received the degree of A, M, from his Alma Mater, Hillsdale Col- 
lege, Mich. He is a member of the Steuben Medical Society, and 
was its President from 1866 till 1869, and Secretary several years 
of the Northeastern Indiana Medical Society, of which he was Pres- 
ident in 1872, and Secretary since July 1, 1874; of the Indiana, 
Ohio and Michigan Tri-State Medical Society of which he was one 
of the Vice-Presidents in 1876; of the Allen County Medical Soci- 
ety; of the Southern Michigan Medical Association, of which he was 
President in 1883; of the American Medical Association and the 
International Medical Congress. He has been Secretary of the 
Steuben County Board of Health since its organization in 1881. As 
a physician he stands in the front rank in Northeastern Indiana, and 
the Northwest, aiid his practice is extensive and lucrative. He re- 
gards his profession from an elevated standpoint and the " quack" 
is in his eyes most despicable. The young physician struggling into 
a living practice finds in Dr. Wood a true friend and adviser. He 
inspires them to better and more extensive study and encourages 
with his sympathy and friendly interest. Believing that the world 
has a place for each of its cliildren, he has no need to discourage 
the weakest of his young brethren, but assists them to find 
the place best calculated to advance their material inter- 



^ 







HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 443 

ests. A courteous, affable gentleman, and a public-spirited, pro- 
gressive citizen, he is a useful member of society, and his opinions, 
fearlessly expressed, are regarded with favor by his friends, and 
with respect by those differing from him. He was the first mover 
in establishing the Tri-State Normal College Association, located 
at Angola; raised nearly all the money for the grounds and build- 
ings, and was its first and present President. Dr. Wood was 
married Dec. 3, 1863, to Joanna Powers, daughter of Hon. Clark 
and Hannah (Ketchum) Powers, natives of New York. Mrs. Wood 
was born in Steuben County, Dec. 15, 1845. But one of their 
three children is living, a son — Weir. 

Theodore jF. Wood, M. D. — Few professional men have the good 
fortune to win the honest regard and confidence that Dr. Wood has 
gained among the people for miles surrounding the townof Metz. 
His Grandfather Wood was a native of Canada, of English parents, 
who moved to New York State, where he married and raised his fam- 
ily. The Doctor's father, Joseph Wheeler Wood, was born in New 
York in 1801, where he grew up and was married, his wife dying 
shortly after the birth of a daughter named Martha. He was again 
married to Miss Sarah Farnham, who was born in Connecticut, Aug- 
ust, 1804, of Welsh origin, who bore him eight children, as follows: 
Warren Alphonso, Elizabeth, Sarah, Phedima, Hugh D., Melvina, 
Theodore F. and Frederick 13. Wood. The Doctor was born in 
Bainbridge, Chenango Co., N. Y, June, 1840, and in 1843 his pa- 
rents removed to Williams County, Ohio, and in 1846 to De Kalb 
County, Ind., where his father died in February, 1851, his mother 
dying in the same county in 1859. After his father's death he 
went to live with his brother-in-law, D. S. S. Stough, who was a 
practicing physician of DeKalb County, with whom he remained 
about seven years, during which time he attended the district 
school in the winter terms, " doing chores" before and after school 
for his board and tuition. He then " hired out" as a farm hand 
for one year, and with the money thus obtained he started to Hills- 
dale College, where he remained off and on four years putting in 
his vacations at farming and teaching, devoting the proceeds in 
paying his way through college, which completed his literary and 
scientific education. In the meantime he put in every ^pare mo- 
ment in the study of medicine, having resolved to become a physi- 
cian while a boy around the office of Dr. Stoiigh. After leaving 
college he devoted his entire time to the study of his chosen pro- 
fession, under his brother, W. Alphonso Wood, of Metz, with the 









444 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

exception of teaching a few terms of school in winter. In the win- 
ter of 1863-'64 he attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical 
College, Chicago, 111., after which he began practicing at Metz in 
connection with W. Alphonso, which partnership continued until 
1865, when his brother having moved to Angola, he remained at 
Metz and began to practice for himself. In lS68-'69 he attended 
a course of lectures at Charity Hospital Medical College, Cleveland, 
Ohio, where he graduated the latter year, receiving his degree of 
M. D. In 1870 he spent a short time at Rush Medical College, 
Chicago, and in 1872-'73 he attended a course of lectures in the 
different medical schools of New York and Philadelphia. He was 
married in Angola, April, 1863, to Elizabeth Powers, daughter of 
Calvin and Emeline Powers, Mrs. Wood was born in Steuben 
County, Ind., January, 1842. They have had three children — 
Lillie (deceased), Edna and Alphonso Calvin Wood. Dr. Wood 
is a member of the Steuben County Medical Society, of which 
he has been President and Secretary several terms; of the North- 
east Indiana Medical Society, of which he has been President, 
Yice-President and Treasurer; of the Williams County (Ohio) 
Medical Society; the Indiana State Medical Societj', and the Amer- 
ican Medical Association. He has been one of the Board of Cen- 
sors in the Fort Wayne Medical College. He belongs to the Ma- 
sonic and Odd Fellows fraternities. As a physician Dr. Wood stands 
deservedly high and his practice is among the largest and most 
lucrative in the county. Located in a country town he has a gen- 
eral practice in all branches of medicine and surgery. In sur- 
gery he has an extensive practice; in the reduction of fractures 
and dislocations he has been eminently successful; has performed 
some important surgical operations, otably trephining of the 
skull. The Doctor has been particularly interested in obstet- 
rical practice in which he has a large experience. 




te 
~ 



5l 






CHAPTER yill. 



THE PRESS. 



FiKST Journalistic Yentuee in the County was the Indiana Re- 
view. — Its Suocessoes. — Hoosiek Banner. — Truth Seeker. — 
The Steuben Repoblican. — Sketches of W. W. Ferrier, Oscar 
F. Rakestraw and Frank T. Burnham. — The Angola Her- 
ald. — Sketch of W. K. Sheffer. 

The first newspaper published in Steuben County was the Indi- 
ana Review, which was started in 1848 by a man named Morton. 
The venture was not a successful one, and in a few months the 
journal was suspended. The second paper was called the Hoosier 
Banner, which came into existence early in 1855. Hunter & 
Dewey were the first publishers. Hunter soon severed his con- 
nection and the paper was continued for a time by Dewey. The 
Truth Seeker, 2^ Spiritualist and free-thought paper, was next es- 
tablished by Bowman & Louden, but after a brief existence it was 
suspended. It was subsequently revivified in New York City, 
where it is now a large, influential, well-conducted periodical, hav- 
ing an extensive circulation throughout the United States. It was 
made a success by the late D, M. Bennett, who was persecuted so 
much during the later years of his life by the notorious Anthony 
Comstock. 

THE STEUBEN REPUBLICAN. 

Early in 1857 J. M. Bromagen, who had been publishing a pa- 
per at Auburn, De Kalb County, moved his office to Angola, 
and commenced publishing the Steuben Republican. The office 
being heavily encumbered, it soon became evident that Bromagen 
could not keep the paper going. Charles Case, who was a candi- 
date for Congress in this district in 1857, did not wish the paper 
suspended, so arrangements were made whereby F. C. Chapin, now 
of Toledo, Ohio, took the Republican until after the election, when 
Charles G. Mugg came in possession. James B. Parker was the 
next editor, and after him W. H. H. Day, now of Moberly, Mo. 

(445) 



k 






iiti 



v> 



446 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



In 1861 Messrs. Eose & Macartney purchased the paper. Kose 
afterward withdrew from the lirin and in 1864 Macartney sold to 
J. J. Miner, who was soon succeeded by O. W. Parish. J. A. Myr- 
tle was the next to try liis hand at the newspaper business, but 
soon took into partnership R. II, Weamer. 

After "Weamer retired, Myrtle continued the publication for a 
time, and then leased the paper to W. C. McGonigal. April 8, 
1874, Germ Brown and Francis Macartney took the office and 
made many improvements in the paper. In June, 1875, Mr. Ma- 
cartney retired and was succeeded by James U. Miller. The fol- 
lowing January the paper was enlarged to a nine-column folio and 
a new outfit including a power press was purchased. 

In May, 1878, the form of the Rejpiiblican was changed from a folio 
to a six-column quarto. The following August Germ Brown, the 
senior editor, died; and in the spring of 1879 Mr. Miller purchased 
from the estate the interest formerly owned b}' Mr. Brown. Mr. 
Miller continued the paper under his name for five years, but in the 
meantime, Nov. 9, 1881, the Steuben County Journal was founded 
by Messrs. W. W. Ferrier and Oscar F. Rakestraw. It was a six-col- 
umn quarto, Republican in politics, and published Wednesdays at 
$1.50 per year. The Journal prospered and acquired a fair pro- 
portion of patronage and good will. April 1, 1884, Ferrier & 
Rakestraw purchased the Repuhlican of Mr. Miller and consoli- 
dated the two papers, retaining the name of the older. It was 
deemed desirable to use the name of the county in the title of the 
paper, and, too, the Repuhlican was well known within and out- 
side of the county from its age, thus making the name a valuable 
one from an advertising point of view. 

The Steuhen Rejyuhllcan is one of the very best country news- 
papers in the Northwest, and has become one of the most influen- 
tial journals in Northern Indiana. Its circulation is nearly 3,000. 
Messrs. Ferrier & Rakestraw associated with themselves, at the 
time of the consolidation of the two papers, Mr. Frank T. Burn- 
ham, former editor of the Republican, who had for several weeks 
been in their employ as assistant editor of the Journal. 

William W. Ferrier was born at Metz, this county, July 18, 
1855, the son of William and Olive M. (Thompson) Ferrier, both of 
whom were natives of Ohio. Mr. Ferrier, Sr., came to Metz in an 
early day, and for twenty-two years kept a store at that point. In 
1875 he removed to Angola, his present residence. He has two 
daughters (Mrs. Dr. Waller and Mrs. Stephen O. Powers), and one 






^ 



\^ 



,^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



M7 



son, the subject of this sketch. The latter attended the common 
district school and assisted in his father's store until 1872. He 
then entered Otterbein Universitj, at Westerville, Ohio. At this in- 
stitution, which is under the control of the United Brethren, he stud- 
ied six years, and was graduated with the degree of B. A. in June, 
1878. Three years later he received the usual degree of A, M., 
given to graduates of three years' standing. Mr. Ferrier passed 
his time in looking after property belonging to himself and father, 
and also read law for a time, until November, 1881, when he en- 
tered upon his present occupation — journalism. He was married 
Feb. 23, 1881, to Miss Adessa Jarvis, daughter of Joseph J. 
Jarvis, of Straitsville, Wayne County, Ohio. Mr, and Mrs. Fer- 
rier are members of the United Brethren church. 

Oscar F. Rakestraw was born in Mahoning Count}^ Ohio, Oct. 
30, 1819, the son of Caleb and Elezan E.. Rakestraw, both of whom 
were natives of the Buckeye State. Caleb Rakestraw was for sev- 
eral years a carpenter, but came to Steuben County in 1858, set- 
tling near Metz, and engaged in farming. In addition, he also 
keeps a hotel. His wife died in 1874, leaving four children. The 
oldest is Oscar F. The others are Mrs. Richard Gale, living west 
of Angola; Mrs. John Dustman, of Coldwater, and Mrs. Anna 
Dunham, of Angola. The subject of this brief biography at- 
tended the district school, and also, in 1861, studied for a time at 
Hillsdale. Afterward he was at school at Angola. Entering the 
Angola postoffice during the incumbency of Alfred Osborn, he 
served as assistant until 1871. In that year he commenced work- 
ing as an insurance agent, being thus engaged until 1877, except 
one winter spent at Hillsdale College. In 1877 he entered the 
Republican office, and in June, 1880, he once more engaged in 
the insurance business, in the employ of the Connecticut General, 
of Hartford. He was special a2;ent for this company from June, 
1880, till March, 1883, going to New England in December, 1882, 
and traveling there until forced by illness to abandon the work. 
In the meantime, November, 1881, he assisted in the establish- 
ment of the Journal, with which he continued his connection 
while engaged in the insurance business. Since March, 1883, he 
has given his entire time to the Journal^ and to its successor, the 
Repuhlican. He was married June 10, 1879, to Melissa Cline, 
daughter of Michael and Barbara Cline, of Angola. Mr. and Mrs. 
Rakestraw are members of the Disciples' or Christian church. 

Frank T. Burnham was born at Hinsdale, Mass., Sept. 16,1855, 



448 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the son of Theodore and Emily C. (Cady) Burnhain, natives 
respectively of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The father, who 
was Treasurer of the Nashawanuck Manufacturing Company (at 
that time the only suspender manufactory in the United States), 
died a month before Frank was born. When the latter was three 
years old, his mother removed with him to Baraboo, Wis., where 
she died in Sspteraber, 1874. Frank studied in the public schools 
and was for a time in the High School grade. In 18Y1 he went to 
California, with the purpose merely of making a visit; but in the 
end he remained three or four years, assisting in his uncle's store 
at Sonora. In December, 1874, he returned to Baraboo, where he 
taught school for two years. In 1876 he went to Chicago, where 
he was first connected with the Hotel Reporter^ afterward being 
legislative correspondent of the Daily News. In the summer of 
1878, he was employed as a special correspondent of the Times, and 
in August of that year he entered the commission house of Lasher 
& Son as a stenographic correspondent. In April, 1879, he came 
to Angola, and he has since been connected with the Republican^ 
except a few weeks during the winter of 1883-'4. He was married 
Nov. 27, 1879, to Hattie E. Sexton, daughter of A. J. Sexton, of 
Kilbourne City, Wis. Of this marriage one daughter has been 
born, April 15, 1881, named Elva. 

THE AKGOLA HEKALD 

was established in January, 1876, by Isaac L. Wiseman, who 
brought the press and material here from Ohio. The Hey^ald was 
then a five- column quarto sheet, devoted to the interests of the 
Democratic party. It was printed on a job press, one page at a 
time. In September of the same year Mr. Wisemin sold to Will- 
iam B. McConnell, Esq., a one-half interest in the office, when a 
hand-press, a quarto-medium Gordon job press, and considerable 
other new material were added to the office. A few weeks later, 
Mr. McConnell became sole proprietor, and the form of the paper 
was changed to an eight-column folio, which was subsequently re- 
duced to a seven- column folio. In July, 1877, W. K Shefler, of 
Ligonier, Ind., purchased a one-half interest in the material and 
good will of the office, and assumed control as editor and publisher, 
the style of the firm being McConnell & Shelfer. The paper was 
at this time supplied with a new heading, the word "weekly" be- 
ing dropped from its title. In July, 1878, Mr. Sheffer became sole 
proprietor of the Herald, and six months later he again enlarged 






»rv^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 449 

it to an eight-column folio, in which form he still continues its 
publication. 

Under its present management the Herald has improved very 
much, and its subscription list has increased largely. It is now 
in a prosperous condition. A good job-printing department is con- 
nected with the paper, and altogether it justly ranks among the 
leading local newspapers of the State. 

William K. Sheffer, the present publisher of the Herald, was 
born in Morrow County, Ohio, July 6, 1845, the son of Adam 
and Rachel Sheffer, natives respectively of Maryland and Penn- 
sylvania. His youth was passed in his native county, and in his 
twentieth year he went to Kendallville, Noble Co., Ind., where he 
remained about eight years, and where he first engaged in the 
printing business. In April, 1872, he entered the office of the 
Ligonier ^«;i?i^r, where he remained until July, 1877, when he 
came to Angola and purchased a half interest in the Herald, be- 
coming sole proprietor in January following. He was married in 
Ligonier, Ind., Nov. 27, 1873, to Miss Eliza A. Pence, daughter of 
Samuel N. and Hannah Pence. Mrs. Sheflfei- was born in Stark 
County, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1848, and has been the mother of three 
children — Lenora Elraa, born June 6, 1876; Sammie Edwin, born 
Nov. 19, 1880; and Laura Bessie, born Sept. 10, 1882, and died 
Jan. 17, 1883. 




. < « 

r 



—I p 



CHAPTER IX. 



EDUCATIONAL. 



Introductory Remarks. — Progress in Educational Methods ani> 
Standards. — Importance of Good Schools. — Early Schools. — 
Text Books. — Improvements. — Northeastern Indiana Literary 
Institute, or Orland Academy. — Inception, Prosperity and De- 
cline. — Trt-State Normal College. 

"That people which has the best books and the best schools is 
the best people; if it is not so to-day, it will be so to morrow." 
These words from the pen of the French educator and statesman, 
Jules Simon, deserve to become a household quotation the world 
over, for no more patent or expressive truth was ever uttered. Of 
course all progress and education is not derived from the study of 
books, and as Hosea Ballou has said, " Education commences at 
the mother^s knee, and every word spokei^ within the hearing^ of 
little children tends toward the formation of character;" but at the 
same time no one other agency is so powerful as the common 
school in developing a nation of self-governing people. 

The citizens of Steuben County feel a just pride in their progress 
in educational methods, which have fully kept pace with the ad- 
vancement in wealth and the development of material resources. 
As soon as the county was sufficiently settled to enable any neigh- 
borhood to open a school, a school-house was provided and the ser- 
vices of a teacher secured. Often a room of a private house was 
occupied, and sometimes the deserted cabin of a squatter became a 
temporary school-room, in which the old-time masters, who worked 
on the tuition plan, flourished the rod and taught the rudiments of 
reading, writing and arithmetic. The first school-houses built 
were structures of the rudest kind, such as no pioneer would be 
content to occupy as a dwelling. 

Built of logs, with floors and benches of puncheons, with a huge 
fire-place and a stick and mud chimney, they were little calculated 
for comfort or convenience. Window-glass was too expensive an 
article to be used in the construction of a school-house, and there- 

(450) 

■^ « — ^ ""• — »rv 



\ «- 



s 



,<^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



451 



fore greased paper was substituted for it. The writing-desk was a 
notable feature in e^^ery school-room. It generally extended across 
one end or one side of the room, and was made of a slab, held in its 
place by wooden pins. For architectural effect, probably, cer- 
tainly not for convenience, it was fastened high up on the wall, and 
the pupil in order to use it must climb upon a high wooden bench 
and sit there without a support for his back or his feet. 

Of the qualifications of the teachers of those days the less said 
the better. Many were accounted good teachers who in these days 
would be unable to secure a certificate even of the third grade. Yet 
the most of them put to the best use the little talent and less train- 
ing they had, and succeeded in planting good seeds in the minds of 
their pupils. Some of the best minds Steuben County has pro- 
duced were those of men whose whole school education was re- 
ceived in the log school-houses of the pioneer days. 

The progress of education here is only a miniature reproduction 
of what has taken place more slowly among all civilized nations. 
Tn recent years improved methods of mental culture have aided 
the teacher in securing better results. The primary object of edu- 
cating children is not that they may escape labor, thereby, but that 
they may labor more intelligently. Children should be taught 
that employment leads to happiness, indolence to misery, and that 
all trades and professions whereby an honest livehood is maintained 
are honorable. Eight living is the end to be achieved, and it is 
the workers that do the most good in the world. The man who 
constantly and intelligently thinks, is above temptation. The 
women who honorably labor in the various trades are to be prefer- 
red and honored above those who sit with folded hands. It is edu- 
cation that makes duty more apparent, lessens toil and sweetens 
life. It is by true education that the moral responsibilities of the 
human family are better understood. Methods are now souo-ht for 
and followed in the school-room. The child's capacity and charac- 
ter are better understood now than in the pioneer days. The rod 
is laid aside, and children are no longer forced under the gag or 
lash to order and apparent studiousness. Fretful and cruel teach 
ers are giving way for those who love children, and again will 
mankind draw nearer to the millennium through the influence of 
the law of love. In this age better attention is paid to hygiene 
and ventilation in the school-room. Houses are lighted, aired and 
warmed in a rational manner. Since the introduction of the "auto- 
matic " school desks there need be no more disagreeable seating in 



^ ^ 



►fv" 



\ 



y- 



452 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



our school-houses. The inventor of this new desk will have a re- 
ward in the numbers of healthy men and women who in this gen- 
eration, as children, are comfortably seated in many of our best 
schools. 

New and better studies have been added to the course of study 
in our common schools within the last decade. Now the child is 
taught to apply what he learns directing his course of study in the 
line of his mental activity, cultivating the good, and restraining 
the evil propensities. The time was, not far back, when only a 
limited knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic could be ac- 
quired in the common schools. The highest aim of the youth of 
the pioneer days was to write a fair hand, spell orally, and solve 
mathematical puzzles. This age is moving in a better educational 
sphere. The change was of course gradual. It was a long strug- 
gle of ignorance and bigotry against education, in which the latter 
had been crowned the victor. But few teachers cling to the 
old theory. Little by little they are growing a.wa,j from the 
old system. A few teachers, who do not improve, are yet votaries 
at the shrine of their idols — the birch, the dunce-cap and other 
old-fashioned methods. .But "too weak the sacred shrine to 
guard," they must soon yield to the new education and enter the 
contiict against error and for a better intellectual life. 

In this struggle for better methods, opinions covered with age 
and honors have been marched ofl the stage of human action, and 
supplanted by facts and principles which have cost years of toil to 
discover, and more years to establish. To the close student and 
observer this theory is new only in its application to our schools. 
It is the normal or natural method. This is the theory of educa. 
tion that antedates all others. The ancients taught by objects, 
when but few of the most wealthy men of that day could aflford 
books. In fact, text-book knowledge is a new thing to the world. 
The first teachers gave instruction orally. They were by the 
force of circumstances independent of text-books. To this 
excellent plan has been added the written method. Then, it 
was principally by observation that pupils received instruction. 
By placing the object before the pupils, the teachers could 
easily reach their minds by his lectures. In this age, blackboards, 
spelling tablets, slates, charts and other school apparatus is 
in general use in our best schools. In the schools of to-day it 
is through the eye that a mental picture is formed from the 



t^ 



iTT" 



(0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 453 

printed page which children draw upon paper or boards from the 
ends of their lingers. Well-qualilied teachers do not think of de- 
pending upon text-books at their recitations, but rather imitate the 
ancient normal methods. In order to meet the demand for better- 
qualified teachers, normal training schools have been established 
in this and other States. The teachers' institute is also an out- 
growth of the demand for teachers of a higher standard. Now 
true education is admitted to be the drawing out and developing 
of that which the child already possesses, instead of the old crowd- 
ing theory of pioneer days. 

There is, perhaps, no question which can so deeply interest the 
people of a county as that of obtaining teachers of known and tried 
ability. In the period of the early settlement of this county al- 
most any one could teach. That time, with all of its rude school 
appliances, has rolled away. The claims of to-day can no longer 
be met by appliances of even a decacle ago, for experience is be- 
ginning to show that teaching, like every other department of 
human thought and activity, must change with the onward move- 
ments of society, or fall in the rear of civilization, and become an 
obstacle to improvement. The educational problem of to-day is to 
obtain useful knowledge — to secure the practical part of education 
before the ornamental, and that in the shortest time. An intel- 
lectual life of the highest culture is what is called for in a free 
country like ours. Only an educated people can long sustain 
a free republic; therefore it is the duty of the State to educate, 
that her free institutions may stand through all ages as sacred and 
endeared monuments of the enlightened people. 

Education sweetens and hedges in the family circle, and drives 
away frivolity and gossip from a community, protecting the mem- 
bers from the inroads of vice and immorality. It is the strong 
bulwark of education that binds this nation of 56,000,000 people 
together for advancement that she may shine in the near future 
the brightest star in the constellation of governments. Rapid 
strides have been made in education within the last half century, 
but the field of improvement is yet boundless, and the work of ed- 
ucation must still go on and make perhaps greater changes than 
those from the time when 

" The sacred seer with scientific truth 
In Grecian temples taught the attentive youth, 
With ceaseless change, how restless atoms pass 
From life to life, a transmigrating mass," 
29 



•VJQ i^ --___S>[^ 

Si 

454 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to that of to-day, when men's thoughts are directed to the investi- 
gation of what they see around them. 

Between 1S35 and 1840 several school-houses were ei'ected in 
Steuben County, though but few neighborhoods were able to sus- 
tain a school regularly, and never more than three months in a 
year. Many of the first schools and teachers, with dates and in- 
teresting facts, are mentioned in the township histories. In 1840 
nearly all the school-houses were log structures and about the only 
improvement which had been made in them was the substitution 
of a few 7x9 panes of glass for the old-fashioned paper windows. 
At that time the text books in common use were the;New Testa- 
ment, Pike's Arithmetic, Comly's Spelling Book and Webster's 
Elementary Spelling Book. Writing books were generally made 
of foolscap paper, or of leaves out of some old account book stitched 
together. The teacher wrote the copies and made pens from goose- 
quills for the whole school. Sometimes evening writing schools 
were conducted by some itinerant teacher of penmanship. These 
were attended by as many as could afford to pay the very moderate 
tuition fee. The young people derived much pleasure from these 
gatherings and gained some knowledge of penmanship. Debating 
societies were instituted early in some parts of the county.^with 
very beneficial results to the youth who took an active part in 

them. 

By 1840 some of the townships had begun to have a small school 
fund derived from the sale of lands set apart for educational pur- 
poses. Though the amount of revenue was generally small, some- 
times not more than $2 or $3 for each school, yet this amount 
served as a nucleus and stimulated neighborhoods to maintain 
schools. Teachers were paid from $5 to $15 per month. Three 
months was an unusually long term; probably the average length 
of the school term did not exceed two months. From 1840 to 1S50 
there was gradual progress in educational matters. Better teachers 
were to be had in the country schools. At that time the best 
schools in the county were at Angola, Orland and Brockville (Fre- 
mont). At these the teachers generally gave instruction in gram- 
mar, algebra, natural philosophy and other high branches. 

After the adoption of the new constitution in 1852, a tax of 16 
cents on each $100 worth of property was assessed for school pur- 
poses, according to law. Then, for the first time in its history, 
Steuben County began to have school accommodations adequate to 
the wants of its population. School-houses were erected where- 



J 



^ 






^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 455 

ever they were needed, in every township, and a short term of 
free school was taught in each. The greatest want was then found 
to be good teachers, and there was great difficulty in securing such 
as were competent. The examinations as then conducted were 
simple and easily passed, embracing only reading, writing, arith- 
metic, geography and grammar. But gradually new methods were 
introduced and the schools improved. That now indispensable 
feature in every school-room, the blackboard, made its appearance, 
and with it came progress. 

The system of county superintendency has had a most beneficial 
efi'ect. Township and county institutes have accomplished much 
good work, teaching the teacher, giving him a broader view of his 
vocation, and causing him to abandon old, worn-out and useless 
methods. To-day the people of Steuben County may well take 
pride in the excellencies of their school buildings, the general in- 
telligence and high character of their teachers, and the good man 
agement exhibited in all departments of school afiairs. Although 
there is still room for improvement, magnificent results have al- 
ready been accomplished by the free-school system. 

NORTHEASTERN INDIANA LITERARY INSTITUTE, OR ORLAND ACADEMY. 

The hardy New Englanders who settled this county brought 
their free-school ideas with them, and Orland, or "Vermont settle- 
ment," was always a center of intelligence. Hardly was the 
country around sparsely settled with young farmers when the 
citizens of Orland began to discuss the practicability of founding 
an institution where a higher mental training could be obtained 
than in the common schools. The Northeastern Indiana Literary 
Institute, which name was given to the Orland Academy when it 
was first established, began its career in 1850. It was first started 
under the more direct auspices of the Baptist church of Orland, 
and the association with which that church was connected. But 
the matter, as an educational enterprise, immediately received the 
earnest, hearty support and patronage of all the people, irrespec- 
tive of denominational connection. The times, the wants of the 
country and the needs of the people in this regard all conspired to 
waft the institution into the fullest success. 

It was, however, to the individual energy and determination of 
one or two individuals who took more than ordinary interest in the 
enterprise that the school owes the credit of its establishment and 
operation. Notably among these " fathers" of the school should 



19 



fT 



X 






456 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

be mentioned Captain Samuel Barry and Elder E. R. Spear. There 
were others in Orland and vicinity who did perhaps as much and 
as well as did the bluif, enei-^etic, sputtering, eccentric, though 
earnest old Captain but none could have done more nor much 
better than he did. 

Prof. Samuel Harper, a graduate of the University of Michigan, 
then a young man and unmarried, now a farmer and a grandfather, 
was the first principal and teacher of the school. He was a success- 
ful manager, as well as teacher, and under his tuition scores of 
young men and young women stepped from the common schools of 
the country through his classes to a completer discipline and 
greater progress in intellectual attainments, and to that higher 
culture, which have rendered them eminently useful and respected 
in life. Mr. Harper now lives in Lagrange County, which he 
represented for a number of sessions in the State Legislature. The 
academy prospered equally well under subsequent principals, 
among whom should be mentioned Profs. G. W. Gibson, John 
Barnard, Neihardt, Fast, Gillespie, Williams, Cowen and others, 
who sent out from the portals of this institution hundreds to fill 
honorable positions in life. The institution prospered until the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, when many of the young men, in- 
cluding three teachers, entered the service of their country. This 
caused a decline in its prosperity from which it never fully re- 
covered until 1878, when it was merged with the common-school 
system of the township. 

TRI-STATE NORMAL COLLEGE. 

This is a young institution, but its success may be considered as 
already assured. It is a creditable school, from an educational 
point of view, and thus adds to the literary advantages of the 
youth of Northeastern Indiana and the adjacent portions of Michi- 
gan and Ohio, while at the same time it adds to the business of 
Angola. It also gives social advantages that are of great benefit. 
All these considerations were in the minds of the founders of the 
college, who have given their money solely for the benefit of An- 
gola and the surrounding country. They do not hope to profit by 
their investment. 

The association which controls the Tri-State Normal College was 
founded at a meeting held July 23, 1883, when the following 
oflicers were elected : President, Hugh D. Wood, M. D.; Yice- 
President, L. A. Hendry; Secretary, W. W. Ferrier; Treasurer, 






& 



t9 



_^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 467 

Lawrence Gates; Trustees, O. Carver, O. Goodale, L. A. Hendry, 
J. S. Draper and L. E.. Williams. Six acres of land were pur- 
chased at a cost of $4,200, and a neat and substantial colleo^e build- 
ing was erected on a commanding site. Near bv stands the dormi- 
tory. The college property is estimated to be worth $20,000. 

The school was opened in June, 1884, and dedicated with appro- 
priate and impressive ceremonies on the 17th of that month. ^ The 
dedicatory address was delivered by J. M. Olcott, of Indianapolis. 
The college year contains five terms, and there are no vacations 
between terms. The first commencement was held May 20, 1885, 
when there was a class address by the president, and a contest by 
the literary societies, as well as other exercises. The second year 
began June 1, 1885, after a brief vacation. So far the attendance 
as averaged 100, a remarkably good showing, while the insti- 
tution is as yet so little known abroad. 

The present faculty is composed of the following instructors : 
L. M. Sniif, A. M. (President), common branches and higher 
mathematics; L. W. Fairfield, natural sciences, rhetoric, and his- 
tory; F. E. Knopf, A. M., Latin, Greek and modern languages; 
Mrs. L. M. Sniff, elementary grammar and physiology; L. D. 
Creel, B. C. L., book-keeping, commercial law and penmanship; 
Miss Addie Shepherd, music; Mrs. F. E. Work, fine arts; Miss 
Allie Cline, telegraphy; Frank T. Burnham, phonography and 
type-writing. 

Three regular courses are offered, teachers', scientific and class- 
ical; and there are also maintained special departments for music, 
engineering, fine arts, telegraphy, phonography and book-keeping. 
Board is remarkably cheap, ranging from $1.50 to $3.00 per week. 
The degrees conferred are A. B., B. S., B. C. E. and B. C. L. 




jF*" 



a_ 



^ 



(S\ 



CHAPTER X. 



AGRICULTURAL. 



Steuben an Agricultural County. — Steuben County Agricult- 
ural Society. — Organization. — First Fair, — Subsequent An- 
nual Fairs. — Pleasant Lake Agricultural Society. — Fairs 
AT Orland. — Agricultural Statistics. 

The best prosperity a county can have is agricultural. Manu- 
factures and mineral resources are desirable, but where they are 
the main dependence, there will invariably be a poor, ignorant, un- 
enterprising class of citizens controlled by a few capitalists. Here 
in Steuben County, property is evenly distributed, all are com- 
fortably situated, and all enjoy educational and social advantages. 
Steuben County is destined to remain an agricultural county, and 
it is well that it is so. 

STEUBEN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

County societies for encouraging agriculture and for holding 
annual fairs are of very great advantage, and have so multiplied in 
the last few years that now almost every county in the land has 
its annual fairs. 

The Steuben County Agricultural Society held its first meeting 
in 1855, among the prominent members being Alanson W. Hendry, 
George W. McConnell, Jacob O. Rose and George Harding. The 
society prospered, held several fairs before the war, and acquired a 
fine fair ground; but this was destroyed when the railroad was 
built through Angola in 18 70. 

Pursuant to call, a number of citizens of the county met at the au- 
ditor's ofiice at Angola, Sept. 25, 1873, for the purpose of organizing 
an agricultural society. The immediate occasion of this step was 
the fact that, in accordance with a State law, $500 had been de- 
posited in the county treasury for the benefit of any county agri- 
cultural society that might be organized. This failing, the money 
was to be given to the district society. The meeting appointed 
M. B. Butler, Chairman, and L. H. Stocker, Secretary. Ofiicers 

were then elected as follows: President, A. W. Hendry; Secretary, 

(458) 



V" (5- 



"S 






\\Q ^ [^ 

-4— 2J — 1 P 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 4:59 

Lawrence Gates; Treasurer, Frank Macartney; Executive Commit- 
tee, Charles Chadwick, Calvin Powers, H. G. Croxton, Clayton 
Mallory and S. W. Scoville. 

The society met July 25, 1874, at the court-house, representa- 
tives being present from every township. Calvin Powers, of York 
Township, presided in the absence of the President. After speeches 
were made by J. A. WoodhuU, Dr. G. W. McConnell, Calvin Pow- 
ers, A. S. Sherwood, W. I. Howard, R. G. Brown and others, it 
was unanimouusly voted to have a fair the ensuing fall, W. G. 
Croxton, Wm. L. Orton and P. W. Russell were appointed a com- 
mittee on i^rounds. Directors were chosen as follows: Mill Grove, 
George Harding; Jamestown, Clayton Mallory; Fremont, Joshua 
Michael; Clear Lake, D. B. Teeters; York, William Moss; Scott, 
Thomas Tasker; Pleasant, A. S. Sherwood; Jackson, M. F. Gid- 
dings; Salem, Samuel Ferguson; Steuben, Samuel Carter; Otsego, 
Jesse H. Carpenter; Pachland, S. W. Scoville, L.E. Weicht, Allen 
Fast and L. Anderson. These directors were authorized to fix a 
time for holding a fair, make up a list of premiums, appoint judges 
and make all other necessary arrangements. 

Sept. 29 and 30 was fixed as the date for the fair, and a mod- 
est premium list was drawn up. Having no permanent grounds, 
the society held its first exhibition on open grounds, and charged 
no admission fee, except for vehicles, which paid 25 cents each. 
The fair was well attended, and for a beginning was a good one. 
The grounds and track were the property of Dr. McConnell, and 
the halls for exhibition purposes were merely hastily improvised 
tables. The total receipts were $357.20, and the disbursements, 
including $151.25 for premiums, were $287. 5L At a meeting of 
the society held soon after, articles of association were submitted 
and adopted, providing for the formation of a joint stock company 
under the name of the Steuben Agricultural Society, with a capital 
stock not to exceed $15,000, divided into shares of $25 each. The 
following directors were chosen: E. A. Wilder, Thomas McClew, 
Myron Powers, Wm. G. Croxton, Moses Gonser, S. L. Clark, Will- 
iam Harding, D. B. Teeters, Thomas Tasker, Ziba Roberts, V. E. 
Simmons and S. W. Scoville. These directors re-elected the gen- 
eral oflacers. Through lack of interest, and perhaps from lack of 
able management, the society died, or at least relapsed into slum- 
ber, and for a time it seemed futile to attempt to breathe into it 
new life. A good many attempts were made at revival, but they 
only resulted in talk. 



I© 



^-——. - ^ s^ 



\\<=- 



^ 



460 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Two years passed b}'', and in the summer of 1876 the society was 
entirely reorganized, under the name of the Steuben County Agri- 
cultural Society. This organization went enei'getically at work 
and purchased a tract of land north of Angola, which was speedily 
put in good condition for an exhibition. The first fair under the 
new regime was held Oct. 18, 19, 20 and 21. Everything turned 
out equal to the most sanguine expectations of the management. 
The weather was favorable, the attendance was large and gener- 
ous, and the display was full and satisfactory, considering that it 
was very late in the season before arrangements were begun, and 
great credit was given to the officers. The stockholders held their 
first meeting Nov. 6, following, at the court-house, and elected 
officers as follows: President, A. W. Hendry; Yice-President, H. 
D. Wood; Secretary, M. F. Grain; Treasurer, F. Macartney ; Di- 
rectors, George W. Collins, H. H. Owen, Joseph A. Woodhull, 
L. M. Sowle, Joseph Gilbert, T. F. Wood, Horace Van Auken, 
Dwight Lewis, Stephen Hubble, A. S. Moore, O. H. Leas and A. 
D. Parsell; Executive Committee, William G. Croxton, P. W. Rus- 
sell, Orrin Sowle, A, S. Sherwood and Henry Dutter; General Su- 
perintendent, A. S. Sherwood. 

The second annual fair, Oct. 11, 12 and 13, had to contend 
against the serious disadvantage of unfavorable weather. The va- 
rious departments showed the discouraging effects of this, although 
some were excellent. The attendance was poor, except on Friday, 
the second day. The aggregate attendance was 5,000. The en- 
tries numbered 1,400. 

In 1878 the fair lasted three days, Oct. 2, 3, and 4. While 
the exhibition was very good, the main feature seemed to be the 
races, which extended over the three days. There were some very 
fast horses present. The track was well prepared, and it still has 
the reputation of being one of the finest in the State. 

The fourth annual exhibition was held Sept. 24, 25 and 26, 
1879, and was a success in every particular. The attendance 
was small on the first and closing days, but on the second day, 
Thursday, the number present far surpassed the sanguine expecta- 
tions of the managers. The number of articles entered for exhibi- 
tion exceeded 2,000. The stock show was hardly as good as usual. 
The races were exciting, and interesting to those who permit them, 
selves to witness horse racing. A 100-yard foot race wafi won in 
twelve seconds. 

The fifth annual fair was held Sept. 28, 29 and 30, and Oct. 



"V 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 461 

1, 1880. There was a better display than at any previous exhibi- 
tion, in nearly all the departments, but the "clerk of the weather" 
was in bad humor, and as a result Tuesday and Wednesday were 
cold and disagreeable. Thursday morning, however, the sun rose 
in a cloudless sky and continued to shine brightly all day. In the 
afternoon nearly 7,000 people were present, and it required consid- 
erable elbowing and pushing to get around. Friday morning was 
rainy, but the clouds dispersed during the day. The peanut and 
popcorn vendors did a thriving business, as did also the sellers of 
warm candy. It was not an uncommon sight to see a young fel- 
low and his girl promenading around arm in arm, he munching a 
piece of gingerbread, while his inamorata had a stick of taffy which 
she was chewing with evident relish. The 10 cent dance was well 
patronized, and at times some of the devotees of the, art furnished 
considerable amusement to a crowd of spectators outside the tent. 
No vendors of "Snide" jewelry and prize packages were allowed 
inside the gates. The books of the secretary showed 1,541 entries, 
as follows: Cattle, 49; horses, 80; sheep, 66; swine, 26; me- 
chanics' hall, 80; agricultural hall, 362; poultry, 47. 

In order to steer clear of the equinoctial storms, the managers 
fixed the dates for the 1881 fair, on Oct. 11, 12, 13, and 14. Their 
foresight was in vain, for after the first morning a persistent rainy 
season set in that lasted the entire week. In hopes of better 
weather, the fair was extended to include Saturday, the 15th; but 
this day was no better. The exhibition was very creditable, per- 
haps better than that of the previous year. On the third day 3,000 
people were present, in spite of rain. The races were as inter- 
esting as could be expected. 

The 1882 fair was held Oct. 10, 11, 12 and 13, and was a gratify- 
ing success. It was pronounced the best fair up to date ever 
held in Steuben County. The attendance was large, 12,000 tickets 
being sold on Thursday, the "big day." Rains interfered some- 
what with the races, which were partly postponed to the following 
week. 

The eighth annual fair was held Oct. 10, Hand 12, and resulted 
satisfactorily to all concerned. The exhibition was fully up to the 
average, all things considered, and the attendance was larger than 
ever before. The stock exhibit was the best feature. The year 
was a very unfavorable one for crops, and this was manifest in the 
agricultural part of the fair. Over 10,000 tickets were sold on the 
second day, Thursday. The number of exhibitors was 492; entries 






Q_ 



(0 



462 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



of cattle, 100; horses, 125; sheep, 102; hogs, 110; poultry, 60; 
mechanic's hall, 101; a^^ricultnral hall, 1,100; floral hall, 1,245. 

The ninth annual exhibition was held Oct. 8, 9 and 10, 1884, 
and visitors pronounced it the best ever held in this county. The 
stock show was unusually good. Floral Eall fell below its average 
in some respects. The greatest improvement seen was in Agri- 
cukural Hall, where every available inch of space was occupied. 
Another good feature was the machinery building, recently erected 
and provided with a line shaft with which a number of machines 
can be connected. The attendance on the afternoon of Thursday, 
the second day, was estimated at 7,000. A goodly crowd was 
present on Friday. Rain kept people away on Wednesday. At 
the races Grey Harvey trotted a mile in 2:29^, the fastest time 
ever made on the Angola track. 

PLEASANT LAKE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

In 1875 the citizens of Steuben, Salem, Otsego and Hichland 
townships organized the Pleasant Lake Agricultural Society "for 
the purpose of establishing and maintaining an association for the 
promotion of agriculture, horticulture and the mechanical arts." 
Tlie first fair was held Sept. 23 and 24, 1875 (Thursday and Friday). 
It was an unexpected success, both in the exhibition of articles and 
in the attendance. This was particularly true on the second day. 
The committee in charge, to whom the credit of the enterprise was 
due, were V. E. Simmons, Dr. T. C. Frary (Secretary), A. Shaff- 
stall, Samuel Carter, AVal. Williams, L. I. Matson and S. W. Sco- 
ville. The officers of the day were S. B. George and L. F. Welden. 

Sept. 28 and 29, 1876, the association held another fair in Sim- 
mons's Park, Pleasant Lake. The unpropitious weather on the 
first day was succeeded by a pleasant second day, and 2,000 people 
turned out to the exhibition. The displays of stock, agricultural 
implements, fruit and miscellaneous articles in Floral Hall were 
very creditable. 

The third fair was held Sept. 27 and 28, two as fine days as 
there were in the whole autumn. The exhibition was good in the 
agricultural and ladies' departments, and the attendance was larger 
than that of previous years. 

The association held its fourth annual fair at Pleasant Lake, 
Sept. 19 and 20, 1878, and was fairly successful. One ieature this 
year was a husking match, in which there were twelve contestants. 
The fifty ears allotted to each were husked by those receiving first 



■^ 



K 



>> 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 463 

and second prizes in two minutes and ten seconds. The first pre- 
mium was awarded to Dan Hall, of Otsego, and the second to A. 
Lemmon, also of Otsego. 

The next fair was held Oct. 3, 1879. No cash premiums were 
offered and no admittance fee charged; and therefore the exhibition 
part of the affair was not very pretentious. Curious games and 
races, closing with a dance in the evening, enabled the greater 
part of the visitors to have a good time. One feature was a 
"potato race." Rows of potatoes, forty in a row, were distributed, 
one in each place, at a distance of one to three feet apart, and these 
were to be picked up by boys, carried one at a time, and deposited 
in baskets at the head of the row; each boy to touch the base with 
his foot before dropping the potato into his basket. At a given 
signal the lads started in, and for a few moments the contest was 
lively and exciting. There were five or six contestants. A little 
later in the day a husking match came off, which was heartily en- 
gaged in by eight or nine persons. The task was to husk fifty ears 
of corn, time and quality of work to be considered. This match 
was a tie between A. Lemmon and Dan Fretz. Forty ears more 
were assigned to each, and this time Lemmon was declared the 
winner by one ear. He performed his work in one minute and 
twenty-five seconds. 

FAIRS AT ORLAND. 

In 1876 the farmers of the northwestern part of the county, 
aided by a few from neighboring counties to the north and west, 
organized and held a fair which, all things considered, was a great 
success, and a benefit to all concerned. 

Their second fair was held Sept. 20 and 21, 1877, at Hnnter's 
Trotting Park. The weather was superb on both days, and the 
track being in good condition, a number of fine horses were entered. 
The racing was the principal attraction. The exhibition of live 
stock was creditable in quality, but not large. The music for this 
fair was furnished by a ladies' band from Angola. 

The following agricultural statistics, taken from the State reports, 
are as nearly correct as it was possible to obtain, and give the ap- 
proximate acreage and yield of crops for 1882 and 1883. 

Wheat. — Acres sown in 1883, 26,081; bushels grown in 1883, 
381,328; acres in 1882,28,926; bushels in 1882, 340,032; bushels 
in 1881, 271,857; bushels in 1880, 528,827; bushels in 1879, 522,- 
879. 



\ 



^-^ 



^Tx*" 



464 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Corn.— Acreage in 1883 was 21,954; crop same year was 478,- 
125 bushels ; acreage in 1882, 23,162 ; crop same year, 815,755 
bushels ; crop in 1881, 801,145 bushels ; crop in 1880, 680,331 
bushels; crop in 1879, 890,719 bushels. 

Oats.— Acreage in 1883 was 5,762 ; crop same year was 190,- 
393 bushels; crop in 1882, 231,280 bushels. 

Barley. — Acreage in 1883 was twenty -three; crop same year was 
480 bushels; crop in 1882 was 3,432 bushels. 

^yd.— Acreage in 1883 was 212 ; crop same year was 3,214 
bushels;. crop in 1882, 1,942 bushels. 

Buckwheat.— Acreage in 1883, 128 ; crop same year was 1,444 
bushels. 

Irish Potatoes.— Acreage in 1883 was 1,104 ; crop same year 
was 89,900 bushels; crop in 1882, 87,995 bushels. 

Timothy. — Acreage in 1883 was 6,908; srop same year was 11,- 
035 tons; crop in 1882, 9,918 tons. 

Clover.— Acreage in 1883, 14,562 ; crop same year was 22,342 
tons; crop in 1882, 12,366 tons. 

Timothy Seed.— Sown in 1883, sixty bushels; sown in 1882, 249 
bushels. 

Clover Seed.— Sown in 1883, 1,888 bushels; sown in 1882, 6,- 
552 bushels. 

Blue Grass Seed.— Sown in 1883, five bushels ; sown in 1882, 
forty-five bushels. 

Majjle Molasses.— Gallons made in 1883, 2,514; in 1882, 2,883. 

Maple Sugar.— Founds made in 1883, 17,041; in 1882, 21,527. 

Sorghum.— Molasses made in 1882, 4,924 gallons; in 1881, 1,- 
266 gallons. 

Tile Brain.— 'Reported in 1883, 25,912 rods ; in 1882, 21,604 
rods. 

Cider.— Gallons made in 1882, 19,163; in 1881, 75,804. 
Vinegar.— Gallons made in 18S3, 876; in 1882, 4,837. 
Tf^we.— -Gallons made in 1883, ninety-two; in 1882, 426. 
Milk.— Gallons produced in 1883, 1,569,204; in 1882, 1,790,- 

822. 

^^715?/.— Stands of bees in 1883, 980 ; in 1882, 862 ; pounds ot 
honey, 1883, 13,184; in 1882, 12,398; stands of bees killed during- 
winter of 1882-'83, 590. 

Butter.— Founds produced in 1883, 497,819 ; in 1882, 510,414. 

Cheese.— Founds made in 1883, 63,210; in 1882, 142,895. 

^^^s.— Dozens reported in 1883, 34,430 ; in 1882, 399,128. 

, & Is 



^y- 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COCTNTT. 



465 



Wool—CWp in 1882, pounds, 178,000; in 1881, 149,561; esti- 
mated for 1883, 184,769. 

Dried J^^^^*.— Bushels in 1882, 832; in 1881, 8,574. 

Ca7ined Small i^rmV.— Quarts in 1882, 24,979; in 1881, 16,809. 

Horses. — Number reported in 1883 under one year old, 290; in 

1882, 356; in 1883, between one and two years old, 268 ; in 1882, 
322; in 1883, between two and three years old, 260; in 1882, 290; 
in 1883, between three and four years old, 325 ; in 1882, 426; in 

1883, four years old and over, 3,496; in 1882, 3,609; total number 
April 1, 1883, 4,639; one year previous, 5,003. 

Cattle. — Number reported in 1883 under one year old, 3,252; in 
1882, 2,970 ; in 1883 between one and two years old, 2,032; in 
1882, 2,062; in 1883 between two and three years old, 1,279; in 

1882, 1,311; in 1883 over three years, 4,106; in 1882, 4,677; total 
number April 1, 1883, 10,669; year previous, 11,020. 

J?^^s.— Stock hogs in 1883, 20,092; in 1882, 16,229; fatted hogs 
in 1883, 18,465; in 1882, 30,147; weight of fatted hogs in 1883, 
4,062,598 pounds. 

Sheep.— EwxnhQY in 1883, 37,173; in 1882, 38,319; lambs in 

1883, 6,366; in 1882, 12,028; total in 1883, 43,539. 
Apple-trees. — Number of bearing age, 1882, 125,069 ; under 

bearing age, 27,674 ; bearing age, 1883, 115,785 ; under bearing 
age, 14,158. 

Feacli-trees. — Number of bearing age, 1S82, 36,295; under bear- 
ing age, 12,638 ; bearing age, 1883, 29,253 ; under beariug age, 
11,673. 

Pear-trees. — Number of bearing age, 1882, 3,293 ; under bear- 
ingage,2,228; bearing age, 1883, 3,089; under bearing age, 2,370. 

Plum-trees. — Number of bearing age, 1882, 981; under bearing 
age, 591; bearing age, 1883, 1,026; under bearing age, 728. 

Quince-trees. — Number of bearing age, 1882, 377 ; under bear- 
ing age, %9>^\ bearing age, 1883, 380; under bearing age, 293. 

(Jherry-trees. — Number of bearing age, 1882, 18,282; under bear- 
ing age, 3,719; bearing age, 1883, 17,227; under bearing age, 3,551. 

Siberian Crabs. — Number of bearing age, 1882, 628 ; under 
bearing age, 805; bearing age, 1883, 518; under bearing age, 225. 

Grape-vines. — Number of bearing age, 1882, 13,249; under bear- 
ing age, 3,218; bearing age, 1883, 15,230; under bearing age, 2,738. 

Blueandother Pr^M6^/-as«e5.— Acres in 1883,6,995; in 1882,8,015. 

Unused Plowed Land. — Acres in 1883, 20,549; in 1882, 10,444. 

Timber Zand.— Acres in 1883, 35,505; in 1882, 37,783, 



^ 






CHAPTER XL 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



k. 



POSTOFFICES AND PoSTAL SERVICE IN StEUBEN CoUNTT. PROPERTY 

AND Taxation. — United Brethren Church. — Ped Pibbon 
Movement. — Drowned in the Lakes. — Steuben's Oldest In- 
habitant. — A Lucky Find. — Spelling Matches. — Silas Doty. 

POSTOFFICES AND POSTAL SERVICE IN STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The following, kindly furnished ns for publication, has been 
carefnllv compiled from the official records at Washington and 
will be of interest to readers in and out of Steuben County. We 
take pleasure in presenting this matter, together with Mr. Beight's 
letter to Dr. McConnell, as an authentic sketch of history well 
worth preserving: 

Washington, D. C, May 29, 1885. 
Dr. Gr. W. McCoNNELL, Angola^ hid. : 

Dear Sir: — Recognizing the fact that Dr. McConnell is one of 
the earliest settlers of Steuben County it affords me great pleasure 
to refer the enclosed history of the postoffices of the county to him. 
In conning over these pages, I presume to say his mind will revert 
back half a century ago when Uncle Sam's mail carrier rode 
throuo-h the wilderness on horseback, and the people whom he 
served were satisfied, or had to be, with a weekly delivery of the 
mail. If 1 had the time to refer to the books in the archives of the 
Postoffice Department, I would locate the mail routes to their 
terminal points as they existed at the time when the first offices in 
the county were designated and established. Being one of the 
early settlers, I doubt not Dr. McConnell can locate these routes, 
the method of carrying the mails when the first offices were es- 
tablished, and the terminal points of the routes through the county, 
I can assure friends in Steuben County that in the preparation of 
this history I have spent considerable time, although the care and 
labor involved does not appear very great in quantity. Yery truly, 

Samuel Beight. 
(466) 



afv" 



flISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



467 



History of the postoffices, appointment of postmasters, discon- 
tinuance and changes in the names of offices for Steuben County, 
Ind., as it appeared on the books of the Fostoffice Department, 
Washington, D. C, May 29, 1SS5. 



-14^ 



ALVAKADO. 



Names. Appointed. 

Marvic B. Gordon. - . . .June 21, 1885 

Jacob Sams Feb. 13, 1857 

Cyrus Lawrence June 10, 1857 

Jno. W. Thomas Oct. 15, 1859 

Marvin B. Gordon July 26, 1861 

John Holt Mar. 17, 1864 

Jno. W. Thomas Dec. 13, 1865 



Names. Appointed. 

Simpson Watson Nov. 30, 1868 

Jno. L. Deuel Jan. 25, 1869 

Augustus Porter. . , Nov. 29, 1872 

Marvin B. Gordon Sept. 15, 1873 

Silas Gray Aug. 21, 1874 

Albert H. Olmsted Feb. 15, 1883 

Jno. W. Douglass Feb. 2 1884 



ANGOLA. 



Jas. McConnell Jan. 3, 1838 

Thomas Gale Aug. 4,1841 

Wm. M. Carey May 30, 1842 

Simeon C.Aldrich Dec. 9, 1845 

Adams Knott Nov. 15, 1849 

Chas. G. Mugg July 22, 1851 



Wm. M. Squier Nov. 17, 1851 

Rob't Patterson June 11, 1853 

Asa M. Tinker Dec. 26, 1860 

Alftvd Osborn July 1, 1862 

Orville Carver July 23, 1869 

Francis Macartney Feb. 28, 1883 



CROOKED GREEK. 



Thomas Knott May 

John Nichols Aug. 

John Knott July 

Jas. I. Follett June 

John Kent Mar. 

Geo. Johnston .Sept. 

Chester D. Salisbury Apr. 

Richard A. Gains July 

Geo. A. Milnes Apr. 

John Kent Sept 

John Nichols May 



5, 1837 
1, 1837 

26, 1838 
11, 1841 
14, 1844 

29, 1845 
27, 1846 

6, 1846 
5, 1847 

22, 1847 

30, 1849 



Truman C. Dewey May 

Joseph Hutchinson Sept. 

Theron Storrs June 

Simeon Gilbert Oct. 

Richard C. Dickinson Feb. 

Henry L. Gilbert Sept. 

Amasa H. Cory June 

Henry C. Austin June 

Chas. H. Collins Feb. 

Jno. E. Smith Oct. 

Joseph H. Wilder Feb. 



30, 1850 
9, 1851 
17, 1854 
30, 1857 
21, 1863 
19, 1862 
12, 1863 
27, 1866 
18, 1870 
17, 1876 
2, 1881 



FISH CREEK. 



Ellis Fales Apr. 15, 1846 

Geo. W. Jeuks June 18, 1857 

Geo. W. Durbin June 2, 1853 

Jacob O. Rose June 17, 1854 

Winn Powers Feb. 10, 1859 

Discontinued June 25, 1875. 



Jacob O. Rose Dec. 13 I860 

Geo. Brooks Apr. 28', 1864 

Jacob O. Rose Aug. 20 1864 

Wm. R.Mitchell JaS. m 1865 



JACKSON PRAIRIE. 



Adolphus Town May 15, 1839 

Rob't C. Jackson Feb. 14, 1845 

Name changed to 

FLINT. 



Sam. B.Jackson Oct. 9 1846 

Geo. Emerson Dec. 1,' 1846 



Benajah B. Long. Jan. 14, 1850 

Arby Dean June 11, 1853 

Columbus C. Bennett Mar. 31, 1854 

Jno. C. Hopkins Dec. 16, 1854 

Ai-by Dean Jan. 12, 1855 

Erastus M. Roberts Apr. 3, 1856 



Spencer J. Cleveland Apr. 

Sam. H. Collins Mar 

EliFrink June 

Jeremiah Brown May 

Lorenzo C. VanHusen. . .May 5' 1863 
John Crandall Oct. loj 1863 



3, 1857 
3, 1859 
7, 1859 
3, 1862 



^ 


a ^ 






^ Cl 


>t 


s 
1 


468 


HISTORY. OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 
BROCKVILLE. 




' 

> 




Aaron B. Goodwin. 


Apr. 24, 1837 1 Matthew Coffin 


..Feb. 26, 1838 






Name changed to 


FKEMONT. ' 








Daniel Caswell Nov. 11 , 1845 

Enos Beall Jan. 7, 1850 

Jno. Russell June 8,1857 

Jno. W. Follett Dec. 28, 1857 

Jeremiah G. W.Colburu. .Jan. 19, 1858 


Melvin Tillotson 

Jno. W. Follett 

Chas. Havens 

Warren W. Wilkinson. 


..June 12, 1859 
..May 5, 1860 
. .July 12, 1861 
. .July 5, 1881 








ENTEKPKISE. 








Samuel Tuttle 

Jas. W- Jefferds 


May 15, 1889 Frederick C. Wilson.. 

June 20, 1839 


..Apr. 14,1842 






Name changed to 


HAMILTON . 








Daniel M. Gale 

Oscar A.Gambia. . . 
Jno. W. Emerson. . . 

JPeter W. Ladue 

Lewis Griffith 

Reuben Lent 

Benajah B. Long 

William Rima 

Elisha Thompson. . . 

William Rima 

Levi B. Brown 


Feb. 26, 1S49 

May 30, 1849 

Feb. 20, 1852 

May 5,1853 

Jan. 14, 1854 

June 9, 1854 

June 23, 1855 

Dec. 2,1856 

. . . .Jan. 13, 1859 
Mar. 26, 1859 

....Aug. 23, 1861 


William Rima 

Albert Morley 

Josiah 1. Zerkle 

Herbert N. Andrews. . . 

Simpson Duck 

Truman A. Beecher 

Jno. R. Ross 

Frank Cameron 

Andrew J. Stout 

Jno. W. Thomas 


...May 5, 1866 
..Sept. 15, 1873 
..May 20, 1874 
..Feb. 19, 1878 
.Sept. 9, 1878 
. .July 16, 1880 
..May 16, 1881 
..Nov. 11, 1881 
..Jan. 1,1882 
..May 16, 1883 






- 


NOKTH BENTON. 








lia AUerton 


Dec. 10, 1868 | 








Discontinued Nov. 


22, 1869. 

HUDSON. 








David Ferrier 


Jan. 15, 1875 


Frank M. Zimmerman. 
Jno. N. Wagner 


..Apr. 14, 1880 
..Oct. 11, 1883 






Hezekiah K. Leas. . . 
Marvin B. Butler 


....Feb. 24, 1879 
....Mar. 17,1880 








LAKE GAGE. 








Oliver Miller 


Jan. 31, 1884 | 








• 


METZ. 








Joseph Bennett 

Justus Barron 

Nathaniel Pettit 

Jas. Shepard 

Jno. W. Thomas. . . . 


....May 10, 1849 
....Nov. 1,1853 
....Aug. 4,1857 
May 81, 1866 

....Mar. 19, 1869 


W. H. Brandeberry 

Geo. D. Brown 

Nathaniel Pettit 

Sam. D. Porter 


..Feb. 8, 1872 

. .Jan. 14, 1874 

.Aug. 10, 1874 

. .Apr. 18, 1882 








NEVADA MILLS. 






/ 


Cyrus N. Mason July 23, 1867 

Geo. Rumsey Sept. 25, 1867 

Discontinued March 15, 1871. 
Frederick Neutz May 15, 1873 ! 


Israel Lucas 


.June 21, 1870 
.Feb. 24,1871 

. .Jan. 27, 1874 




4 


Samuel Herald 

Mrs. Maria Neutz, .... 


L 

Is 




10 - 

r 






■^ a 


\ 



^': 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



469 



OKLAND. 



Names. Appointed. 

Alexander Chapin Mar. 9, 1837 

Nathaniel A. Shumway. .June 13, 1840 

Sidney P. Gambia Dec. 6, 1843 

Enoch W. Marsh Sept. 26, 1846 

Sullivan U. Clark Nov. 2, 1847 



Names. Appointed. 

Wm. E. Blake May 31, 1848 

Ohas. L. Luce May 30, 1849 

Nathan Roberts May 5, 1853 

Christian Schneider Dec. 30, 1856 



Orris A. Mathews, 



OUFA. 
.May 6,1880 1 Geo. H. Carpenter May 2,1881 



STEUBENVILLE. 



Seth W. Murray May 15, 1839 

Abner Windsor Feb. 18, 1842 

Name changed to 

PLEASANT LAKE. 



Angus McFinley June 8, 1846 

Justin Darling May 11, 1849 



Simeon C. Aldrich June 2, 1851 

Ira Gardner Dec. 30, 1856 

Augustus V. Ball Dec. 23, 1857 

Chas. L. Perfect Oct. 11, 1858 

Augustus V. Ball Apr. 3, 1860 

Mrs. Melissa Aldrich Aug. 2,1861 



Americus Carpenter Apr. 7, 1864 

David Gilbert Feb. 1,1866 

J. W. Lone Apr. 12, 1867 

Volney E. Simmons Apr. 26, 1867 

Sylvanus B. George Oct. 13, 1879 



SALEM CENTRE. 



David Wisel. Apr. 26, 1852 

Walter Braden Nov. 6, 1852 

Orson Woodford Oct. 28, 1854 

Silas Conger Dec. 30, 1856 



Orson Woodford June 20, 1861 

John Cary Feb. 22, 1870 

W. E. Kinsey Dec. 26, 1879 



CLEAR I>AKE. 

Abraham Bloomer May 23, 1870 | 

Name changed to 

RAY. 



Lester W. Roscrant Jan 12, 1872 

Geo. D. Avery July 19, 1875 

Alexander Thompson Oct. 3, 1875 



Albert Paul Dec. 23, 1878 

Benj. M. McLouth Feb. 23, 1882 

Benj. F. Isenhouer June 18, 1883 



•r 



TURKEY CREEK. 



Almon Chaffee May 18, 1852 

Porter Johnson Oct. 16, 1852 

Almon Tinklepau^h Jan. 5, 1864 

James Noddings Apr. 10, 1871 

Benj. F. Noddings Aug. 6, 1877 



Andrew S. Barker Aug. 26, 1878 

Jesse P. Davis Feb. 18, 1879 

Frank T. Dole Jan. 24, 1881 

Wilber Mains Apr. 3, 1883 



YORK CENTER. 



Henry Eldridge Nov. 6, 1855 

Elias M. Gleason Oct. 24, 1857 

Geo. Dunuavan Aug. 29, 1861 



David G. Smith Aug. 2.3, 1867 

Richard C. Stewart May 33, 1876 

Harvey D. Ellis July 21, 1879 



CROOKED LAKE. 



John Merrill May 5, 1839 

.Discontinued Sept. 19, 1842. 
30 



-A'y 



^■v 


■s. »^ 








^ « 


■ 

J- 


1 


470 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 


(0 ' 




' LAKE JAMES. 


» 




Names. Appointed. 


Names. Appointed 






Clayton Mallory Sept. 19, 1851 

Discontinued Oct. 6, 1851. 








NORTH EAST. 






Stephen A. Powers .Jan. 8, 1858 | 

Discontinued Jan. 15, 1865. 






SANDY RIDGE. 






Jas. A. Segur Feb. 12, 1857 

Dudley Holdridge Apr. 10, 1858 

Discontinued Nov. 3, 1863. 


Harlow B. Holdridge Mar. 16, 1860 

Harriet A. Holdridge. . . .July 16, 1863 






The first mail route established in this county was from Lima, 






Lagrange Co., Ind., to Toledo, Ohio, via Lexington, Mill Grove, 






Jamestown and Brockville, now Fremont. The second was from 






Lima via Lexington, Jackson Prairie, Pleasant Lake or Steuben- 






ville, Enterprise to Defiance, Ohio. The third from Angola to 






Brockville. The fourth from Coldwater, Mich., to Fort AYayne, 






via Hall's Corners, Jamestown, Fremont, Angola, Pleasant Lake, 






Hamilton and Auburn, in i)e Jialb County, to i^ort Wayne. Brom 






Lima to Toledo the mail was carried on horseback, on the Vistula 






Eoad. 






The second from Lima to Fort Defiance was'carried on horse- 






back, and also the one from Angola to Brockville, until the route 












by stage, being the first stage route established through the 






county. 






PROPERTY AND TAXATION. 






The following table shows the total value of property listed for 






taxation each year from 1844 to 1884; also the number of taxable 






polls, and the total amount of taxes levied for each year: 






Yeak. 


Valua- 


Polls. 


Taxation. 








tion. 




$6,740.83 
7,286.49 
10,969.77 
11,331.04 
10,816.39 
8,843.34 
11,385.80 
14,601.93 
13,371.07 
15,034.55 
16,874.63 
23,353.96 
20,632.61 
17,324.70 

• 






1844 


$ 414,200 

456,740 

457,906 

484,556 

492,101 

502,626 

516,331 

717,615 

730,294 

836,200 

1,014,820 

1,229,368 

1,041,845 

1,058,822 


607 

634 

805 

779 

856 

1,050 

1,083 

1,035 

1,098 

1,085 

1,203 

1,351 

1,449 

1,442 






1845 






1846 






1847 






1848 






1849 






1850 






1851 






1852 






1853 






1854 






1855 






1856 




( 


1857 


i 





(s »■' 








"» <£ 


\*^ 



Au. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



471 



Year. 



1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861. 

1862. 

1863 

1864. 

1865. 

1866. 

1867 

1868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871 

1873. 

1873. 

1874. 

1875. 

1876. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879. 

1880. 

1881. 

1883. 

1883. 

1884. 



Valua- 
tion. 



1,001,032 
1,587,437 
1,621,528 
1,701,455 
1,651,266 
1,777,521 
2,365.590 
3,658,335 
2,601,180 
2,581,090 
3,587,056 
3,034,846 
3,933,080 
3,975,580 
3,023,830 
6,353,880 
5,906,730 
5,355,895 
5,337,930 
5,389,225 
5,199,610 
5.191,080 
3,749,915 
3,643,910 
3,690,530 
3,832,990 
3,863,925 



Polls. 



1,591 
1,592 
1,682 
1,867 
1,711 
1,701 
1,593 
1.535 
1,835 
1,930 
3,011 
3,042 
1,988 
2,147 
3,373 
3,118 
3,315 
3,116 
3,367 
3,560 
3,538 
3,543 
3,363 
3,534 
3,459 
3,433 
8,413 



Taxation. 



16,334.89 

30,727.47 
23,918.33 
25,763.67 
25,889 68 
32,825.94 
42,925.28 
67,791.13 
61,553.31 
57,752.47 
53,316.16 
59,946.46 
70,303.52 
61,562.53 
46,655.44 
64,002.73 
71,387.18 
62.997.89 
68,288.18 
74,808 09 
77,481.68 
73,778.77 
69,656.15 
61,049.36 
71,514.31 
76,766.68 
68,549.80 



As property is assessed at one-third its actual value, the assess- 
ment at the present time would indicate that the wealth of Steu- 
ben County amounts to the sum of $11,591,775, an average of 
$724.48 per capita, estimating the population at 16,000. The 
taxes amount to $4.28 per capita. For 1884, the number of acres 
of land assessed was 192,902.96; value of same, $2,233,070; valueof 
improvements, $847,005; value of personal property, $763,950; 
total valuation, $3,863,925; number of polls, 2,413; number of 
dogs, 1,027; total taxation, $80,973.54. 

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. 

The following is from the pen of Kev. L. I. C. Young, of Fre- 
mont, a prominent and honored minister of the denomination: 
Sugar Grove Circuit, North Ohio Conference, of the church of 
United Brethren in Christ, in 1885 consists of live organized 
churches, with about 270 members. Sugar Grove, in Clear Lake 
Township, Ind., has ninety-two members; Summit, in York Town- 
ship, Ind., has sixty-one members; St. Pauls, in South Camden, 
Mich; North West, in North West Township, Ohio; Pleasant 
View, in North West Township, Ohio. The first United Brethren 



■^ 






t3 

0, 



ik^ 



472 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, 

class ill the bounds of this circuit was organized in the summer ot 
1859, by Rev. H. W. Cherry, then traveling Steuben Circuit which 
embraced the whole county. The class consisted of six members: 
John and Sarah Mc Elhenie, Nancy Brown, Mary A., Nancy F. 
and L. I. C. You ng, and held services in a small house called. 
'' Seven by Nine," in the north part of Clear Lake Township. The 
following year Rev. M. Morthland traveled the work, but failed to 
tell about the quarterly meetings until they were past, and the 
appointment was dropped at the end of that year. Rev. Morth- 
land died in Michigan, and Rev, Cherry is an old retired minister 
whose life is full of years and good works. 

CLEAR LAKE MISSION. 

In January, 1866, Rev. James M. Lyon and Joseph Wolfe, local 
preachers, held a protracted meeting at the Harris school-house^ 
and organized Clear Lake class with twelve members: John Mc. 
Elhenie, Leader, and Daniel Clark, Steward. 

In September, 1866, the Michigan Annual Conference (as it was 
then called) formed Clear Lake Mission by attaching Algansee 
appointment of Branch Circuit, in Branch County, Mich., with Clear 
Lake class. The first quarterly meeting was held at the Philip's 
school-house in Algansee Township, Dec. 22, 1866, Rev, D, 
Holmes was Presiding Elder; Rev. R. T. Martin, Pastor, and E. 
E, Gibson, Secretary. 

Joseph Wolfe received license to preach in the U. B. church at 
this meeting. When converted, he joined the Baptist church 
with his wife, a daughter of Deacon McNall,of Kinderhook, Mich., 
but being dissatisfied with close communion he requested a letter 
of recommendation to some other church. Elder Mc Louth, Presi- 
dent of the association, said: ''There are but two ways out of the 
Baptist church — to die, or be expelled." Mr. Wolfe took his hat 
and said: "I'll show you a third way," and walked out. He 
died in June, 1867. 

Rev. J. M. Lyon, a brother of Horace Lyon, of Ray, continued 
a member of this work until 1868, when he removed to Michigan. 
Rev. Richard T. Martin has spent many years as a circuit 
preacher. He owns a farm in Bethel, Mich. , and practices medi- 
cine when not laboring in the ministry. His brother, Rev. James 
W. Martin, ofMontpelier, Ohio, has long been a successful preacher 
in this conference. 

In 1867 Rev. J. K. Alwood was Presiding Elder, and Rev. J. 



T 






\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 473 

K.Swi hart, Pastor. Father Swihart was born in "Washington 
County, Pa., March 10,1808. He began preachingin 1844 in Mus- 
kingum Conference and was transferred in 1859 to this conference. 
He lived twenty-two years near Hudson, in this county, and now 
lives at Bethel, Mich., with his son-in-law, G. W. Hill, formerly 
a preacher in the United Brethren church. He traveled nineteen 
years, and is now superannuated and feeble, waiting for his re- 
ward. He organized Summit class in the spring of 1868, in York 
Township, with M. Y. Garn, Leader, and George French, Stew- 
ard. A few weeks later lie organized a class at the "Withington 
school-house, near which now stands the California church on 
Branch Circuit. The Algansee appointment was dropped. 

During this year Rev. Armine T. Rease, of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian church, and Chaplain of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Indiana Yolunteers united with the United Brethren 
church and dwelt at Fremont until 1S74, when he took a transfer 
and located at Oberlin, Ohio, in order to educate his children. 

The third year of Clear Lake Mission Rev. John N. Martin 
was Presiding Elder. R. T. Martin preac hed at the organized 
classes the first half, and J. K. Swihart sup plied the balance of the 
year. Appointments were kept up for a while at Fremont, Farn- 
ham's school-house, Scott Center, Ray and other points. The 
building of a meeting-house at Clear Lake was defeated. 

General Conference was held in May, 1869, and divided Michi- 
gan Annual Conference, and all south of the Michigan Southern 
Railroad was called Korth Ohio Conference, but now embraces the 
south tier of counties in Michigan from Branch to Lake Erie. 

In September, 1869, Clear Lake Mission was discontinued, 
Withington class was attached to Branch Circuit, Clear Lake and 
Summit classes to Mt. Pleasant Circuit, which consisted of Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Bethel and Mayberry in Steuben County, and six classes in Will- 
iams County, Ohio, being eleven appointments, and fifty-eight 
members composed the quarterly conference. Rev. J. K. Al. 
wood was Presiding Elder, Rev. E. Miller, Preacher in charge, 
and Rev. W. R. Bundy, Assistant Pastor. 

FREMONT MISSION. 

Sept. 23, 1870, the North Ohio Conference detached Clear Lake, 
Summit and Mayberry (Otsego) classes from Mt. Pleasant Circuit, 
with the adjacent territory, situated in the northeast part of Steu- 
ben County, and extending into Ohio and Michigan. 



-♦- 



\<» ^ k 

474 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The first quarterly conference of Fremont Mission convened in 
the Harris school-house Dec. 17, 1870. Rev. D. Holmes wa^ 
Presiding Elder, and Rev. W. R. Bundy, Pastor. He organized a 
small class at the Starr school-house in Scott Township; Charles 
Stafford, Leader, and Wm. Smiley, Steward. There was a strong 
element opposed to Christianity here, which the church did not 
overcome, though a good work was accomplished, yet many moved 
away, and the remaining few disorganized in 1878, and united 
elsewhere. The ofiicial members were Charles Stafford, "Wm. 
Smiley, J. Tuttle, Alonzo Bullard, Lyman Bullard and George 
Reynolds. Among those who remain there, a savor of good in 
that place, are Wm. Smiley and wife, waiting for the Master's call. 
He also prepared the way for a good class at West Amboy. Six- 
teen members of Clear Lake class reorganized at the Brown school- 
house, on Fremont Township line, and a new class was organized 
at the Stone school-house, at South Camden, Mich., which was 
called South Camden class, where a large revival was held. Rev. 
Edmund Miller forsook the canal-boat service, and preached 
many years in this conference, and on all of the circuits in this 
county, and was transferred to Michigan Conference in 1875, 
thence to Southern Illinois Conference, where he was Presiding 
Elder, and in 1884 he removed to Eastern Tennessee. 

Rev. William R. Bundy, born March 8, 1846, in Delta, Ohio, 
was a soldier in the late war in Thirty-eighth Regiment, O. V. I. ; 
traveled his first circuit in 1869; was ordained in 1872; transferred 
in 1880 to Saginaw Conference, now North Michigan, where he 
traveled a district as Presiding Elder, and is active in the work. 

In 1871 Rev. T. Osmun was Presiding Elder and Rev. J. W. 
Rhodes, Pastor. He organized a good class at West Amboy, 
Mich., which was attached to Hillsdale Circuit, and received forty- 
one accessions to the church. Brother Rhodes was well educated 
and engaged in mercantile business at Clyde, Ohio, before he 
began preaching in Sandusky Conference. He came on transfer 
in 1871, preached in this conference twelve years, and transferred 
back in 1883. His wife was a teacher, and a worker in the church, 
and Secretary of the Woman's Missionary Society of North Ohio 
Conference. 

Rev. L. I. C. Young was converted near Fremont, Ohio, in 1857, 
and came to Steuben County the following year and organized the 
first Sunday-school in Clear Lake Township. He was Secretary 
of the Soldiers' Christian Association of the Twenty-ninth Indiana 



^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 475 

Volunteers, and used the pen more than the sword during the war. 
He received quarterly conference license March 9, 1872, admitted 
into annual conference in 1875, and ordained in 1880. He has 
held a local relation, and been quite successful in the Sunday- 
school work and temperance movement. He was elected Secre- 
tary of Clear Lake Mission Quarterly Conference Aug. 24, 1867, 
and continued in all the changes of the work until Nov. 22, 1884, 
having been absent from only one quarterly conference in seventeen 
years. 

In 1872 Eev. J. K Martin was Presiding Elder and Eev. G. W. 
Bechtol, Pastor. He organized a class at the school section in 
York Township, called York Center class, which continued with 
varying success until in 1877 the appointment was removed to 
Whaley's school-house ov.er in Oliio. Edward Lambertson (de- 
ceased) was Leader and Steward, the other members being women. 

E.ev. B. M. McLouth was converted in 1864, and united with 
the Baptist church at Clear Lake, and remained with them four 
3^ears. In 1872 he united with the U. B. church at South Cam- 
den and received quarterly conference license, and in 1873 was 
recommended to annual conference, and sent to Branch Circuit 
which he resigned at the second quarterly meeting. Two years 
later he was sent to Liberty Circuit, which he also resigned at the 
middle of the year. He passed his three years' course of reading 
in 1879, but was not ordained to elders' orders, at his request. 

llev. Mathew Woodard was one of the old settlers of York 
Township and a licensed preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist 
church. He was granted quarterly conference license in 1875, and 
died in 1878. 

In 1873 Kev, J. K. Alwood was Presiding Elder and Brother 
Bechtol was returned. A Board of Trustees to build a parsonage 
was elected, consisting of Hiram Davis, Robert Seely, and Fred 
Brouse. F. Brouse resigned and Charles Hemry has filled the place 
since. The,y began building the parsonage at Summit, in York Town- 
ship, the following year, and proceeded as they secured funds, and 
now have a good house, well , barn, cistern, etc., costing about $1, 200. 

This year John McElhenie, F. Brouse and L. I. C. Young were 
elected Trustees to build a meeting-house at Clear Lake, but they 
reported adversely and were discharged." 

John Kogin, H. Barr and L. Douber were elected Trustees to 
build a meeting-house at Otsego, but they failed to agree on a 
site, and troubles arose, and in 1879 all but six members withdrew 



i© 

r" 



» ' — * \^ > 

476 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and joined at Mt. Pleasant, and the Otsego class was finally disor- 
ganized in ISSO. They first occupied the old Champion school- 
house, then the Corbin school-house, and worshiped in the M. E. 
brick church after it was built. The following is a list of their 
oflicial members: John Kogin (deceased), E. Horr, Lewis 
Yaughn (deceased), H. Ellis, Lorenzo Douber, John Priest, 
Orland Ellis, Jacob Hanna and Geo. Foster. 

John Priest was recommended from Otsego class, and was li- 
censed to exhort in 1874, and removed to Northwest Ohio in 1876. 
He there joined the Methodist Episcopal church and the Odd 
Fellows, but soon concluded that he could not be faithful to the 
lodge and enjoy Christian religion at the same time, and conse- 
quently withdrew from both lodge and church. When the ]^orth- 
west church was built, he again united with the United Brethren 
church, and is now their leader. 

Rev. E. Y. Allen was received as an Elder from the Wesleyan 
Methodist church in 1874, and the next year removed by letter ta 
Pennsylvania, 

In 1874 Rev. Joseph Brown was Presiding Elder and Geo. W. 
Bechtol returned his third year on this work, having preached one 
year previous. He was a farmer near Edon, Ohio, is a successful 
preacher and revivalist, and a good singer, and many have been 
converted under his ministry. He received fifty-three accessions 
on Fremont Mission, and filled six appointments. He was the 
first preacher that moved on the work, and did much to make it 
permanent. 

In 1875 Rev. Cyrus Crossland (deceased) was Presiding Elder 
of the West District, and Rev. Joseph Waldorf was sent to Fre- 
mont Mission, which began to feel the need of church buildings, 
but the people were unable or unwilling to sacrifice for that pur- 
pose, and the idea obtained that revival meetings should not be 
held in school-houses during the school term, so that little was ac- 
complished in consequence before 1880. There were six appoint- 
ments and nineteen accessions. 

Rev. J. Waldorf was born Jan, 23, 1821, in Trumbull County, 
Ohio. His parents were Pliilip and Lydia Waldorf. A.t the age 
of fourteen he was converted, and became an exhorter at eighteen. 
He joined the Muskingum Conference in 1845, in which he 
traveled until he was transferred to North Ohio Conference in 
1863, and from here transferred to Tennessee Conference in 1883 
He has traveled as an itinerant thirty-eight years — thirty years on 



^ (5 »^ ^^ S *V 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNT T. 



477 



circuits, some of which were as large as presiding elders districts 
are now, two 3'ears Presiding Elder in Muskingum Conference, 
three in North Ohio, and three in Tennessee, in the emplo}' of 
the Missionary Board from 1872 to 1875. From his home in 
Dayton, Rhea Co., Tenn., he writes: ''I have not lost my old 
itinerant tire. I would like to do some good yet. But, oh! I am 
so sorry that the church has got into contention over the secrecy 
question. It does not seem like the same church that I joined 
when I was a boy. Then we were all of one mind on that ques- 
tion. And it does not seem like the same in reference to its 
stretch after popularity. Then we were a plain, humble people." 
He gained his knowledge of theology by burning the midnight 
lamp, on horseback, and in his buggy. All honor to the old 
itinerants. 

In 1876 Rev. J. Brown was Presiding Elder and Rev. J. 'N. Mar- 
tin in 1877. Rev. A. H. Dnnlap traveled the mission two years, and 
lived in the parsonage. He was well lii^ed, but on account of op- 
posing influences, and being shut out of school-houses during school 
terms, there was but little advancement. The Palmiter difficulty 
at South Camden caused several to leave the church. The spirit- 
ists or spiritualists at Harris' school-house for awhile held an 
organization. The Mormons thought to usurp Clear Lake, but 
found the people too intelligent. Brother Dunlap preached at 
seven appointments. He joined annual conference in 1874, and 
was ordained in 1878. He traveled several years in the itineracy, 
and the " Irishman" is now located on a farm in Ransom, Mich. 
He married Mary Baldwin, a sister of Rev. Burton Baldwin, of 
Metz, Ind. 

In 1878 Rev. J. N. Martin was Presiding Elder and Rev. D. Holmes, 
Pastor. The want of meeting-houses was forcibly illustrated this 
year by thirty conversions and three accessions at the M. E. brick 
church at Otsego. Rev. David Holmes was born in Richmond, Va., 
in 1824, and at the age of nine was apprenticed to a shoemaker. 
He came to Williams County, O., in 1853, and joined the U. B. 
church the next year, and taught school. He entered the itineracy 
in 1856, and traveled twenty-eight years — four as Presiding Elder. 
He preached at nineteen appointments every three weeks, and re- 
ceived $170 for his year's labor. He reported about 600 conver- 
sions. In 1884 he took a transfer, and now resides at Princeton, 
Pranklin Co., Kan. 
The North Ohio Conference was held in Mt. Zion church, Steu- 



19 

FT 



478 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ben County, Ind., Sept. 3, 1879, Bishop J. Dickson, D. D., presid- 
ing, Rev. W. H. Clay, Secretary. Fremont Mission was raised to 
Fremont Circuit, for one year. Eev. J. K.Al wood. Presiding Elder of 
West District, and S.J. Colgan, who had been converted only about 
eight months, Pastor. Nettle Lake appointment of Hillsdale Circuit 
was attached to Fremont, but would not receive the preacher, nor 
the new circuit. This year there were thirty-eight conversions at 
South Camden and only eight joined the church. At South Cam- 
den class, Peter Seely, Wm. C. Johnson and Kobert Seely were 
elected Trustees to build a meeting-house. Afterward R. Seely 
resigned and Orrin Odell filled the vacancy, and they built a good 
house in 1881. 

Rev. Stephen J. Colgan, the ^^oungest of eight children, was 
born near Stryker, O., Jan. 30, 1848, and brought up under Chris- 
tian influence; attended school at Bryan Academy, and becan:ie a 
school-teacher. At the age of seventeen he was converted in a 
meeting held by his oldest brother, J. R. Colgan, of the M. E. 
church. He had a call to preach, but, Jonah like, he " went 
west" and remained in a backslidden state until he became "obedi- 
ent unto the heavenly calling," in which he is meeting with success. 
He joined annual conference in 1880, and was ordained in 1882. 
Soon after he came to the work he married his second wife, Mary 
M. Godard, a school-teacher, and occupied the parsonage. 

Rev. J.D. Snyder, of Waterloo, Ind.,was Presiding Elder in 1880 
and Rev. G. Robinett, Pastor. George,son of John and Mary Robi- 
nett, was born in Holmes Count}', O., March 28, 1838, and removed 
to De Kalb County in 1847. He was converted in a prayer-meet- 
ing at the age of seventeen, received license to preach in 1876, and 
ordained in 1880. He married Mary A. Geddes in 1858, who is 
an excellent companion in his pastoral work. His oldest son, 
John, is Leader and Superintendent of the Sunday-school at South 
Camden, He traveled Fremont Mission three years, and received 
seventy-tive into church, and three church houses were erected. 
The first year he organized a class at North West, O., of twenty- 
five members, T. F. Whaley, Leader, and George Ward, Steward. 

F. Brouse, C. Egel kraut and S. Lash were elected Trustees in 
Feb. 1881, to build a meeting-house at Clear Lake. M. and S. F. 
McElhenie built for them a neat frame 28x38 feet, at a cost of 
$942.19, not counting some work, and it was dedicated by Elder 
J. Brown, March 26, 1882, and called Sugar Grove Chapel. 

St. Paul's Church, at South Camden, Mich., built by W. and E. 

to 

- I » 

-j^ @ ^ -^ S V 



Au. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 479 

Strunk, and cost $1,200. It is a ueat frame 28 x 40 feet,dedicated 
bj Rev. J. D. Snyder, of Waterloo, Jan. 8, 1882. 

March 8, 1882, C. Hemry, Wm. Davis and B. J. Adair were 
elected Trustees, and built Summit Chapel in York Township, a 
substantial brick 30x40 feet, costing about $1,500, which was 
dedicated by Rev. J. Brown, Dec. 27, 1882. 

March 3, 1883, a Board of Trustees was elected to build a church 
at North West, O., and began work, but not being properly incor- 
porated a second board was elected and failed, and finally Aug. 
16, 1884, T. F. Whaley, G. Ward, Jacob Brosia, Fred Winters and 
J. Robins were duly incorporated, and finished the North West 
Chapel, of brick, which was dedicated by Rev. D. B. Keller Sept. 
25, 1884. 

Rev. Joseph Brown, of Salem Township, was Presiding Elder for 
1881. He began as an itinerant in 1863, and has been Presiding Elder 
about six years. He has gathered many sheaves in life's harvest. 

Rev. Daniel B. Keller was elected Presiding Elder in 1882 and 
continued three years on the West District. His parents live at 
Hudson, in this county. He entered North Ohio Conference in 
1875, and was ordained in 1878. 

SUGAR GROVE CIRCUIT. 

The following is the fourth item of the report of the Committee 
on Boundaries at the annual conference September, 1883: 4. " That 
pleasant view appointment of Hillsdale Circuit be attached to 
Fremont Mission, and that it be raised to a circuit and called 
Sugar Grove Circuit. Rev. J. H. Crouse was assigned to Sugar Grove 
Circuit, and returned for the year 18S4-'5. He was born in Wayne 
County, O., 1847, converted in 1879, admitted to annual conference 
in 1881, and ordained in 1883. He reported forty-one accessions 
last year, and has received about seventy his second year, having 
received sixty-one at Sugar Grove Chapel. He was a soldier in 
the late war, and now lives on his farm at North West. • 

Pleasant Yiew is a new frame church in North West Township, 
Ohio. The Trustees are: H. A. Hoverstock, J. M. Heiserman, 
G. Kent, W. F. Kentig and 1. A. McLain. Rev. Ira A. McLain 
lives at this class and has done much to establish the church there. 
He was recommended to the North Ohio Conference in 1876, and 
ordained in 1879. 

Sugar Grove class has ninety-two members in 1885. The follow- 
ing is their list of official members of the class and quarterly con- 



V 



480 HIST0R7 OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ferenee: John McElhenie, Daniel Clark (deceased), Frederick 
Brouse,Cjrns Brouse, L. I. C.Young, Nathan Odell,Sen. (deceased), 
Wm. J. McElhenie, Jacob Terrj, D. B. Teeters, A. C. Cooper, 
Samuel Lash, Christian E^elkraut and B. M. McLouth. S. F. 
McElhenie and Charles Ansle}^ were appointed Assistant Leader and 
Steward for the young people's prayer-meeting this year. Among 
the older members we might mention G. W. Brattin, J. J. Berry, 
L. F. Gary, J. H. Jennings, S. Geedy, F. Winters, besides many 
younger brethren that will be heard from in the future. Thej 
have one of the best Sunday-schools in the county. 

Summit class has sixty-one members: Martin V . Garn, George 
French, Charles Benry, Wm. Weiss, Henry Clock, B. J. Adair, 
Hiram Davis, Jos. Davis, Ed. Roberts (deceased), Wm. Davis, Dan. 
Gregg and David Welton complete their official list for the class 
and quarterly conference. John Barnes and many promising 
young people belong to this class. They have a good Sunday- 
school here, and also at each of the churches on the circuit. 

Aunt Becca Hemiy, Mother Brouse and the many good sisters 
will long be remembered by many a weary itinerant. 

The Sunday-school work is prosperous in this vicinity. There 
have been three annual Sunday-school picnics at Sugar Grove, which 
were attended by seven schools in 1882, by eleven schools in 1883, 
and by thirteen schools in 1884, which were very encouraging to 
Sunday-school workers, showing by the thousands who attended, 
the interest that the people liave in the good work. 

Among the ministers that preached here many years ago were 
Revs. J. Thomas, E. H. Curtis of California, and Father John 
Hiscock, a Methodist local preacher who died in Jonesville, Mich., 
a few years since. He truthfully said, "How often the local 
preacher prepares the way for a revival, and the circuit preacher 
comes on and reports the success to conference." 

RED-RIBBON MOVEMENT. 

Steuben's citizens are as a rule temperate, and hardly a county 
in the State can show so few saloons and liabitual drunkards. But 
SO widespread is the monster evil of intemperance, that in the best 
communities there is still need for temperance work. There has 
been but one concerted eifort made here, and that was the cele- 
brated "red-ribbon movement," which was pushed all through the 
Northern States by Dr. Reynolds in 1877. This leader visited all 
the large towns, remaining in each several daj^s, until the move- 
is 



I 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 481 

raent was well organized; and then from these towns as centers, 
local workers and lecturers were sent out over the country until 
clubs were formed at everj^ possible point. The clubs received 
their name from the fact that the members wore conspicuously 
tied in a button-hole a small red ribbon. Dr. Reynolds himselt 
was a reformed drinker. The pledge which members were re- 
quired to sign was very strict, the use of sweet cider even being 
prohibited. 

The movement was a little slow in reaching this region, but 
when it came the citizens were so familiar with its name through 
newspaper accounts of its wonderful progress elsewhere that they 
gave it a substantial welcome. Thursday evening, April 26, 1877, 
A. P. Johnson, of Lansing, Mich., after giving notice of his pres- 
ence in town, and intentions in prosecuting his work, met a large 
assembly of Angola's citizens at the M. E. church. There was 
aroused at once an enthusiasm quite unexpected in behalf of tem- 
perance. At Lansing, by the way, Dr. Reynolds had made a per- 
sonal campaign of one week, and had achieved unprecedented 
success. A club was formed whose membership rapidly swelled 
to over 1,000 — half the voters of the city and surrounding town- 
ship. Lansing sent out local organizers all over Southern 
Michigan. 

Mr. Johnson was very successful. The first night's work was 
encouraging, and another meeting was called for Friday evening 
at the east church; while on Saturday night the west church was 
occupied. The crowds became eager and earnest. The interest 
grew to an intensity incredible to one not a participant. On Sun- 
day afternoon and evening the several churches dispensed with 
their usual services, and in the interest of the cause of temperance 
joined at Concert Hall in one grand mass-meeting. This assem- 
bly was by far the largest, most interesting and enthusiastic of 
any description ever held in Angola. A club was organized and 
went right at work. Some 400 names were enrolled at the 
meetings, and these were made honorable by the weight given 
to the onward movement. Of the persons so combined, old and 
young, many were not a little addicted to the cup. But they 
stepped boldly out of their old ruts and came up on the right side 
of the great and soul-stirring question. 

Soon after, a club was formed at Jackson Prairie, which in a 
few days had a role of 102 names. This was organized by Rev. E. 
Hall, of Orland. A few otlier clubs were started at various points 



-^K 



*- 



•*y «- 



y»- 



482 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



in the country, with more or less success. That at Angola had 
quarters fitted up in Jackson's Block and maintained the interest 
for a lont^ time. 

There was great need for this movement in our midst. No one 
could realize the extent of the habit of drinking until the turning 
began, and showed the depth and strength of the whisky ranks, 
when so many who were singularly devoted to the other side of the 
temperance question were constrained to break their old allegiance 
and enlist under the banner of reform. "When scores of such be- 
gan to walk up to a new starting point, then it became apparent 
that there was a chance — a grand chance, to do good. And that 
good was done. Hundreds took hold of the matter with an ear- 
nestness never before felt. The formal organizations died out after a 
time; many broke their pledges; and some were disappointed at 
the result; but the fact is indisputable that some of the results 
of the red-ribbon movement were permanent. 

DKOWNED IN THE LAKES. 

The beautiful lakes with which Steuben County abounds look 
innocent enough, and they afford abundant pleasure to those who 
seek it, but there are dangers which no ordinary care can avoid, 
and several persons have ended their lives when trusting too 
much to the kindly disposition of the water. A prominent case 
in point occurred Thursday, Dec. 27, 1877, when a fishing expe- 
dition resulted in the death of two of Angola's citizens, and the 
very close escape from drowning of three others. The names of 
the drowned were Simon L. Yandes and Samuel Truesdell. The 
others were David Yengling, H. Menzenberger and U. L. Piper. 

These five men went to Silver Lake, about three and a half miles 
west of Angola, for the purpose of fishing, and started from 
CasteU's landing just before dark. The boat was a large, new and 
stanch row-boat, with capacity for carrying six or eight persons. 
After rowing around the east side of the lake a half a mile or 
more, and when it was dark, they struck a light and commenced 
fishing — having excellent luck. "When at or near "Ward's Cove at 
the southeast part of the lake, and not very far from shore, by 
some means which none of the survivors could explain, the boat 
suddenly tipped over and all went into the water. Yandes and 
Truesdell were at the time of the mishap seated in the stern en- 
gaged in rowing. The others were standing in the boat. 

When capsized, all five of the men, though suddenly doused in 



i 



IV 



k 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 483 

the water, were entirely free from alarm or fear, and all retained 
their presence of mind, thinking the accident would amount to 
nothing more than a good wetting and the loss of a few fish. 
They were, of course, in sudden darkness, but thinking them- 
selves so near the shore they all called it a wet joke and counseled 
together as to the best course to take in the dilemma. In attempt- 
ing to turn the boat right side up, they, however, worked rather 
precipitously, and it turned several times over and remained 
bottom side up as before. They then thought it best to cling to 
it in that condition and try to work it toward the shore. After 
proceeding about fifteen or twenty feet they found themselves en- 
countering the marl-bed which characterized the bottom in that 
part of the lake. This was a serious disadvantage to them, for 
they could not find resting place or solid bottom. They, however, 
kept trying to advance the boat, and worked manfully and with 
presence of mind and calmness for half an hour or more, when it 
was discovered that they were making no headway and that the 
boat was held by the inverted jack-staff in the thick marl. 

Mr. Yengling, who was at the bow, got under the boat and at 
last succeeded in disengaging the jack-stafi". This took some time 
and the men were getting somewhat tired out with their exertions. 
They now began to cry for help, hoping that perchance somebody 
on shore might come to their assistance. But after calling for a 
long time, no help came. Their struggles in the water and mud, 
which now had on the surface a large quantity of kerosene oil 
from the jack-lantern, rendered them anything but comfortable, 
and some of them began to have fears that their success was by 
no means certain. The old gentleman, Yandes, was becomino- 
quite exhausted and could do no more than to cling to the stern 
of the boat and keep his head above water. At last they suc- 
ceeded in reaching the bogs, but were now unable to get the boat 
any farther, and there was no bottom to the mud — only a soft 
quagmire over or through which they found it well-nigh impossi- 
ble to proceed. 

Piper, Yengling and Mentzenberger, however, essayed to make 
their way through, a distance of about thirty feet, to the harder 
land. Mentzenberger's strength failed him and he sank between 
the bogs, but Piper, who seemed to be the stoutest one in the 
party, assisted him up several times, and they finally reached 
firmer ground. So also did Yengling, but in a very exhausted 
condition and unable to get farther. Truesdell and Yandes re- 

« *; ■ ' _ ' - r- 



u 



484 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

mained at the boat, having raised their bodies upon it somewhat. 
They could not venture to strike for the shore, but were told to 
await help where they were. Piper, after much difficulty, made 
his way through the woods to Mrs. Ward's house, nearly a half 
mile distant, and then to John Castell's. Mr. Castell and his hired 
man proceeded immediately with lanterns to the scene of the dis- 
aster, and found Yengling and Mentzenberger nearly chilled to 
death on the shore, whom they assisted to Mrs. AVard's house. 

About the same time Silvester Lock and Ben Wheaton, who 
had heard the cry for help while a great distance from the lake, 
came to the scene and found that Truesdell had fallen from his po- 
sition on the boat and was dead in the mud. Yandes was still 
alive, but unable to move or scarcely speak. There also came 
Joseph Sharrett and William Henry and others; when, after much 
work in bridging the quagmire, Truesdell's body was taken out 
and Yandes was rescued in an insensible state. Mr. Yandes re- 
vived sufficiently to express his desire to be saved, but in about 
five minutes after he was taken into the house he died. Mr. 
Piper went to the village and gave an account of the fatal advent- 
ure, and several of the citizens started forthwith for the lake. 
Yengling and Mentzenberger remained in the room with their 
dead comrades until vehicles from town came to carrj" them home, 
which they reached about midnight or after. 

The next morning the corpses were brought to town and taken 
to the homes they had left the evening before, full of life and hope. 
These homes were now scenes of heartrending sorrow and lam- 
entation. On Sunday morning following the funeral of Mr. 
Truesdell was held at the Disciples' church, Rev. W. P. Als- 
worth, Pastor, officiating. In the afternoon, the funeral services 
of Mr. Yandes were held at the Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. 
G. B. Work, Pastor, preaching the sermon. 

The funeral of Mr. Yandes was attended by the Odd Fellows, he 
belonging to the lodge at Auburn, from which town he had a short 
time before removed. 

Mr. Yandes was born in Wabash County, Ind., in 1832, and was 
in his forty-sixth year. He was formerly Postmaster at Auburn, 
DeKalb County, and moved with his family from that place to 
Angola the summer of 1877. He was a harness-maker by trade, 
and worked for Israel Kemery at that business at the time of his 
death. He left a widow and nine children, in straightened circum- 
stances. Mr. Truesdell was born in or near Goslieii, Elkhart 



■c) -v 



(0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 485 

County, and was in the thirtj'-fourth year of his age. He was also 
a harness-maker by trade. He left a wife and three small children. 

Steuben's oldest inhabitant. 

For nearly five years this county enjoyed the distinction of hav- 
ing among its citizens a genuine centenarian. This was Willard 
Dewitt, commonly called "Grandfather" Dewitt, of Scott Town- 
ship. He was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., March 26, 1776, 
and died at his residence in Scott Township, this county, Jan. 28, 
1881. He had consequently arrived at the advanced age of 104 
years, ten months and two days. He was the father of eighteen 
children, twelve by his first wife (six sons and six daughters) and 
six by his second (four sons and two daughters). At the time of 
his death there were living of his first family one son, Daniel De- 
witt, a farmer of De Kalb County, fifty-nine years old, and a 
daughter somewhere in the State of Michigan; and of his second 
family four daughters were living, Linda, aged about seventeen; 
Eva Belle, fifteen; Nettie, thirteen; and Ollie, ten years. 

He was first married in the State of New York, where he owned 
a small farm, when about twenty years old. This wife died in 
August, 1860, aged eighty-two years. The following April he was 
married to a Mrs. Sarah Mudd {nee Grubb), who had lived with 
her first husband less than two years, when he died, and who was 
the second time left a widow by the death of Mr. Dewitt, in 1881. 
She is yet living in good health. 

Mr. Dewitt had been a farmer all his life, having' owned a small 
farm in the State of New York. He sold this before emigratino- to 
Summit County, Ohio, when he purchased a farm of 100 acres. He 
sold this, came to Indiana and settled in De Kalb County in 1843. 
He remained there twenty-one years, when he came to Steuben 
County and settled on the Roose farm in Scott Township. About 
1870 he removed to Angola, and two years later he returned to 
Scott Township, where he lived until his death. 

During our war of 1812 Mr. Dewitt served in Captain Ichabod 
Bartlett's company of New York militia, and for the last nine years 
of his life he received a Government pension of $8 per month ob- 
tained for him by Lawrence Gates. 

His funeral at the Methodist Episcopal church at Angola was 
very largely attended. He had been for years a devoted member 
of that denomination, and during the preaching of the funeral dis- 
course by Elder Wiggins, the speaker referred to an attempt made 
31 



V 



\K 



>?• 



<^ 



486 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



a year or two previous to prove that the old man had turned Uni- 
versalist. Before his death, Mr. Dewitt made the following denial 
of the statement : 

" "Whereas, There has been circulated in the Steuben Repuhlican 
and, I am informed, in other papers, the statement that I had been 
a class-leader in the Methodist church, and now when over 105 
years of age I am an Uuiversalist, let me state a few facts; 1 
feel very much grieved that any one should think the Devil had got 
me, as he did Mother Eve, to believe a lie that I might be damned. 
It is true that 1 have been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church for forty years, and filled various offices in that society and 
exhorted men to flee from the wrath to come. It is true I have 
been a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church for many years 
endorsing its reformatory principles. I am trying to live godly in 
Christ Jesus, and only regret whatever I may have fallen short in 
my efforts so to do. I believe there is a Devil to despise and re- 
ject; I believe there is a God to love and obey; a hell to shun, a 
heaven to gain. I am looking earnestly toward the place Jesus is 
preparing for me, that where he is I may be also, and I would dis- 
own the kinsman that would circulate so base a falsehood on an old 
man whom God has blessed and kept in the world for more than a 
hundred years. As many papers as have circulated the former, 
please copy. This is signed with my own hand. 

"WiLLARD Dewitt." 

For some years previous to his death, his age was stated and be- 
lieved to be two years more than subsequent investigation war- 
ranted; hence the apparent discrepancy in his statement above that 
he was over 105 years at the writing of the letter, with the fact that 
he was less than 105 vears old at death. 



A LUCKY FIND. 



In the latter part of November, 1884, while a carpenter at Hamil- 
ton, was engaged in making some repairs on the Sewell Flouring 
Mill, he came across an old can which was subsequently thrown 
out doors. A boy by the name of William Renner, in passing 
along gave the can a kick with his foot and was greatly surprised 
to see a $10 gold piece roll out. A close examination revealed the 
fact that the can contained $250 in gold, and enough greenbacks 
of the issues of 1862 and 1863 to make the total amount $721.50. 
When the excitement over the finding of such a sum had somewhat 
subsided,the questions arose: How came the money in the mill? and 



& 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 487 

to whom did it belong ? Persons who were residents of the county 
twenty years ago, remember that the then owner of the mill, a 
man by the name of Colton, was found dead in the building one 
morning, with every evidence that he had been strangled. He 
was known to have had a considerable amount of money a 
short time before, and as the money could not be found, suspicions 
were aroused that his death was not self inflicted, but that he had 
been murdered for his gold. No evidence tending to prove that 
he had been foully dealt with appearing, the coroner's jury re- 
turned a verdict of suicide; and in the score of years that passed, 
the matter had nearly passed from the public minds. 

SPELLING MATCHES. 

Every one remembers the rage for spelling schools that swept 
over the country in the winter of 1874-'5. The movement reached 
Angola rather late in the season, but when it came it took a ''good 
grip. " The first match of importance was held April 2, 18T5. 
Concert Hall was well filled with spellers and spectators. Messrs, 
Mc Connell and Bodley were captains, and chose sides according 
to the ancient approved method, except that perhaps they paid 
rather less heed to the assortment of boj^s and girls for their 
hearts' sake than for spelling. Webster's Elementary, so familiar 
to those who attended school a generation ago, was adopted. Prof. 
John W. Cowen was selected as pronouncer, and E, B. Glasgow 
as scorer. The contest continued until nearly eleven o'clock, when 
Mrs. Eldredge, the last of Captain Bodley's force, succumbed on 
the word " horizontal, " leaving six of the Mc Connell side pos- 
sessors of the field. 

One week later, a smaller audience assembled at the Congrega- 
tional church, and Mrs. Carlin and Hale Day acted as caotains. 
After choosing about twenty-five on each side, the captains divided 
the house by the central aisle, inviting all who would to take their 
places in line. The spelling was very creditable for an hour or 
more, although a victim fell now and then. To quote from the ac- 
count given in the Hepublican'. " "We had for several days prior 
to the match assisted in giving Butler a special training for this 
contest, but he didn't doo well at all. Elder Andrews, although 
familiar with types and shadows, tijpijied his own fall by the use 
of an 'i'in the first syllable. Dick Baxter spelled the name of 
his infernal majesty, Satin, but ashamed of his want of familiarity 
with family names, changed it to ' Satan ' in time to save his repu- 



- » 



^4^ 



f 



488 



HI8T0RT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



tation. Glas^^ow, notwithstanding his long practice in his pro- 
fession, and his experience in the Indiana Legislature, pretended 
that rougery was right. Prof. Carlin has never given very close 
attention to millinary signs, and therefore went down. Law- 
rence Gates injected an '' i ' into tassil. Dell Day kept his eye 
peeled for jaw-breakers, but the schlerotic coat became too hard for 
clear sight and down he went. Elder Aylesworth's better half 
evidently pays for fancy goods when purchased, for if his sight 
had been disturbed by 77iilleners' bills as often as some poor mor- 
tals we know of he would never have forgotten the word. Joe 
Moore is usually a very modest and mannerly young man, but for 
oi\Q,Q\\eiovgo\,h\^ etigioet. Stevens didn't get the ^'?'si! of his word 
and died easy. Jo Butler will doubtless make a good county 
clerk, but he is a poor critereon at a spelling school. Mr. Cline 
has read the first and last books of the Bible, but has neglected 
that doubtful portion called the Apocraphy ^ The battle continued 
until about half-past nine o'clock, when eight or ten were left stand- 
ing on each side. At this juncture, the cry of fire was raised in the 
streets when the victors and the vanquished "stood not upon the 
order of their going, but went at once." 

SILAS DOTY. 

One of the most noted criminals in the Northwest, and the only 
one who has claimed a home in Steuben County, was the notorious 
Silas Doty, who passed most of his life in prison. Much as we 
dislike to notice such " black sheep," this history would be incom- 
plete without a sketch of this man. An elaborate biography has 
been published, and is now on sale, but it is of rather a sensational 
character. We have selected for our purpose a series of articles 
written in 1878 for the Angola Herald^ by Dr. D. B. Griffin: 

The same spring that 1 arrived in this county (1839) Silas Doty 
also came. He was a very industrious man and worked hard early 
and late. He got a breaking team and commenced breaking tor 
himself and others. He would work all day and start off to go to 
English Prairie, Orland or Coldwater in the evening. The neigh- 
bors thought it was because he wanted to save time, and no one 
suspected him of dishonest motives until he was arrested for steal- 
ing some carpenter's tools from Colonel Alexander Chapin, of Or- 
land. The officer came with a search warrant and found the tools 
at his place. He gave them up at once and went with the officer. 
I think he gave bail at that time, but was soon arrested for other 









HISTORY OF STEUBEN COONTY. 489 

thefts. There was a merchant in Fremont who had missed an ax, 
which had been gone for a number of weeks, Doty trading with 
him all the time, and was so friendly that he had never mistrusted 
him. One day there came two or three men from English Prairie. 
They said they were going to Doty's to search for some carpenter 
and joiner's tools. Gilbert, who had lost the ax, went with them. 
They found all the tools they were in search of. Gilbert saw his 
«x in a box of old irons and told Doty he thought that was his ax. 
Doty told him to take it, if it was his, so Gilbert took his ax along 
home with him. Doty went with the officer and had his examina- 
tion, and was bound over for trial at the next term of court. Doty 
was so accommodating in the neighborhood and so industrious that 
all his neighbors had a good deal of conlidence in him. One 
neighbor told me he wanted a small plow on one occasion, and 
went to Doty to see if he had one. He told hira he had not, but 
he knew where he could get one, as he had some talk of trading 
for one; it rested with him to trade for it or not. " You come here 
in the morning, as early as you please." said Doty, "and the plow 
will be ready for you." The man went and found the plow ac- 
cording to agreement. He asked no questions but took the plow. 
Doty would steal from strangers, or rich people, and give to the 
poor, or to friends. During the summer there came to Doty's a 
young man from Lenawee County, Mich., by the name of Lorenzo 
Koyes, who was an old neighbor and acquaintance of Doty's. Now, 
this Noyes was said to be rather odd, and, it was claimed, lacked 
judgment, told all he knew, and volunteered advice to older and 
wiser people than himself. He was out of health and his folks 
did not expect he would live long. He went to Doty's, as he knew 
he was welcome, and Doty would give him work when he was able 
to work. As this Noyes was a great talker, he soon got acquainted 
with all the people around and confided many secrets to them. He 
told them that Doty stole cattle in Michigan and butchered them 
and took them to Toledo in the night, where he sold them; that 
he had been detected and had to get out of the State. Noyes was 
telling all the while that he was going West, sometimes to Illinois 
and then again he was going somewhere else. After awhile Noyes 
was missing. He had frequently traded clothes and anything he 
could trade. When inquiry was made of Doty as to where Noyes 
was, he replied that he had gone West, to Illinois, etc. When 
Doty offered to trade or sell Noyes's clothes, most of which he 
seemed to have in his possession, he claimed that he had traded 






.•V 



,^■ 



490 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

with Nojes for them. So the folks thous^ht it was all right, know- 
ing well Noyes's propensity for dickering. Finally there came an 
oflScer from Michigan, either with a requisition or he had found 
Doty across the State line; at any rate Doty was taken to Michi- 
gan, where he was tried and sent to Jackson for three or four years. 

In about three years after the sadden and somewhat mysterious 
disappearance of Lorenzo Noyes, Wm. A. Bliss came to the 
village and told Esquire Tillotson and myself that his boys, the 
day before, while looking for turkey's nests, had found something 
which he took to be a human skull, and requested us to go with 
him and see what we could make of their discovery. I took a bag 
with me and Esquire Tillotson and I went with Bliss. We went 
to a tamarack swamp a little west of his house, and there we found 
the skull and all the bones of a man. The ribs and breast-bone 
were out of the ground; the vertebra were covered; the bones of 
the feet and hands we had to dig for a little. We found the hair 
of the head and nails of the fingers and toes, and every bone of 
the body was found. There had evidently been an attempt to hide 
the body, as it had been put under a large tamarack log and brush 
thrown over it, and a splinter that lightning had split off a tree 
had been carried a number of rods and put over the body. I took 
all the bones and put them into the bag and took them home with 
me. The people wondered who it could be. Finally they began 
to think of Noyes, and the stories Doty had told when asked about 
him. A coroner's jury was impaneled and an inquest held over the 
remains. Many believed the bones were the bones of Lorenzo Noyes 
and that Silas Doty had killed him. The verdict of the coroner's jury 
was that the man came to his death by violence, at the hands of some 
person to them unknown. Doty was in prison at Jackson at that time 
and his term was not yet out. Accordingly a writ was put into the 
hands of Sheriff Beall, commanding him to take the body of Silas 
Doty and bring him before the court of Steuben County, State of 
Indiana. When Doty's time was out in Jackson, therefore, Sheriff 
Beall was ready for him, and they came home together and Doty 
was lodged in jail at Angola, to await trial for the murder of Lo- 
renzo Noyes. I was summoned to appear as a witness, and to have 
said bones then and there. I went on the appointed day and the 
jury's verdict was: " Guilty of murder in the second degree," the 
penalty of which was imprisonment in the State prison for life. 

Caldrick took exceptions, wherever he could, to the decisions of 
the court, and upon some of these the Supreme Court granted a 






k. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 491 

new trial, and Silas Doty, after serving oce year, was taken to 
Logansport jail for safe-keeping, as they did not consider the jail 
at Fort Wayne sufficiently secure, where so much was at stake. 
The next summer we were all subpoenaed to attend another trial at 
Fort Wayne. It was in July I think. We arrived there on Satur- 
day evening, and on Monday morning went to the court-house, ex- 
pecting to see Doty come in with the Sheriff. The Deputy Sheriff 
soon made his appearance but without the prisoner. His explana- 
tion was: He had Doty on a canal-boat and was on his way from 
Logansport to Fort Wayne; that as they were going through a 
tamarack swamp Doty jumped off of the boat and made good his 
escape. Of course the court could do nothing without the prisoner, 
and we could not go to trial. The judge therefore discharged the 
witnesses and we started for home. We stopped at Brushy Prairie 
to dine and while we were at dinner we heard a hurrahing about a 
quarter of a mile away and on our way toward home. Yery soon 
some one came in and said they had just got Doty. He had come 
out there to inquire the road to Fremont. It was a four corners and 
he did not know which road to take. But, alas for him! the bil\ 
with a description of him and the reward offered was there. He 
was put into a wagon between two good stout men well armed, and 
started for Fort Wayne. 

Doty was taken back to Fort Wayne and lodged in jail awhile 
But the jail being thought unsafe, he was returned to Angola for 
safe-keeping, and remained here until the following summer. In 
the spring the news went forth that Doty had made his escape, and 
that he had stolen Douglass' horse. About daylight, the morning 
after Doty's escape, Mr. Isaac Estlow heard some one call his name, 
from the road. He got up and went out, and there was Doty, his 
old neighbor. He had Douglass' horse and had immense shackles 
on his ankles and hand-cuffs on his wrists. He told Estlow he 
wanted him to get those things off his ankles and wrists, and 
wanted that horse taken to Sumner Stimpson's and hitched at his 
gate, all of which was done. 

Stimpson had a cold chisel, and holding an iron ax, or some such 
thing, under the shackles, with the cold chisel and hammer he 
soon had Doty free as any man. Doty then went home a little 
while, partook of some refreshments and started for the seat of war 
in Mexico. He went as best he could until by dint of perseverance 
he reached Mexico. He found the American army and forthwith 
went to General Scott's headquarters. He soon ingratiated him- 



;\^ 



492 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

self into General Scott's favor and became his groom, staying with 
him until the war was over. Then he came home with the nicest 
pair of ponies I ever saw. Doty also had gold enough to buy forty 
acres of improved land, and had money left. He told his neigh- 
bors if they would let him alone he would guarantee that there 
should not be anything stolen of anybody within twelve miles of 
his place. No one made any move against him, and there was 
nothing stolen anywhere in the vicinity, but the gang, of which he 
had evidently been a leader, needed something to live on and they 
would importune Doty to help them, and he, being honorable 
toward his clan, would go out and make a raise, but it was obtained 
outside of the twelve miles. OflBcers came from Michigan, some 
ways off, in search of some evidence of a load of wheat which had 
been stolen, bags and all. They found the bags with Doty, having 
their mark on them. Other men had got the money for the wheat, 
but Doty had in his possession the evidence that would convict 
him of the theft. They took Doty to jail in Hillsdale, 1 think, and 
he had his trial, and the bags being found with him, it vf2iB prima- 
facie evidence of guilt. The Judge asked Doty how old he was. 
He said he was fifty-three years old. " Well," said the Judge, " I 
will send you to Jackson seventeen years, and by that time you 
will be seventy years old and will not be able to do much more 
harm." Doty went to prison and he worked so faithfully and 
behaved so well that the officers of the prison liked him, and he had 
many favors shown him on that account. He would get his stint 
and by being industrious would gain time. He was set at liberty 
before his time would have been out by his sentence, but they have 
some rule in the prison that a prisoner can gain time by good be- 
havior, and Doty availed himself of the benefit of that rule. He 
came home with the most flattering recommendations from the 
officers of the prison, as to his good behavior. After visiting his 
family, he went to Coldwater, where he met with the warmest 
reception by his former acquaintances and was made more of than 
the Governor of the State would have been. The aristocracy of 
Coldwater seemed to vie with each other in doing Doty honor. After 
Doty had been out a few months a lawyer in Coldwater by the name 
of Parsons had his horse stolen. 

Parsons advertised his horse and offered a reward for him and 
the capture of the thief. In the course of two or three days Doty 
made his appearance in Bryan, Williams Co., Ohio, on the horse 
of Parsons. There the bills were in advance of his arrival, and it 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



493 



seems as though he must have known all about it and wanted to 
get back to Jackson. I understood that he told the keeper of the 
prison at Jackson to keep his cell ready for him, and not let any 
dirty or lousy fellow occupy it, for he would be back in a little 
while, and wanted it neat and clean. 

Doty was taken back to Coldwater after his arrest at Bryan, 
Ohio, and the horse was identified as the property of Parsons. 
Doty said he did not take the horse himself, but would not tell 
who did take it. Doty's counsel advised him to plead "guilty, " 
which he did, and he was again convicted and sent to Jackson 
for a term of years, I think. He served his sentence and 
was discharged with the same report as to his good behavior 
as before. When his time was out he came back, visited his 
son and daughter and then went to Coldwater, the place from 
whence he was sent to Jackson, and there they made the same fuss 
over him they had done before. He was out of prison but a few 
months before he was a^am taken up for stealing 2ixxdi was sent 
back to Jackson. He had told the keeper as he did before, to keep 
the cell clean for him. He went and served another short term 
and came back to his old home and friends. He was still spry 
and active. After being out of prison a few months he was taken 
up and sent back to Jackson for another term. I did not hear 
just what he was sent for that time, but he served his time out 
and came back to his son's. 

He said to me he thought he was about as honest as mankind 
will average. , Said he: " I have always paid my honest dehts, 
and never took anything that did not belong to me to better my 
own condition, but for somebody else. 1 have taken from the 
rich and given to the poor and needy." He said he had tried to 
distribute things equally among mankind as far as he could. He 
said there were plenty of men who claimed to be honest who 
would sell an unsound horse for a sound price, to a man whom 
they knew was no judge of horses, and take half the price of the 
horse out of the one who bought him. Then they would boast of 
it and think it was smart. The man cheated was not able to lose. 
'' Now " said Doty, " which is the worst, to cheat a poor man out 
of half the worth of a horse, or to take that amount from a man 
who had a plenty, but w ould not give a cent to save a poor person's 
life, and give to a person who was needy and had no way of paying 
for the things he wanted ? " 



"B 



\ 



■^ 



^ 



494 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Doty died in the winter of 1876, I think, at the residence of Mr. 
William Doty, his son, in Reading, Mich., of pneumonia. I 
believe he was very near, if not quite, eighty years old, and he ap- 
peared to be as vigorous and active as men commonly are at fifty 
years. I understand by people who knew Doty's folks — parents 
and relatives — that they were highly respectable and honest, and 
that he was brought up to believe in religion and morality. 




"S 



FT 



\« 



k^ 



CHAPTER XII. 



MILL GROVE 'TOWNSHIP. 



Geographical and Descriptive. — Lakes. — First Settlement. — 
Orland. — John Stocker and Companions. — Arrivals in 1835 
AND 1836. — Xaming of Orland. — Luck in the Hymn-Book. — 
First Mill and Dwellings. — First Store. — Other Pioneers. — 
First Births, Marriages and Deaths. — Record of Pioneer 
Deaths. — Captain Barry. — Underground Railway. — Early 
School- Houses and Religious Meetings. — Teaching School 
. FOR $1.25 per Week. — Baptist Church. — Other Denomina- 
tions. — First Hotel. — Early Physicians. — Early Stores, 
Shops, etc. — Northeastern Indiana Literary Institute. — Its 
Inception, Prosperity and Decline. — Orland's Business 
Men. — Churches and Pastors. — Masonic and Odd Fellows' 
Lodges. — Pop olation. — Agricultural Statistics. — Property 
AND Taxation.— Political. — Vote for President since 1840. — 
Detailed Yote in 1884. — List of Township Officials since 
1850. — Biographical. 

Situated in the northwestern corner of the county is Mill Grove 
Township, which is bounded on the north by Branch County, 
Mich., on the east by Jamestown Township, on the south by 
Jackson Township, and on the west by La2;range County. It con- 
tains nearly twenty-four sections of land, being nearly six miles 
east and west, and a trifle over four north and south, and therefore 
contains more than 15,000 acres of land, including the lakes, of 
which there are a number. The largest are Lake Gage, a part 
of which is on section 35, on the south line of the township, and 
Lake Pleasant, which covers a part of section 13. The northeast- 
ern corner of the township is in this lake, a part of which is in the 
State of Michigan. Belle Lake is on sections 25 and 36 ; Tamarack 
Lake is on sections 22 and 27, and there are several smaller bodies 
of water, many of which are connected with Crooked Creek, flow- 
ing westward through the middle of the township. 

Mill Grove Township was first settled in 1834. The early pio- 
neers were attracted by the rich burr-oak openings and thought 

(495) 



^ 



\ 



L 



496 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNT i'. 



it would be easier to obtain a home and attain comfortable circum- 
stances here than it would be in the unbroken forests in other 
portions of the country. The highly cultivated farms in the 
township at the present time show what has been done in the way 
of improvements duriug the last fifty years. Fine farm mansions 
and barns replace the log cabins and stables of the early days. 
Peace and plenty reign on every hand and everything shows the 
inhabitants to be in comfortable circumstances and contented. 
They have no desire to go West in search of new homes, for they 
well know that it would be impossible to find a place with fewer 
drawbacks than this section of Steuben County. 

The first settlement was made on the site of the village of 
Orland. This village is situated in the western part of Mill Grove 
Township, on sections 20 and 29, about a mile and a half south of 
the boundary line between the States of Michigan and Indiana, 
and the same distance east of the Lagrange County line. Its dis- 
tance from Angola is about thirteen miles in a northwesterly 
direction. It is near the little stream of water called in Michigan 
Fawn River, more commonly known in this county as Crooked 
Creek. The immediate location of the village is on a level plateau 
of what was called burr-oak openings in early times, there being 
also on the southern border of the town a little scope of prairie 
land. The land in the whole region about Orland, for miles each 
way, was and is the richest and most fertile of any lands that at- 
tracted the attention of the pioneers of the country. It is not 
surpassed in value, all natural qualities considered, by any land 
elsewhere in the West. 

In the spring of 1834 John Stocker, father of L. H. Stocker, 
Esq., prospected for a Western home for himself and family and 
for a number of others who wished to " locate" out West. Mr. 
Stocker and the families who were interested in the prospecting 
tour were from Windham County, Vt. They forthwith, upon the 
representation of Mr. Stocker in regard to the country, started 
with their households, and in the summer and fall of 1834 settled 
on the very inviting tracts comprising what is now Orland and 
vicinity. It was in June or July of that year that Benjamin Pierce 
and wife, Abel Blanchard and family of five children, including 
his son who became afterward the well-known Elder Blanchard, of 
Wolcottville, accompanied by John Stocker and wife and four chil- 
dren, George D. Palmenter,wife and onechild,and S. A. Palmenter, 
came from Vermont and " located." 



fv^ 




HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 497 

The Falmenters built a log cabin on the prairie at a point some 
sixty rods south and thirty rods east of what is now the center of 
the village. Mr. Stocker built his cabin directly south about the 
same distance, and on the west side of what is now South or 
Wayne street. At the time the first cabins were built there was 
not another white man's residence within the limits of Mill Grove 
Township, although there were a few settlers in Jackson Town- 
ship, to the south of Yermont settlement. 

During the following year, 1835, other settlers came from the 
same section in Yermont and joined their fortunes with the pio- 
neers. Among those who came in that year were Chester Stocker, 
wife and two children, Nelson Newton, wife and two children, S. 
C. Sabin, Elisha Sabin, wife and one child, Miles Coe, wife and 
three children, and Alexander Ward, wife and three children, from 
Vermont; Eliza Eaton, from Massachusetts; Henry Depue, wife 
and nine children, from Ohio; and J. C. Cutler, from New York 
City. About the same time Levi Depue settled on a homestead 
four miles east of the new settlement. None of the heads of 
families who came in 1834 are still living. The first white child 
born was a daughter of Benjamin Pierce; she afterward became 
Mrs. Sarah Townsend. The first death of an adult among these 
settlers was that of Mrs. Abel Blanchard, who died early in 1835. 
The first deaths among the children occurred also in 1835, and 
were the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Newton. They died of 
scarlet fever, within a few days of each other. Of those who came 
to Orland in 1835 only one. Nelson Newton, yet survives here. 
Stephen C. Sabin went to Oregon a few years ago. 

''Yermont settlement " grew rapidly in 1836. Timothy Kim- 
ball, wife and seven children came from Michigan; Alexander 
Chapin, wile and three children from Yermont; Josiah Chapin 
and wife, Cyrus Choate, wife and four children, S. U. Clark, Polly 
Choate. from Yermont; Lewis Barnard, wife and four children, 
Eliphalet Warner, wife and two children, from Ohio; all these 
came early in the season and swelled the population of the settle- 
ment, whose enterprise and importance thereupon became widely 
noted. It was during that year, also, that Walter Luce, wife and 
six children came from Ohio; Samuel Cutler and wife, from 
Massachusetts; John Cutler, wife and five children, also from the 
Bay State; Josiah Chapin and wife, from Yermont; William 
Wilder, wife and six children, from New York; George Gray, 
wife and three children, A^braham Gray, wife and five children, 

V7=^ ; ^ ^=^ 



\ 



d^ 



498 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



and Cyrus Gray, from Ohio; all of whom settled on the other side 
of the river, to the eastward of the ^'settlement" about a mile 
and a half. 

Their section of country was equally as good as that on the west, 
and it was only because the postoffice, which was established this 
year, happened to be at the Vermont settlement, that the town 
did not become located on the east side. Colonel Alexander 
Chapin was appointed Postmaster. He was a stanch Whig, but 
was appointed under a zealous Democratic administration. The 
name proposed for the new postoffice was Mill Grove, which was 
the name given to the township, but it was found that there was 
already a postoffice by that name in the State, so they had to select 
another name. 

Now these Vermont people, being of the Puritanic stock of old 
New England, were considerably given to the use of congrega- 
tional singing in their worship; and being fond of vocal music 
they were in the habit of meeting at social singing schools, having 
of course brought their singing books as well as their Bibles with 
them to their new homes. At one of these singing meetings they 
agreed that Colonel Chapin should open his note book at a venture 
and they would sing the iirst tune presented and name the post- 
office from the name of that tune, if the department would accept 
of it. Orland was the tune, and Orland became the name of the 
postoffice, this being the first office of that name in the United 
States. The name being a very pretty one, a number of offices 
have since adopted it. 

About this time Deacon Timothy Kimball built the first grist- 
mill, on the river just north of the settlement. The building of 
this mill was a great desideratum to the community of settlers in 
that region of this new country, and was duly appreciated. 

The first frame house in Orland was built by Mr. Chapin, and 
gave way many years ago to the more stately mansion of Mr. Jonas 
Twichell. Nearly at the same time John Anderson built a small 
house, the frame of which is now included in the dwelling of 
William Van Husan, on West street. Mr. Anderson was drowned 
a few years after in Lake Jimmerson, while hunting deer with 
Clayton Mallory. Cyrus Choate shortly after built a small frame 
dwelling on the south side of Vistula street, but this structure has 
also long since gone to the shades. It was, however, the building 
in which more of the business of the early times was transacted 
than in any other place of that date in the history of the village. 



T 



-J » 



-^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



499 



The first store, or stock of goods, was brought here and opened for 
sale by Captain Samuel Barry, in the winter of 1836. A small stock 
of goods was also brought in by the Carletons on the east side of 
the river. The first general store, however, was opened in Feb- 
ruary, 1837, by Dr. James McConnell and G. D. Palmenter. 

Other early settlers who came prior to 1840 were Drs. James 
and George W. McConnell, Rev. Stephen Thompson, Leland H. 
Stocker, J. F.Baldwin, Orlando Wilder, Peter C. Carleton, Charles 
Carleton, George Stocker, Caleb H. Blanchard, Francis Scripture 
Cleon Elmore, Miles Coe, Elijah Salisbury, Milo L. Hudson 
Samuel Barry, Emory Brown, Sullivan Clark, Alanson Kidder 
Whiting and Charles Squiers, Consider Ames, Stephen Dudley, 
James McDuffie, Orrin Goodrich, Andrew Lundstrum", Elijah 
Owen and H. Miller. 

The first marriage was solemnized Oct. 12, 1836, Augustus 
Kimball and Eliza Eaton being the contracting parties, and Elder 
Hall the ofiiciating clergyman. The first child born was Sarah L. 
daughter of Benjamin Pierce. She was born Nov. 10, 1834, and 
afterward became the wife of Alsinus Townsend. The first death 
was that of Polly, wife of Abel Blanchard, who died Aug. 2, 1835 
aged thirty-nine. Her husband died April 7, 1852, aged fifty- 
nine. Benjamin Pierce died in 1842, in the fortieth year of his 
age. In October, 1849, John Stocker died, Betsy Stocker having 
passed away the May previous. Elihu Sabin died in 1842, and his 
wife Lucy followed him in May, 1845. Eliza, wife of Augustus 
Kimball, died in March, 1873, aged sixty-five. Chester Stocker 
closed his eyes on the scenes of this world in January, 1853, his 
wife having died the April before. 

The wife of Nelson Newton died in Jaimary, 1842, aged thirty- 
one years. John B. Barnard died July 9, 1873. Henry Depue 
lived to be sixty-one years old, and died in 1842. Sarah Depue 
died in March, 1S51; Levi Depue, in April, 1852, aged forty-one 
and his wife survived until 1876. S. C. Cutler died in 1845, and 
Samuel in 1847, aged sixty-nine years. S. G. Cutler died in 
1860, and Alexander Ward in September, 1841. Mrs. W,illiani 
Wilder died at the age of fifty-seven, her death taking place in 
March, 1852. Her husband followed her in November, 1862, at 
the age of seventy-six. Luman Humphrey died at the age of fifty, 
four, in 1841. Philena Humphrey died in September, 1856, aged 
sixty-seven. The death of Charles Carleton took place in 1859. 

Walter Luce lived to the advanced age of seventy-eight, and 



>^" 



Q »^ 



500 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



died in 1872. Abraham Gray died in 1839, aged forty-three, and 
his wife followed in 1871, aged seventy-six years. Cyrus Gray 
lived just fourscore years and died in 1846. Miles Hudson and 
wife were among the early settlers, but the dates of their death 
cannot be ascertained. Mr. Hudson surveyed the town when it 
was first laid out. Mrs. Lewis Barnard died in 1863, and Miles 
Coe in 1868. Timothy Kimball died in May, 1851, having lived 
to the allotted age of threescore years and ten. His wife died 
two years before, aged sixty-four. Elder Freeman Burrows was a 
prominent Baptist minister in early days, but he and wife died 
at unknown dates. 

Alexander Chapin died in March, 1849, aged forty-four. Josiah 
Chapiu, his father lived to be eighty-four years old, and died during 
the war, in May, 1864. His wife died four years before, aged 
eighty. Cyrus Choate died at an early day in the history of the 
township, in 1843, at the age of forty-two. His wife was forty- 
nine years old when she joined him. Folly Choate died in 1852, 
at the age of seventy-seven. Eliphalet Warner died in 1865, and 
Mrs. Warner lived five years longer, dying at the age of sixty. 
She was living alone when she died. Mrs. Kidder died in 1851; 
Samuel Barry died in 1855, in Illinois, aged sixty-seven, and in 
the same year his wife passed away at the age of seventy-one. 

Captain Samuel Barry was a very prominent man in the early 
days, and was a devoted friend of churches aad schools. One of 
the old settlers aptly refers to him as an ''extraordinary man.'' 
His opportunities when a boy were very limited. He often said he 
obtained what little education he had from Dilworth's old spelling 
book by the light of a pine knot. In nearly everything he was ten 
to twenty-five years ahead of most people. In 1833 Captain 
Barry, with two or three others, left the Green Mountains of Ver- 
mont and looked through this country. They finally decided to 
buy land in the vicinity of where Orland is at present located, and 
made this a point to immigrate to. 

He was very active in the building of the Baptist church, and 
paid more tJian one-third of the cost of the structure. He took a 
great interest in the building of the seminary at Orland, and 
every one concedes that if it had not been for him it would never 
have been built. He circulated subscription papers and headed 
them with large amounts. Captain Barry was indeed very chari- 
table, and always took the lead in every good cause. 

In the day when our fair country was cursed with human slavery, 



-¥ 



^ 



-s, <?_ 



p 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 501 

Orland was a station of importance on one of the " underground 
railways." Captain Barry was an active agent on that route of 
travel, and helped many a poor slave to the land of freedom be- 
yond the Detroit Eiver. He was arrested once under the Fugitive 
Slave Law and taken to Indianapolis. There was a Deputy United 
States Marshal at Orland then, and the anti-slavery men had irri- 
tated him so that he commenced prosecution against some of them. 
Mass meetings were held for the purpose of taking things into 
consideration. Foster, the noted anti-slavery speaker, and his 
wife were present and lectured. 

Slaves very often stopped with S. U. Clark, who at that time 
kept the hotel. Dr. Madison Marsh was the Deputy United States 
Marshal. They paraded the slaves in front of his house for the 
purpose of irritating him. After the meeting, when Foster and 
his wife spoke, Marsh was burned in effigy. Captain Barry not 
only took an active part in freeing the slaves, but in many other 
projects he was always at the head. He did not accumulate much 
property, for as soon as he had saved a little he gave it away for 
charitable purposes. Though he did not leave money behind him, 
he left that which is rather to be chosen — agood name, which will 
always be revered. His monument is the educational edifice he 
built, almost entirely alone. His life is one that can be studied 
with profit by every youth. If he had any faults they are for- 
gotten when we think of the great amount of good he accomplished. 

The first house in the township was built in 1834 by G. D. Pal- 
menter. It was constructed of logs, and was built on the south- 
west corner of the northwest quarter of section 29. The first frame 
house was built by S. A. Palmenter. The timber was hewed by 
Leland H. Stocker, and the master builder was S. C. Sabin. The 
wages were $1.25 per day. It was built in 1836, just east of where 
the stone house of Peter Lindquist now stands. 

The first school-house was a frame structure erected in 1837, 
24 X 40 feet, in what is now Orland. It stood on the west side of 
the north or mill road, and is now occupied as a blacksmith shop. 
This school-house was for the times a large and commodious one, 
and for years was used not only for school purposes, but for relig- 
ious meetings. Here the worshipers, which class, generally speak- 
ing, included the entire community, congregated regularly every 
Sabbath day to listen to the preached word, irrespective of denomi- 
national views. 

Miss Eliza Eaton, afterward Mrs. Augustus Kimball was the 
33 



v 



A 



502 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

first school-teacher. She was engaged to teach what children there 
were in the community who could attend, at $2 per scholar. Her 
school was opened in a log house on the east side of the north road, 
about half way to the river from the " corners, " at the'place long af- 
terward and still known as the Elder Patch place. This was then 
the residence of Elihu Sabin, whose wife's sister Miss Eaton was. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Sabin, who were good instructors, afterward 
taught the settlement schools. Mrs. Sabin had charge of a school 
in her own house in 1836, at a compensation of $1. 25 per week- 
These teachers, after raising families, children and grandchildren, 
have passed away. 

The first church in Orland was of the Baptist denomination, and 
its organization was effected Aug. 7, 1835, by Rev. H. T. Hall, 
who came to the county a year before. Under his ministry was 
also instituted the first class of children for Bible instruction, 
which was in charge of Mrs. Currier, who also taught the district 
school about this time, 1837. The Baptist church vvas dedicated 
in 1848, having been built at a cost of $1,800. The Presbyterian 
church was organized in 1836, and the first Methodist class in 
1837. In 1851 the Methodists, Congregationalists and Presbyte- 
rians united in building the Union church,on which they expended 
$2,100. The Orland mills ground the first grist in 1838. They 
bolted by hand for three weeks. 

The first tavern, or hotel, as the more fashionable name now is, 
was built by S. U. Clark, in 1838, on the subsequent site of the 
Burnham House. It was for the times and surroundings a large 
and imposing structure, and was an elegant and very notable addi- 
tion to the village buildings. It was a two-story frame building, 
handsomely finished on the outside, and was nearly finished on the 
inside, when, only a few years after its construction, it was burned 
to the ground. This was the first blaze, and a big one it was, 
which the little village experienced. Mr. Clark, however, with 
indomitable energy and with the assistance and good will of the 
citizens, proceeded immediately to the construction of another 
building on the old site, which building has since become a por- 
tion of the Burnham House. 

The first practicing physicians to locate in the township were 
Drs. James McConnelland P. C. Carleton; the latter's residence 
was on the east side of the river, near the present home of Adam 
Patterson. It was a little while after this, however, that Dr. Madi- 
son Marsh located in Jackson Township, from whence he shortly 






HISTOKT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



503 



afterward moved to Orland. Drs. Carleton and Marsh were for 
many years the leading physicians in this part of the country. 
Dr. S. D. Kichardson came in 1840, and soon took a large prac- 
tice. 

The first graveyard was located and established just north of and 
adjacent to the school-house site. In the onward march and prog- 
ress of the village limits, it was found that this old cemetery was 
right in the way. So the good people thought they would have it 
moved and located somewhere out of the way of the village expan- 
sion. Accordingly, new grounds were surveyed and platted for 
burial purposes; but this location, too, has proved to be right in 
the direction the village shows an inclination to extend. 

The first blacksmith shop was a shanty on the west side of South 
street, built by Andrew Lundstrura, then a young Swedish me- 
chanic. 

S. U. Clark was the first tailor in Orland. His shop was one ot 
the rooms of the new tavern building erected by him, and which 
was destroyed by fire. The first cabinet or furniture establish- 
ment in the village was started by Roswell Farwell, a deaf mute, 
who died many years ago. Nelson N^ewton and Chester Stocker 
were the first to make pumps for the wells in the neighborhood, and 
they soon acquired an extended trade in their pumps. These were 
usually made from tamarack logs, and were unblessed with paint or 
other ornamentat. 

The people of Orland, or Vermont settlement, of course were 
imbued with the spirit of free schools, and the place has always 
been an educational center. The Northeastern Indiana Literary 
Institute, which name was given to the Orland Academy when it 
was first established, began its career in 1850. It was first started 
under the more direct auspices of the Baptist church of Orland, 
and the association with which that church was connected. But 
the matter soon received the attention of progressive men of all 
denominations, and was pushed to success. Tttie history of this 
school, which endured from 1850 to 1878, is given in the educa- 
tional chapter of this work. In the last mentioned year it was 
merged with the common-school system of the township. 

Following are the principal business firms of Orland : J. G. 
Parker, general store; Fox & Yanetta, drug store ; D. H. Roberts 
drj'-goods; Taylor, Wilder & Co., hardware; Canst & Bro., grocery 
and meat market; Oscar Underbill, shoe shop, grocery and billiard 
hall; Fred Schneider, grocery; Miles Kimball, hardware; Helrae, 






•vk- 






504: 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



shoe shop; David Schneider, shoe shop; Frank Bnrnham, Burn- 
ham Hotel; Henrv Carver, boarding house; J. W. Hehne, wagon 
shop; James Lyte, blacksmith shop; Joseph Reeves, blacksmith 
shop; W. W. Thompson, furniture; Stephen Sabin, furniture; 
John Roberts, flour and meat market. 

There are three church organizations: The Congregational, under 
charge of Rev. Mr. Preston; the Methodist Episcopal, under Rev. 
Mr. Marble; and the Baptist, with Rev. Mr. Shepherd in the 

pulpit. 

Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges are both maintained. Star 
Lodge, No. 225, F. & A. M., was organized July 31, 1857, the 
original officers being : L. C. Marsh, W. M.; J. F. Chapin, S. W. ; 
E. M. Roberts, J. W. ; M. H. Haskins, Secretary. The charter 
was granted May 25, 1868, previous to which time the lodge 
worked under dispensation. The first person initiated was D. H. 
Roberts, and the first made W. M. was J. E. Spear. Orland 
Lodge, No. 541, I. O. O. F., was organized Dec. 22, 1877, with 
the following first officers: Dr. George Keesler, N. G.; James 
Clifton, Y. G. ; Y. Darrow, Secretary; James Rogers, Treasurer. 

The population of Mill Grove Township was in 1870, 975; and in 
1880 1,021 — an increase of fortj'-six. This is a population of 
forty to the square mile. 

Following are staple crop statistics for the last census year, 1880: 
Acres of wheat sown, 3,115; average product per acre, fifteen and 
one-third bushels; total crop, 46,725 bushels; acres of corn, 2,- 
372; average yield, thirty -three bushels per acre; total crop, 78,- 
276 bushels; acres of oats, 222; average yield, twenty-five bushels 
per acre; total crop, 5,550 bushels; acres of meadow, 261; average 
yield of hay, one and one-third tons per acre; total crop, 348 tons; 
acres of potatoes, fifteen; average yield, eighty bushels per acre; 
total crop, 1,200 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 14,328.62; 
value of same, $156,825; value of improvements, $87,890; value 
of personal property, $87,585; total valuation, $332,390; number 
of polls, 148; number of dogs, forty-nine ; total taxes levied, $6,- 
853.42. As property is assessed on a basis of one-third its actual 
value, the wealth of the township may be estimated at $997,170. 

In politics the township was a stronghold of AVhigism until 1856, 
since when it has given heavy Republican majorities. This is the 
natural result of the New England traditions brought into " Yer- 
mont settlement" by Captain Barry and the other first immigrants. 



\ 



■*. 


Q 






« <9 


^ 




HISTORY 


OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 


505 






In 1844, 1848 and 1852 it al 


so contributed a respectable number of 






votes to the Free-Soil party. 


The vote at each presidential election 






has been as follows : 












1840— William Harrison 49 


40 


1864 — Abraham Lincoln... 


.179 154 






Martin Van Buren 9 




George B. McClellan . 


.25 






1844— Henrv Clay 31 


8 


1868— Ulysses S. Grant 


.192 147 






Henry G. Birney 23 




Horatio Seymour 


..45 






James K. Polk 20 




1872— Ulysses S. Grant. . . . 


.149 90 


' 




1848— Zachary Taylor 29 

Lewis Cass 25 

Martin Van Buren 23 


4 


Horace Greeley 

Charles O'Conor .... 

1877— Rutherford B. Hayes. 

Samuel J. Tilden. . . . 


..59 
...3 

.197 145 
. .52 






1852— Winfield Scott 51 


10 


Peter Cooper 


..17 






Franklin Pierce 41 




1880— James A. Garfield. . . 


.182 114 






John P. Hale ..19 




Winfield S. Hancock. 


..68 






1856— John C. Fremont 134 


119 


James B. Weaver 


..21 






James Buchanan 15 




1884— James G. Blaine 


.153 78 






Millard Fillmore 1 




S. Grover Cleveland. . 


..75 






1860— Abraham Lincoln 175 


136 


Benjamin F. Butler. . 


..17 






Stephen A. Douglas 39 




John P. St. John 


...2 






Following is the detailed vote 


of Mill Grove Township at the 






fall election of 1884: 












President and Vice-President. 




Commissioners. 








Blaine and Logan 153 


78 










Cleveland and Hendricks 75 




Herman C. Shutts 


.153 79 






Butler and West .17 




Adam Failing 


..74 






St. John and Daniel ... 2 




Thomas McClue 


..20 










Daniel P. Rummell 


.153 79 






Oovernor. 




Alvah Carpenter 


..74 






William H. Calkins 153 


79 


John Djgert 


..20 






Isaac P. Gray 74 












Hiram Z. Leonard 17 




Sheriff. 








Robert S. Dwiffgins 3 




A 11 fin Fast 


.154 81 

..73 

..20 






Congressman. 
Theron P. Keator 154 


80 


Charles Squires 

Thomas R. Moffett 






Robert Lowry 74 




Treasurer. 








Jesse M. Gale ; 3 




Clay Lemmon 


.153 79 






Prosecutor. 




Edwin Jackson 


..74 






Henry C. Peterson 152 


60 


Martin V. Gam 


..20 






Frank M. Powers 92 




Surveyor. 








Senator. 












Nicholas Ensley 153 

Lafayette J. Miller 92 


61 


Robert G. Morley 

Moses J. Parsell 


.153 59 
..94 






Representative. 




Coroner. , 








DoakR. Best 151 


57 


T. Ray Morrison 


.153 59 - 






William W. Wyrick 94 




Edward B. Simmons 


..94 






The following are the names 


of the various township officers 






elected since 1850, with the 


years 


in which they were chosen : 






Assessors. — 1850, Miles Coe ; 1 


851, George Brown; 185 


2, Heze- 






kiah Smith; 1854, Peter C. Carlet 


on; 1856, Hezekiah Smith ; 1858, 






Walter Luce ; 1860, Hezekiah Si 


nith; 1862, Elisha Fuller; 1864, 




< 


same; 1866, Walter Scott; 


1868 


, same; 1870, G. S. Benschoten; 


\ 

9 


-r^ 








-• a 


\^ 



506 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1872, Orrin Taylor; 1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, Elisha Fuller; 
1880, Amos Bachelor; ]882, Chester D. Salisbury. 

Justices of the Peace. — 1852, Sullivan U. Clark and William 
S.Joyce; 1853, Stephen C. Sabin; 1856, Leonard Bisbee; 1857, 
Morris H. Haskins; 1860, Frank A. Rowley; 1861, Morris H. 
Raskins; 1862, Stephen C. Sabin; 1864, Amos Bachelor; 1865, 
Gardner Black; 1866, William Dixon; 1869, John McClun^ and 
S. W. Hughs; 1870, L. Bisbee; 1872, John McClung; 1874, Wm. 
W. Birce; 1876, John McClung; 1878, Robert i^. Purdy; 1880, 
Gardner Black; 1882, Grove Dudley; 1884, Daniel Dunham and 
Romeo Rogers. 

Constahles. — 1858, Elisha Fuller and Lyman W. Lyons; 1859, 
Elisha Fuller and W. G. Rathbun; 1860, Elisha Fuller and Oliver 
Miller; 1861, Douglas Bennett and Oliver Miller; 1862, W. S. 
McGowan and George Ruby; 1863, James Loghry and Alonzo 
Smith; 1864, James Loghry and Alonzo Burlingame; 1865, R. Y. 
Shumway and F. Y. Sliumway; 1866, R. Y. Shumway and James 
Loghry; 1868, Oliver Ellston and Elisha Fuller; 1869, Samuel 
McCagg and J. C. Bisbee; 1870, Charles Brunes and William 
Yanlinsan; 1872, A. H. Finch and J. Lyman Heath; 1874, Will- 
iam H. Green and Ezra Smith; 1878, William H. Green and Frank 
D. Parker; 1880, C. H. Wilder and D. Schneider; 1882, Charles 
Rowley and Charles H. Wilder; 1884, Oscar F, Underhill and 
David Schneider. 

Trustees. — 1859, William S. Joyce; 1860, Stephen C. Sabin; 
1861, same; 1862, same; 1863, same; 1864, same; 1865, H. H. 
Goldsmith; 1866, same; 1867, same; 1868, Stephen C. Sabin; 
1869, H. M. Aldrich; 1870, same; 1872, same; 1874, James B. 
Parker; 1878, Irenus McGowan; 1880, D. H.Roberts; 1882, W. S. 
Thompson; 1884, same. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

James TJ. Bennett., son of Wildman and Anna (Nichols) Ben- 
nett, was born near Bridgeport, Conn., in 1831. His parents moved 
to Lagrange County, Ind., about 1851, and subsequently to Bron- 
son, Mich., where they passed the remainder of their lives. About 
1858 James U. came to Steuben County, purchased property in 
Orland, where he established a permanent home. Seeing the need 
of improving the stock of the country he turned his attention to 
this industry, and was gaining a national reputation for his fine 
cattle when he was stricken with disease and died March 13, 1881. 
He was an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and gave his sup- 






■r ■ » 



•<Jq- 



(0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 507 

port to all movements that tended toward the advancement of the 
community. Unselfish ^d benevolent, all objects of charity found 
in him a benefactor, and all in need of assistance or advice a true 
friend and counselor. He v?as married in 1849 to Sylvia M. Hurd 
who died Dec. 7, 1858, leaving one daughter, Sylvia E.. now Mrs. 
John Dickinson, of Maywood, 111. In 1869 he married Eunice C. 
Hurd, who died Nov. 24, 1863. March 27, 1864, he married 
Emma C. Kimball, a daughter of one of Mill Grove Township's 
oldest and most influential citizens. To them were born four chil- 
dren — James A., Ora P., Arthur N. and EmmaE. After the death 
of J. U. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett settled the estate, and her son 
James, though but sixteen years of age, assumed the management 
of the farm, carrying on the stock business in a manner that would 
be creditable to a man of thorough experience. He is a young 
man of unexceptional character, of fine business qualities, and has 
been a careful and successful manager of his mother's business. 

John Hackett is a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., born in 1821, 
a son of Miner and Electa (Chase) Hackett, natives of Vermont, 
who moved to Albany and thence to Cato, where the father died. 
When a mere lad John left home and came West to Oakland, Mich., 
where he worked three years, thence to Teconsha, and two years 
later to eight miles south of Adrian. At that time the country 
south of Adrian was a dense forest. Subsequently he went to 
Burr Oak, and in 1844 to California, making the journey by water. 
In addition to a lack of provisions and water the yellow fever broke 
out on shipboard and the suffering was intense. He remained in 
the West thirteen months, and on his return to Burr Oak had 
$1,300. He began in earnest to develop his farm, and had just 
got fairly started when the small-pox swept over the land, and he 
was again reduced to a lack of means sufficient to enable him to 
live in comfort. He remained there three years when his wife 
died. She was Ellen Richardson, daughter of Eleazar and Eliza- 
beth Richardson, of Oswego, N. Y. They had four children — 
George and Elizabeth deceased; John, of Sand Lake, Mich.; and 
Josephine, widow of David McCord. He afterward married A.nna 
Hause, daughter of George and Elizabeth Hause, early settlers of 
Bronson, Mich. They had two children — one who died in infancy, 
and Frank. Mrs. Hackett died, and in 1856 Mr. Hackett married 
Caroline Hoyt, of Canada. They have had six children — Edwin; 
Gertrude, now Mrs. Rome Rogers; Lillie, deceased, married An- 
drew Lull; Carrie, deceased; Maud and Fred. Mr. Hackett is 



508 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

purely a self-made man. Thrown on his own resources at an early 
age, he had no chance to obtain an education. Of an ambitious 
disposition that would take no denial he struggled on, and by 
observation acquired a knowledge of the world that has stood him 
instead of an attendance at the schools and academies of the country. 
He spent several years in Kansas; returning in 1875 to Steuben 
County, he located on his present farm, buying 200 acres of land. 
He has been successful and has surrounded his family with all 
needed comforts, and as each child left the paternal roof gave 
them ninety acres of land. Mr. Hackett is gifted with remarkable 
perceptive faculties, quickly discerning character, courteous and 
affable in his manners, and is a popular and influential man in his 
township. 

John A' Hunter is a native of Lafayette, Ind., a son of Robert 
and Abigail (England) Hunter, natives of Pennsylvania, of Ger- 
man ancestry. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Fairfield 
County, Ohio, afterward to Gary, and thence to Clyde. When he 
was two years of age his father died, and his mother subsequently 
married John Keinneth, who died in 1844, when the care of the 
farm devolved on him. He was married in 1847 to Eliza C. Rath- 
burn, and settled on a tract of forty acres of wild land, which he 
cleared and improved, residing there till 1863, when he moved to 
Steuben County, Ind. In 1875 he bought the farm where he now 
lives, on which he has erected a residence and farm buildings 
second to none in the county. He has given special attention to 
stock-raising, and has some of the finest horses in the township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have three children — Calista, wife of William 
Cleaveland ; Belle, wife of Frank Parker, and Frank P., married 
Eva Beach. 

Peter Johnson was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1804, a 
son of Luther and Dolly A. Johnson, natives of Connecticut, He 
was reared in the State of his nativity, and about 1837 came West 
to Michigan, and located in Adrian with his brother. In 1841 he 
bought what is now known as the Glasgow farm, on Turkey Creek, 
in Salem Township, Steuben County. At that time it was unculti- 
vated, but he cleared it of timber and improved it, making it one 
of the best farms in the township. In 1847 he was married at 
Coldwater, Mich., to Miss Jenette Ruthven, a native of the High- 
lands of Scotland, a daughter of James and Catherine (McKay) 
Ruthven, who emigrated to Canada, where the father was drowned. 
The mother soon after moved to Livingston, N. Y., and there 



■♦- 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 509 

reared her family. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born three 
children — Mary, now Mrs. Warren Whitman, of St. Joseph 
County, Mich. ; Cornelia, wife of A. H. Stratton, of Ontario, 
Canada; James L., a young man of fine business ability and un- 
exceptional character, who has charge of the farm. Mr. Johnson 
was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. His up- 
rightness and high sense of morals, his genial, courteous manners, 
and rare conversational powers made him a favorite in both busi- 
ness and social circles. He filled difierent positions of trust in 
the township in a creditable and satisfactory manner, and for twelve 
years was Postmaster at Turkey Creek. He died in 1865, after an 
illness of several years. In 186-i he sold his farm in Salem Town- 
ship and bought the home a mile south of Orland, where Mrs. 
Johnson and her son now live. In the early days of his settle- 
ment in the county Mr. Johnson engaged extensively in horti- 
culture, establishing a nursery, from which many of the orchards 
of Steuben County were started. 

Nelson Linquist was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1826, a son 
of Peter and Ingra (Lumstrum) Linquist. In 1850 he came to the 
United States and located in Steuben County, where he worked 
three years at the blacksmith's trade. He bought 150 acres of 
land, paying for it in installments. When he had finished paying 
for his land he was entirely without money, but he went to work 
with a determined will, and although the future was not bright, he 
overcame all obstacles and has accumulated a good property. He 
has cleared and cultivated his land and erected a good residence 
and substantial farm buildings. When he left the old country he 
had to borrow the money to pay his passage, but this indebtedness 
was soon paid, and a commencement of future prosperity and a 
home made. Mr. Linquist was married in 1859 to Mary A. Kale, 
only daughter of James and Bridget (Flynn) Kale, her father a na- 
tive of Canada, and her mother of Ireland. They have one daugh- 
ter — Ella. Mr. Linquist is one of a family of seven children — 
Peter, of this county; Andrew, of Nebraska; Laas, a soldier in the 
old country; Nelson, Eleanor, Hannah and Bertha in Sweden, 
Mrs. Linquist's two brothers died in the war of the Rebellion. 
James was a member of the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and 
died in the hospital at Memphis. John enlisted from Burr Oak, 
Iowa, and died in one of the hospitals of the Western army. 

Charles E. Zyc^is is a native of Clay, Onondaga Co., N. Y., a 
son of Lyman W. and Sarah (Marsh) Lyons. In 1835 his par- 



is 



^1 



ft 



510 



HISTOR-i' OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



ents moved toGilead, Mich., and about 1850 to Steuben County, 
Ind., locating in the eastern part of Mill Grove Township, on a 
tract of heavily timbered land, their nearest neighbor being a mile 
distant. After thirteen years of arduous toil and hardship in mak- 
ing a home for his family, the father died in 1863. Mr. Lyons' 
mother was a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Wallace) Marsh, early 
settlers of Erie County, Pa. Of their family of eight children five 
are living. Permelia, the first white child born in Erie County, is 
the wife of Isaac Freeman; Harriet, now Mrs. Joseph Lyons; Sarah, 
now Mrs. Lyma n yon s; Daniel, of Eaton Kapids, Mich. ; Polly, 
now Mrs. Mortimer Leberidge; Wallace, Ebenezer and John are 
deceased. Charles E. Lyons was married in 1859 to Martha H. 
Drake, of Branch County, Mich., whose parents died in her child- 
hood. To Mr. and Mrs. Lyons have been born seven children — 
Blanche, Maud, Ernest, Edith, Oberi, Opher, and Florence. 
Blanche is the wife of Irving Lyke; Ernest and Opher are deceased; 
the others are with their parents. Mr. Lyons is one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of Mill Grove Township. He has a pleasant 
home and finds his greatest happiness in ministering to the com- 
forts of those he loves. Mrs. Lyon's only brother, Nathaniel Drake, 
was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died in one of the 
Southern prison. Her only sister, Mary, is the wife of George 
Douglas, of New York City. 

Jacoi McNett (deceased) was born in Greene County, Ohio, May 
21, 1824, and moved from there with his parents to Logan County, 
Ohio, in 1827. The family came from there to this county 
in 1846, and settled on Jackson Prairie, where he remained three 
years. He then removed to Lake Gage and remained a resident of 
the neighborhood until his death. At the age of twenty he expe- 
rienced religion and united with the M. E. church. In it he found 
a genial home, and labored actively and contributed largely to 
build it up. For twenty years he was one of its leaders and oflB- 
cers. His testimony to the goodness of God in his salvation was 
clear, earnest and free. At the age of twenty-one years he was 
married to Miss Mary Jane Rock, by Rev. Joseph Lynch. They 
were favored with seven children, two of whom died before him. 
Mr. Mc Nett was noted for his frank, outspoken honesty of heart. 
He was a kind neighbor and a reliable friend. He was naturally 
possessed of a strong will and of great physical power and energy, 
and being abundantly aided by his excellent wife in life's physical 
battle, he was conqueror. A good farm, with plentiful fields 



•f 



® 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 511 

and fruitful orchards, crowned the labor of his hands. The pleas- 
ant and hopeful condition of his children, three of whom were 
married and settled in the neighborhood, greatly cheered his de- 
clining days. 

Alvin Partridge was born in Gustavus, Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 
1820, a son of George W. and Mary E. (Horn) Partridge, his father 
a native of Ballston, N. Y., and his mother of Little Fork, Pa. 
His paternal grandfather lived to an advanced age, and his last 
days were spent in blindness. His maternal grandfather was of 
German descent, the family having been banished from that 
country for marrying into a titled family. George W. Partridge 
was a strong abolitionist, and sacrificed his property to assist Kan- 
sas in becoming a free State. He lived in various States of the 
Union, but finally returned to his son's house where he died at the 
age of eighty years. His wife lived to be ninety-three years of 
age. They had a family of ten children — Emily, now Mrs. Elijah 
Townsend, of Minnesota; Thomas, of Fair Haven, Minn.; Sarah, 
widow of Philip Huber; John, of Allegan County, Mich.; Alvin; 
Frederick; Maria, widow ot Bough ton; William, of North Caro- 
lina; George was killed in the John Brown conflict, in Kansas; 
Mary E., wife of Christian Otto, of Steuben County. Alvin Par- 
tridge remained with his parents till manhood. Being the most 
willing to work of any of the boys, his services were required on 
the farm while the others were at school, and hence his education 
was limited. He was married when twenty-two years of age, to 
Lucia Thompson, a daughter of Apollos and Lucinda (Dexter) 
Thompson, one of the early settlers of Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., 
Ohio. When he commenced life for himself, he was entirely with- 
out means, but by a life of strict integrity and close adherence to 
business principles he has succeeded in surrounding himself and 
family with all that makes it a pleasure to live. Conscientious in 
all his acts, he has won the esteem of all who know him, and is re- 
garded as one of the most influential and honorable citizens of the 
county. He lived in Geauga County, Ohio, a short time after his 
marriage; then in Mc Henry County, 111.; thence to Wisconsin, and 
in 1855 moved to Steuben County and settled on the farm where he 
now lives. To Mr- and Mrs. Partridge have been born four chil- 
dren — Eliza L., wife of Lorenzo Yan Slyke, of Nebraska; Joseph 
W., married Carrie Huxter; Amelia L., wife of William Richards, 
of Nebraska, and Caroline (deceased). They have an adopted 
daughter — Mary B. Mrs. Partridge's parents had a family of six 



-v 



A 



■VJQ >^ --L » 1;^ 

512 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

children— Abigail, wife of Reuben Hurd, of Illinois; Erastus G., 
deceased, was living in Tennessee at the outbreak of the Rebellion, 
and was relentlessly pursued for three days, but finally escaped; 
Asahel C, a leading citizen of Mc Henry County, 111.; Lucia, now 
Mrs. Partridge; Mark, a member of a Minnesota regiment in the 
war of the Rebellion, died in the hospital at St. Louis; Lucinda is 
the wife of William Luikleiter, of Tippecanoe County, Iowa. 

Adam Patterson was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1816, 
a son of William and Catherine (Snyder) Patterson, his father a 
native of New Jersey and his mother of Pennsylvania, of German 
descent. His parents settled in Tuscarawas County about 1790. 
They had a family of eleven children — Adam; Elizabeth, now Mrs. 
Haswell; John, of Kansas; David, of Coshocton County, Ohio; 
Aaron, of Knox County, Ohio; Edward, of Steuben County, Ohio; 
Benjamin, Joseph and Elias, of Tuscarawas County; Lavinia, wife 
of Elias King; Mary, deceased. Adam Patterson was married in 
1841 to Catherine Gabriel, daughter of Daniel and Catherine Ga- 
briel, of Wayne County, Ohio. After his marriage he lived three and 
a half years in Coshocton County, and then moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and located four miles South of Metz, where he 
bought forty acres of land for $100, and went to work to clear it of 
timber and build a cabin. His spare time was spent in forging 
cow-bells, which he took to the prairies and exchanged for wheat 
and other necessaries. In 1870 he sold his property in Richland 
Township and bought the old Carrollton property in Mill Grove 
Township where he has since lived. He owns seventy-nine acres of 
choice land, all under cultivation, and his residence and farm build- 
ings are among the best in the township. 

Levi Pocock-vjSi,^ born in Baltimore County, Md., in 1817, a son 
of Elisha and Christena (Foust) Pocock, natives of Maryland, his 
father of English and his mother of German descent. His parents 
moved to Ohio in 1819, and there the father died about 1825, leav- 
ing a widow with eight children to care for, viz. : Catherine, mar- 
ried Solomon Jennings (deceased); is now the widow of Mr. 
Haughn; Jessie, deceased; Daniel, of Sandusky County, Ohio; Eve, 
widow of John Steffey, of Sandusky County, Ohio; Levi; Julia A., 
deceased, was the wife of William Malone, of Steuben County; 
Pollie, deceased, was the wife of George Malone; Elisha, of New 
Comerstown, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. Levi passed his early 
days in Tuscarawas County, and in his youth learned the black- 
smith's trade, at which he worked till 1858, when he moved to 



w ^ 

^ 



wr 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 513 

Sandusky County, where he followed agricultural pursuits till 1866. 
He then moved to Lagrange County, Ind., and remained two years, 
and in 186S moved to Steuben County, to the farm where he 
now lives, in Mill Grove Township. He was married in 1852 
to Barbara Ganney, who was a daughter of Benjamin Ganney, a 
native of Switzerland. Their family consisted of six chil- 
dren — Andrew married Allie Burlingame, a daughter of a well- 
known citizen of Steuben County; Edward resides in Lagrano-e 
County; Barbara A. is the wife of Frank Salisbury, son of one ot 
Steuben's pioneers; Daniel lives with his father; Emma J. is with 
her brother in Lagrange County ; Lizzie is deceased. Mrs. Pocock 
died in 1864 and is buried in one of the cemeteries of Sandusky 
County, Ohio. 

Chester D. Salisbury was born in Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y. 
in 1817, a son of Edgar and Susannah (Gore) Salisbury, natives ot 
Vermont. His grandfather, Hezekiah Salisbury, was a large land- 
owner in Vermont, owning at one time the present site of the city 
of Brattleboro. Edgar Salisbury was a minute-man in the war of 1812. 
He was one of the pioneers of the town of Adams and lived there 
till his death. His family consisted of four sons and four dauo-h- 
ters — Elijah G., married Abigail Terry; he died in Oakland, Cal., 
in 1877; Susan E. married Daniel E. Rood, and lives in Pulaski, 
Oswego Co., N. Y; Chester D. is the subject of our sketch; 
Harriet G., is the widow of J. G. Kibling, and lives in Bellville, 
Jefferson Co., N. Y. The other children died in childhood. 
The father died when Chester D. was eight years of age, and the 
mother and older children were each obliged to contribute toward 
the support of the family. "When eleven years of age he was sent 
into the cedar swamps to assist in making rails. School was a 
dream that was not realized till he attained manhood, when he at- 
tended a select school a few terras. He was apprenticed to learn 
the tanner and currier's trade and served till 1836, when he left his 
master and came to Indiana. He is purely a self-made man. Startino- 
for himself before reaching his majority lie stole away from his em- 
ployer and working nights obtained enough money to defray his ex- 
penses to the West. He arrived in Coldwater, Mich., just as they were 
firing their sunrise salute on the Fourth of July. He proceeded to 
Steuben County and located on what is now known as section 23 
Jamestown Township, where he burned lime two years. He then 
moved to Worlton, now known as Nevada, and opened up and im- 
proved a farm living there four years, when he moved to Mill Grove 



^ 



— » 



^ 



614 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Township and settled on his present farm. When he arrived in 
Steuben County he had 12^ cents. To this small beginning he has 
added till he now owns 208 acres of the finest land in the county, 
with improvements second to none. His home is a model of all 
that makes comfort and happiness in this life, and is presided over 
by a host and hostess whose greatest enjoyment is found when 
ministering to others' pleasure and comfort. Mr. Salisbury was 
married in 1838 to Julia Collins, daughter of Barton and Anna 
Rita Collins, the first settlers in Jamestown Township. To them 
have been born six children — Susan E., Sarah A., Emily A. 
(deceased), Merritt B., Frank G. and Dewitt C. Susan is the wife 
of W. W. Turner, of Steuben County. Sarah A. married Charles 
Ellis,a member of Company B., One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, 
who was captured and killed by guerrillas while with Sherman on 
his march to the sea. She is now the wife of J. P. Whitney. 
Frank G. married Barbara E. Pocock. Dewitt C. married Ella, 
daughter of William Reed. 

Christian F. Schneider was born in the Grand Duchy of 
Baden, Germany, Nov. 17, 1818, a son of George Frederick and 
Christena (Ekkard) Schneider. His maternal grandfather was a 
wealthy citizen of Emmendingen, Germany. In 1846 Christian 
and his brother Eduard sailed for the United States, landing in 
New York. They proceeded to Albany where they embarked on 
a c«nal-boat and went to BuflFalo, thence per steamer to Toledo, 
Ohio, and from there to Angola, Ind. He soon found employ- 
ment at his trade, a tailor, and remained in Angola a year, when 
his employer moved to Orland and he soon followed him. He 
worked as a journeyman a year, and then opened a shop of his own . 
In 1856 he was appointed Postmaster by James Campbell, Post- 
master-General, and held the position till 1861. Retaining the 
office in the same location in the building occupied by him, he 
served as Deputy till 1865, when he was again commissioned Post- 
master by William Dennison, and has since filled the position to 
the satisfaction of the entire community. He is a genial, courteous 
gentleman and esteemed by all who know him. He was married 
Nov. 27, 1847, to Susan Noll, daughter of George Noll, one of the 
pioneers of Salem Township. She died March 20, 1849, leaving 
one daughter — Susanna M., now Mrs. William Meek. In 1849 he 
was married to Melissa Tuttle. To them were born four children, 
three of whom are living — Frederick, David and Adelia, wife of 
Arthur Norton. After a year of sufifering Mrs. Schneider died 



r 



J 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 515 

Nov. 23, 1873. In 1874 Mr, Schneider married Cynthia Moor, a 
native of Ohio. 

Elias Sillahaugh was born in Somerset County, Pa., in 1831, a 
son of James and Jane (McClintock) Sillahaugh, natives of Penn- 
sylvania. But three of a family of six children are living, viz.: 
Elias, Hiram and Melinda, now Mrs. Joseph Landers, all residents 
of Steuben County. His parents were early settlers of Noble 
County, Ind., and there the mother died. The father died in 
Steuben County in 1876. Elias Sillahaugh was reared in Noble 
County, Ind. In 1873 he came to Steuben County and bought the 
farm where he now lives. He has seventy-nine acres of choice 
land, well cultivated and with fine improvements. He was mar- 
ried in 1863 to Mary A. Landers, daughter of Joseph and Catherine 
(Fredricks) Landers, her father a native of Pennsylvania and her 
mother of Ohio, early settlers of Noble County, and among its 
most prominent citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Sillahaugh have two 
children — Howard L. and Catherine E., now Mrs. Sylvester Davis. 

Hezekiah Smith was born in Connecticut in 1801, a son of Heze- 
kiah and Rebecca (Miner) Smith, also natives of Connecticut. They 
had a family of eleven children — Paul G., died in Ncrwalk; Theode, 
wife of B. P. Smith; Nancy, wife of Z. W. Darrow; Rebecca, wife 
of Daniel Benscotter; Turner M., of Erie County, Ohio; Nehemiah 
D., died in Iowa; Pattie, deceased, was the wife of "William Hurl- 
burt, of Connecticut; Hezekiah, Ann M., Henry K. and Emeline 
are deceased. Hezekiah Smith remained in his native State till 
1844, and then came West and bought eighty acres of wild land in 
Steuben County. He cleared his land of grubs and cultivated it, 
and now has one of the best farms in the county. His residence 
and farm buildings are unsurpassed, and his home is the embodi- 
ment of comfort and good cheer. Mr. Smith was married in 1824 
to Mary Calkins, daughter of Richard and Eunice Smith Calkins. 
To them were born five children — Ezra A.; Mathew K., deceased; 
Mark, deceased; Betsey J., widow of Charles Wilder, and Jerome 
H., deceased. Mrs. Smith died, and in 1837 Mr. Smith married 
Marilla Allen, daughter of William and Phoebe (Graves) Allen, 
her father a native of Connecticut and her mother of Vermont. 
Mrs. Smith was born in Portage County, Ohio. She is one of a 
family often children, viz.: Ira, Clarissa, Hannah, Lydia, Ethan, 
Phoebe, Daniel, Marilla, Ruthanna and Wiliiarn. Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith have had five children — Asa, deceased; Alonzo, living on 
the old homestead, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion ; he 

'<» *if '_ _ ' — ' JS-* 



616 HISTOET OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

married A. J. Miller and has one daughter — Grace; Phoebe E. is the 
wife of Jerome Murray, of Dakota ; William W., and Marshall V. 

Hev. E. R. Sjpear (deceased) was born near Palmyra, N. 
Y., Nov. 23, 1801, and at the prime of life he removed to Steu- 
ben County, this State, where he resided most of the time until 
April, 1871. He then removed to Fillmore County, Neb., to live 
the remainder of his life. He died at Geneva, Neb., Dec. 25 
(Christmas day), 1879, and was buried two days later at Geneva. 
He preached twenty-nine years at the Lake Gage school-house, 
where he had many warm friends, and he was also well known 
throughout the county. 

William TF. Thomson is a native of Vermont, born in Jericho, 
twelve miles from Burlington, in 1820. His parents, Orpheus and 
Rebecca (Eaton) Thomson, and his grandfather, John Thomson 
were natives of Vermont. His great-grandfather, John Thomson, 
was a native of Scotland, an early settler of the New World. His 
maternal grandfather, Samuel Eaton, was a native of New Hamp- 
shire, and a descendant of one of the Pilgrim fathers. Sept. 
26, 1833, his parents moved to Ohio, and settled in Boston, Sum- 
mit (then Portage) County, where his father was engaged in build- 
ing canal boats. In 1840 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and 
helped build the flouring mill at Orland, and also bought 200 
acres of land, and the following year the family moved to the 
county. In 1846 Mr. Thomson was married to Sylvia A. Dun- 
ham, daughter of William and Ann (Skinner) Dunham, of Chau- 
tauqua County, N. Y., formerly of Connecticut. Her father and 
his brother Charles were soldiers in the war of 1812. Mr. Thom- 
son is a man of wide experience, and has an extensive knowledge 
of his native land, having visited every State and Territory in the 
Union, except Washington. His descriptive powers and genial, 
courteous manners make him a general favorite in all social circles. 
His upright integrity and fine business qualities have won him 
many friends. 

George K. Wilder was born in Oswego County, N. Y., in 1828, 
a son of William and Mary (Breed) Wilder, natives of Connecti- 
cut and New Hampshire, who came to Steuben County, Ind., in 
1836 and located on land now owned by their son Orlando. In 
early life George K. attended school in the winter and assisted in 
the work on the farm in the summer. When twenty-one years of 
age he went to California, and was ninety days in making the 
lourney from the bluffs of the Missouri to Hangtown, Cal. He 



\ 



>^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



517 



remained six years, working in the mines the first eighteen 
months and tlie rest of the time engaged in farming. He then 
returned to Indiana and bought a farm two miles northeast of 
Orland, In 1862 he enlisted in the JM^inth Michigan Infantry, 
and participated in all the varied fortunes of the regiment till it 
reached Murfreesboro, when he was discharged on account of ill 
health. His regiment was soon after captured. As soon as he re- 
gained his health he turned his attention to improving and culti- 
vating his farm. In 1877 he retired from the active life of an 
agriculturist and purchased property in Orland where he has since 
lived, enjoying the fruits of many years of toil and privation. 
Mr. Wilder was married inl862 to Miss Hattie N. Luce, the only 
daughter of "Walter and Mary (Gray) Luce. They have a family 
of eight children. 

Orlando Wilder ^2&\)Qxm in Oswego County, N. Y., in 1815, 
the eldest son of William and Mary (Breed) Wilder, his father a 
native of North Adams, Mass., and his mother of Keene, K. H. 
William Wilder was a pioneer of Oswego County, settling there 
when it was an unbroken wilderness, and was one of the most 
prominent citizens in promoting the growth of the county. Orlando 
Wilder's youth was spent in assisting his father and attending the 
district school three months in the year. In 1835 the family 
moved overland to Portage County, Ohio, remaining there one 
summer when in February, 1836, they moved overland to Steuben 
County and settled on land the father had entered the year before. 
Orlando did not reach the new home till the first of March, as a 
cow and two yoke of cattle and goods were entrusted to his care. 
'Diey lived in a cabin belonging to J. C. Cutler till one of their 
own could be completed. Then all turned their energies to chang- 
ing the oak openings into fields of waving grain which was accom- 
plished by the hardest labor under the most adverse circumstan- 
ces. Their milling was done at Constantine, Mich., thirth-three 
miles distant, taking two days to make the journey. In the fall of 
1836 O. Wilder went to Toledo for goods shipped. Not finding them 
he bought a load of salt which he sold before reaching home at $12 
a barrel. His father's first entry in the county was 240 acres and 
to this has been added 520 acres. He owns the original homestead 
which is now one of the finest farms in Steuben County. He was 
married in 1844 to Ursula Humphrey, daughter of Luman and 
Philena (Dryer) Humphrey, natives of Vermont, who came to 
Steuben County in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Wilder have three chil- 
33 






■<.•< *■ — 



Sl 



518 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

dren — Edson A., of the firm Taylor & "Wilder, hardware mer- 
chants, Orland, who married Julia Edgar, daughter of one of 
Michigan's early settlers; Eva A., wife of M. T. Rose, who now 
has charge of the old homestead; H\e youngest, a son, died aged 
two years. Mr. Wilder is a man whose good judgment and hon- 
orable dealing has placed him among the county's best business 
men and most honored citizens. Commencing life with limited 
capital he has accumulated a good property by strict attention to 
his business and keeping at all times free from debt. Mr. Wilder is 
the eldest of five children, the others being William, Jr., deceased, 
who was the third sheriff of the county; Sarah A., now Mrs. 
Henry Fox, of Topeka, Kas. ; George K., living in Orland, and 
Charles H., deceased, a brave soldier of the One Hundredth Indi- 
ana. Mrs. Wilder's parents had a family of five children — 
Charlotte, now Mrs. Dickinson, of Salem, Ore. ; Elmore, of Ontario 
County, N. Y. ; Otis M., a physician of Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. 
Wilder and Kesiah, deceased. 







\ 



p 



CHAPTER XIIT. 



JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP 



Position. — Geography and Topography. — Lakes. — First Set- 
tlers. — First Land Entries. — Going to Mill under Difficul- 
ties. — Arrivals in 1836. — Knott's Saw and Grist Mills. — 
Postmasters and Post Routes. — First Schools. — Early Relio 
lous Meetings. — First Blacksmithing. — Pioneer Stores. — 
Wolves. — Troublesome Indians. — Other Early Settlers. — 
Pioneer Weddings. — First Birth. — Independence Day in 1841. 
— Prize Hunting. — A Knowing Horse. — Jamestown's Early 
Days. — Another Mill Story. — Michael Depue. — Successful 
Hunter. — Cold Day. — Barton Collins. — Pioneer Experi- 
ences. — Putting up a Cabin. — Scarcity of Food. — A House 
Full of Immigrants. — Calico 25 Cents a Yard. — First Schools 
and Teachers. — Population of the Township. — Agricultural 
Statistics. — Property and Taxation. — Politics. — Vote for 
President since 1844. — Detailed Vote in 1884. — List or Town- 
ship Officials since 1850. — Biographical. 

Jamestown Township lies in the north tier, adjoining the State 
of Michigan, which bounds it on the north. To the east lies Fre- 
mont Township, to the south Pleasant, and to the west Mill Grove. 
The township is a little less than six miles east and west, and a lit- 
tle more than four miles north and south. It thus contains about 
twenty-four square miles, or about 15,500 acres, of which say 2,000 
acres are covered by water. The township contains some of the finest 
lakes in the county, and offers unrivaled advantages to the sports- 
man who desires a successful fishing trip, to the city man who 
needs a few weeks quiet amid attractive scenery, or to the farmer 
who wants to locate in as beautiful a region as is in Indiana. Lake 
James, the largest body of water in the county, stretches from the 
south line nearly to the village of Jamestown, covering half of sec- 
tions 28 and 33, and parts of 21, 27 and 34. Lake Jimerson cov- 
ers half of section 32. Lake George lies on sections 14 and 15, 
near Jamestown, and stretches into Michigan, as does Hog Lake, 

(519) 



w 



\ 



4^ 

— 1 10 



520 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



on section 17, and Lake Pleasant, in the northwestern corner, on 
18. Others are Upper and Lower Otter lakes, on sections 26 and 
2Y; Green's Lake, on 26; Failing Lake, on 35; Marsh Lake, on 25; 
Mud Lake, on 22, and Walters's Lake, on 13. 

Jamestown has no railroad, and its inhabitants do business at 
Fremont or Angola. 

As mentioned in the history of Fremont Township, the first set- 
tlers arrived near Willow Prairie on one of the last days of Au- 
gust, 1835. Jamestown Township received some of its first per- 
manent settlers only a few days later. Dennis Depue, John D. 
Depue, John Wilkins and Jared Fox were among the pioneers ot 
the township. They arrived Sept. 8,1835. Six weeks later, when 
the forests were gorgeously arrayed in all the bright and beautiful 
colors peculiar to the northern woods in autumn, the population of 
the settlement was materially increased by the arrival of Henry 
Depue, Sr., Michael Depue, Benjamin Depue, Henry Depue, Levi 
Depue and Mary Hoxter. Henry and Levi Depue settled in Or- 
land, and John D. and Benjamin Depue located in Branch County, 
Mich. John Wilkins and Dennis Depue, settled in Jamestown 
Township, near the village of that name. Jared Fox settled in Gil- 
ead, Branch Co., Mich. 

The first entry of land in the township was made by Albert Ans- 
ley, May 10, 1835, it being the southeast fractional quarter of sec- 
tion 18, containing ninety-two and one-fourth acres. The second 
entry was made nine days later by Elon Elmore. The third entry 
was made June 27, 1835, by George Harding, who has long been a 
prominent citizen of Orland, and an active member of the Old Set- 
tlers' Association of Steuben County. He entered two pieces of 
laud on Lake Pleasant, one on the northeast and the other on the 
southeast corner of the lake. Barton Collins entered his land on 
the 3d of July. He built the first house between Orland and Beau 
Creek, Ohio, fifty-three miles east, on the Vistula road. Thomas 
Knott built the second house in the township, on the southeast 
corner of section 15. 

Orrin Preston entered the northeast quarter of the northeast 
quarter of section 19, and settled on that piece. He went to mill at 
Constantine, Mich., once, and when he arrived there he found the 
mill broken down, and was obliged to go to Montville, seven miles 
farther on. He started away from home Monday morning, and when 
he arrived at Montville the miller told him he could not grind his 
grist, for a man was there who had come fifty miles. Parties had 



/ 



^. 



to 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 621 

been therefrom Chicago to buy flour, and he expected other buyers 
at any time, and he had no flour to supply them, for his custom was 
so large he was obliged to run day and night. He could not grind 
Mr. Preston's, as he was full. Mr. Preston Anally induced the miller 
to grind his grist so that he could start for home in the morning. 
He told how many hardships he had passed through, coloring the 
story all it would bear. Five days from the time he left James- 
town he returned, being well-nigh exhausted with his long jaunt. 

In 1836, besides Mr. Collins, Judge Storrs, John Wilkins, Val- 
orous Baker, John Brown and some others settled in the neighbor- 
hood. Jane E. Bending (Mrs. A. W. Gillett) arrived in James- 
town village with her parents Sept. 8, 1836. At that time there 
were but three white families in the village, their heads being 
John Knott, Thomas Knott and John Bell. 

In the winter of that year John Knott built a saw-mill on the 
creek or outlet of Lake George, and shortly thereafter he built a 
grist mill at the same point. He also brought a small stock of 
goods. Mr. Knott, in company with a Mr. Bell, thought to lay 
out a town, and selected a location to the southward of the present 
site of the village. This they proceeded to survey and lay out into 
town lots, naming the place Waynesbnrg. This place was, how- 
ever, abandoned. A man by the name of Johnson bought out 
Knott's interest in the mills and the " burg. " 

It is thought by some, that Mr. Knott was the first Postmaster 
in this vicinity; while others think that it was "William A. Bliss, 
who had settled about that time some two miles to the eastward, 
on the Vistula road, at a point afterward for a long time known as 
Dewey's Corners. It is quite certain that Bliss had the post-ofiice 
awhile. He was the contractor for the mail route, and superin- 
tended the carrying of the mail for a number of years. This mail 
was carried on horseback once a week each way, east and west, be- 
tween Van Buren in Lagrange County, and Toledo, Ohio. The 
route included Lima, Orland and Brock ville. 

The first school was taught on Ezekiel Brown's place. Subse- 
quently it was moved nearer town, in the Collins neighborhood. 
Fidelia Tillotson was the teacher. She commenced her school in a 
house belonging to Zeph. Wilkins, but finished it in the house of 
Michael Depue. 

Religious meetings were held in those days in the neighbors' 
houses. People would come from a distance of thirty miles to 
attend a quarterly meeting. They were frequently held at the 



W 



522 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

house of Henry Depue, in Mill Grove Township, and would con- 
tinue for two weeks. Father Stealey was the preacher. The second 
minister was Leland H. Stocker. 

The first blacksmith in the neighborhood was Mr. Tousley. 
The first frame house that was built within the present limits of 
the village was situated a few rods to the north of where Esquire 
McAlister's shops have since been erected, and was put up by 
Thomas Knott. Mr. McAlister afterward moved it over by the 
mill pond and used it as a blacksmith shop for a number of years. 

Dennis Depue made the first garden in the township. In 1835 
Messrs. Knott & Bell built the first tannery. John Nichols, who 
owned a large farm to the west of the "burg," had also at one 
time a stock of goods which he traded mostly to what few Indians 
there remained in the vicinity, whisky being the staple, and may 
therefore be said to have kept the first store. 

In these early days wolves were very plenty. The hardy frontiers- 
men would stand in their cabins and shoot at the animals as they 
prowled around, the cracks between the logs serving as loop holes. 
The Indians were civil, but the settlers had to feed them a great 
deal in order to keep them on good terms. If they were refused 
anything they remembered it. When Mrs. Gillett was only twelve 
yeas of age she was left alone from Saturday morning until Mon- 
day. In that time she saw only three white people. The family 
had hardly gone away when five oi" the dusky sons of the forest 
came to the house and were determined to take away some meat. 
There was only a wooden latch on the door, so she took some large 
sticks of wood and rolled them against it so as to efiectually pre- 
vent the entrance of the Indians. They were drunk and remained 
in the vicinity of the house nearly all night. Sunday evening an 
old Indian called and desired to stay all night. Finally he was 
persuaded to leave when he saw a large dog come toward him, 
growling fiercely. Mrs. Gillett was well acquainted with the squaw 
who killed her husband near Jamestown, and who was killed the 
following day by the next of kin to the murdered man, according 
to the custom of the Indians. An account of this affair is given in 
the chapter devoted to Fremont Township, She says the squaw 
was really beautiful, and that she traded with her the day before 
the killing. 

Others who came into the township prior to 1840 were E. Le- 
land, John Archer, Henry Burdick, S. Chase, Jacob Mallory, 
Clayton Mallory, E. Mallory, Asa Mallory, Cephas McCuller, L. 



-♦" 



V 



K^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 523 

B. Eaton, William Martin, R. Gaines, J. Burdick, Joseph Tousley, 
Henry Snow, R. Stiles, Thomas Failing, John Green, Theron 
Storrs and Chester D. Salisbury. 

Martin Tillotson and Minerva Mallory were the first couple 
married, according to some, while others give the honor to Chester 
D. Salisbury and Julia Collins. The latter kept house on the 
Hayes place. Catharine Depue was the first white child born in 
the township. 

The first Fourth of July celebrated at Jamestown was in 1841. 
A premium was ofiered to those who brought in the first game. 
Dennis Depue was the successful Nimrod, bringing in a fine deer. 
The people had a substantial, old-fashioned dinner, and in the 
evening a dance was held in the mill, which was just then un- 
finished. 

John Depue, who entered land just across the line in Michigan, 
had a very wise old horse, which he used to send on errands. Mr. 
Depue would write a note and pin it to the mane of the faithful 
equine. He would then start him to his brother's house. The 
horse would carry tlie note all right, and after an answer had been 
fastened to his mane, would return home. The brother referred 
to lived in this township. 

It was not until April, 1853, that the present village was laid 
out and platted on section 15, at the southwestern end of Lake 
George. This was done by Simeon Gilbert and Joseph Hutchin- 
son. The village was first named Eagleville, but this was after- 
ward changed to Jamestown. The postoflSce, however, was named 
Crooked Creek, on account of there being already a Jamestown in 
the State (in Boone County). In that year (1853) there was a 
bank in Jamestown, John Dutton being the Cashier. "Lant" 
Carpenter, now of Angola, kept a store. Dr. Waterhouse, now of 
"Washington Territory, commenced practice here in 1854, he being 
the first regular physician, though John Wilkinson, a root and 
herb doctor, had been here for some time previous to the arrival 
of Dr. Waterhouse. Mr. Wilkinson was also a preacher. George 
R. Hershey opened a hotel in the spring of that year, it being the 
first in the place. In the same year, also, a stage line was estab- 
lished from Coldwater to Fort Wayne, Seeley & Fox being the 
contractors. It was first run to Auburn, and then it was extended 
to Fort Wayne. 

William Simmons was the first person interred in the James- 
town Cemetery. He was buried on the 15th of January, 1841. In 



V 



■^ 



|9 



524 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



the afternoon of the same day Diana Harding, wife of George 
Harding, was buried. Mrs. Charlotte Richlield attended the 
funeral of Mrs. Harding, was taken sick the next day, and after 
an illness of about ten days crossed the dark river. She was 
buried on the 2Stli. No more graves dotted the cemetery until the 
following year, when John Howe was called to "that bourne whence 
no traveler returns." His funeral took place Jan. 3, 1842. 

Michael Depue was a pioneer of Jamestown Township, but after 
residing here a term of years fixed his home for the remainder of 
his life at Hall's Corners, Mich. In early days he went to Martin's 
Mills, eight miles from Lima. He was gone four days. He 
bought corn on English Prairie for which he paid 50 cents per 
bushel, and he had to husk it at that. The corn was buried be- 
neath a heavy covering of the "beautiful snow." The work of 
husking was not nearly so pleasant as it would have been in a barn 
with a host of pretty country lassies gathered around watching 
with a great deal of interest for the " red ears," for then the swain 
who luckily found it claimed the right to kiss his sweetheart, or in 
case she was absent, the sweetheart belonging to some one else. 
About a third of a century since Mr. Depue moved to Orland and 
kept hotel there for a time, and then removed to Michigan. He 
was a mightj' Nimrod, and helped wonderfully to fill the general 
storehouse of the settlement with venison. He would frequently 
kill from one to three deer before breakfast. It is related by one 
of the oldest inhabitants that he killed twenty-three deer in twenty- 
four consecutive days, and did not make a business of hunting a 
single day. He would take his gun with him in the evening when 
he went to look after his cattle, and would find the deer with the 
cattle. 

The 19th of June, 1836, is noted among the old settlers as being 
extremely cold. The ground froze, and the corn and potatoes 
were killed. 

As before stated, Barton Collins was one of the pioneers of 
Jamestown Township. The following data are taken from a jour- 
nal kept by his daughter, Mrs. Mallory : 

He was born Feb. 23, 1794, in Ira, Eichland Co., Vt., and 
his wife was born in Rehobath, R. I., Jan. 2, 1797. They 
were married in 1820. Mr. Collins same West in 1834 and visited 
LaPorte, but did not enter any land at that time. In the spring of 
1835 he sold his land in the East and started again with his family, 
consisting of himself, wife and nine children, six daughters and 



■^ 



,«^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 525 

three sons. He sent his goods by water to Detroit and he came 
by land with his team. They were three weeks on the road. At 
Buffalo they took the boat to Detroit and came from there to Cold- 
water. When they arrived at the latter place there was but one 
log house. The next place reached was Bronson. The town con- 
sisted of two log cabins joined together which served as an hotel. 

They stopped and inquired fortheYermont settlement, as Orland 
was then called. They rested at Vermont settlement a few days 
and found one of their old neighbors, Mr. Blanchard and family. 

He advised Mr. Collins to buy land there, but the latter was not 
satisfied with the timber, so he came out into what is now James- 
town Township. The general appearance of the land and timber 
suited him very much, so he went to Fort "Wayne and entered his 
land, paying $1.25 per acre. He then returned to Jamestown 
Township and hired two men, George Stocker being one, to help 
him " butt" logs enough for a cabin. When enough had been 
prepared for a house, all the men and boys in Vermont settlement 
came out and helped roll up the first cabin in Jamestown Township. 

Shakes were split for the roof. It was not long until the shakes 
became seasoned, and then they rolled up so badly that the stars 
could be seen through the roof at any time during tlie night by 
looking up. When winter came the snow blew through the open- 
ings, and many times the bunks up stairs would be covered to a 
depth of two inches. A few boards were laid down to sleep on, 
and a quilt hung up for a door. A piece of oil-cloth covered the 
window opening when the storm king held undisputed sway out- 
side. The wolves would howl fearfully around the house every 
night. When Mr Collins had a fire started great pains had to be 
taken to prevent it going out, for there were no neighbors to borrow 
any of, and lucifer matches were unknown. They had a log-and- 
stick chimney built outside of the house. 

When Mr. Collins went to mill he bought his wheat and corn on 
English prairie. He paid $2.00 for wheat and $1.00 for corn, and 
then had to go to Burr Oak to mill, and would be gone two days 
and sometimes longer. It was difficult to get enough to eat those 
days, for there was not enough raised in the country. Sometimes 
they would have nothing but potatoes and salt. Land had to be 
cleared off before they could raise anything. 

They did not hear anything from their goods until October. In 
the summer John Preston and Orrin Preston and wife came out 
from New York State. John Preston went back and Mr. Collins 



-^ 



526 HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

requested him to look for the lost goods in Detroit. He found 
them stowed away in the wareroom. When Mr. Collins found 
where they were, he got ready to go after them but had only one 
horse, the other having strayed off into the woods, so he had to go 
to English Prairie and buy a yoke of oxen. They cost him $100. 
When he was ready to start he pat the horse ahead of his cattle. 
His motto was, " Slow, but sure." 

Mr. Collins was gone some time. During his absence his family 
had devoured almost everything that was eatable in the house, so 
as soon as he returned he had to start off for provisions. There 
were no neighbors to borrow of then. "Two men in Jamestown oc- 
cupied a little shanty and were keeping bachelor's hall. They put 
up a saw-mill, and then Mr. Collins was enabled to get some lum- 
ber, so his family lived a little more comfortably. He laid a floor 
and had a door and window made. 

Mr. Preston and wife lived with them until they built a house of 
their own. In the spring of 1836 Mr. Theron Storrs, of Fremont, 
and his family moved in with them. He bought eighty acres ol 
Mr. Collins and broke some of it. He built a cabin and moved 
into it, so Mr. Collins' family were left alone for a few weeks. Then 
David Mallory came out and stayed until the first of October, when 
his family of eight came. Mr. Mc Cullough was with them, so there 
was quite a house full. The boys helped McCullough build his cabin 
and then moved in with him. David Mallory bouglit forty acres 
of land of Mr. Collins and then built him a cabin. In 1837 all the 
settlers raised abundant crops. If they had wheat to sell they had 
to haul it to Adrian, where they sold it for 60 cents per bushel. 
Brown " factory" was 25 cents per yard, and calico the same. 
Mrs. Mallory was then ten years of age. An elder sister made 
herself a dress and also one for Mrs. Mallory out of eight yards of 
calico. What would a young miss in these days think of having a 
dress made out of four yards of calico? 

A Miss Mary Roberts was the first school-teacher in that neigh- 
borhood. She taught in 1839. The first religious meeting was at 
the residence of Mr. Collins. Old Mr. Phillips preached. The first 
school-house was built where the one now known as No. 3 is lo- 
cated. Jan. 2, 1878, the Collins family held a reunion, it being 
the occasion of the eightieth birthday of Mrs. Collins. She was 
the mother of eleven children, grandmother of thirty-eight, and had 
seven great-grandchildren. There were present at the reunion, 
forty-two persons. 



■^ 






_5) 



v>- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



627 



The population of Jamestown was in 1870, 779; and in 1880, 
715, a decrease of sixty-four. This is a population of twenty-nine 
to the square mile. 

The following crop statistics are for the last census year — 1880: 
Acres of wheat sown, 2,086; average yield per acre, fifteen bushels; 
total crop, 31,290 bushels; acres of corn, 1,228; average yield of 
same per acre, upland, forty bushels; bottom, twenty-five bushels; 
total crop, 46,495 bushels; acres of oats, 278; average yield per acre, 
thirty bushels; total crop, 8,340 bushels; acres of meadow, 264; av- 
erage yield per acre, a ton and a half of hay; total crop, 396 tons; 
acres in potatoes, thirty -five; average yield per acre, thirty bush- 
els; total crop, 1,050 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 12,999.84; 
value of same, $101,225; value of improvements, $36,660; value 
of personal property, $37,835; total valuation, $175,720; number 
of polls, 126; number of dogs, sixty-two; total taxes levied, $3,325.10. 
As property is assessed on a basis of one-third, this would indicate 
a wealth for Jamestown Township of $527,160. 

As to political complexion, the township has been uniformly Re- 
publican since 1860, previous to which time its vote was variable. 
In 1844 and 1848 it was Whig, and in 1852 and 1856 it was Demo- 
cratic by a small vote. The smallest plurality ever given was one, 
which was returned both in 1856 for the Democracy and in 1860 
for the Republican ticket. The largest plurality was in 1876, be- 
ing seventy-six for Hayes. The vote cast at each presidential elec- 
tion has been: 



1844— Henry Clay 23 2 

James K.Polk 21 

James G. Birney 1 

1848— Zachary Taylor 23 6 

Lewis Cass 17 

Martin Van Buren 11 

1852— Franklin Pierce 38 7 

Winfield Scott 31 

John P. Hale 5 

1856 — James Buchanan 55 1 

John C. Fremont 54 • 

Millard Fillmore 1 

1860— Abraham Lincoln 66 1 

Stephen A. Douglas 65 

Jno. C. Breckinridge . . . 



1864— Abraham Lincoln 85 

Geo. B. McClellan 5 J 

1868— Ulysses 8. Grant 125 

Horatio Seymour 53 

1872— Ulysses S. Grant 113 

Horace Greely 42 

1876— Rutherford B.Hayes.... 136 

Sam'l J. Tilden 60 

Peter Cooper 4 

1880-Jas. A. Garfield 132 

Winfield S. Hancock. ... 61 

Jas. B. Weaver 3 

1884— Jas. G. Blaine 124 

S. Grover Cleveland 76 

Benj.F. Butler 7 

Jno. P. St. John 1 



34 

72 
71 
76 

71 

48 



1 
The vote of 1884 on State and local tickets was as follows 



Qomrnor. 

Wm. H. Calkins 124 

Isaac P. Gray 76 

Hiram Z. Leonard 7 

Rob't S. Dwiggins 1 



48 



Uongressman. 

Theron P. Keator 124 

Rob't Lowry 76 

Jesse M.Gaie 1 



48 



VI <r 



-J « 



\ 



.^ 



628 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson. 124 41 

Frank M. Powers 83 

Senator. 

Nicholas Ensley 124 41 

Lafayette J. Miller 83 

Representative. 

Doak R. B.'st 134 40 

Wm. W. Wyrick 84 

Commissioners. 

Herman C. Shutts 117 38 

Adam Failing 79 

Tbos.McClure 10 

Daniel P. Rummell 124 48 

Alvah Carpenter 76 



Commissioners {continued). 

John Dy^ert 8 

Jno. M. Sewell 76 76 

Sheriff. 

Allen Past 124 48 

Charles Squires 76 

Thos. R. MoflFett 7 

Treasurer. 

Clay Lemmon 124 48 

Edwin Jackson 76 

Martin V. Garn 8 

Surveyor. 

Rob't G. Morley 124 48 

Moses J. Parsell 76 

Coroner. 

T. Ray Morrison 124 48 

Edward B. Simmons 76 



Following are the names of the various township officers elected 
since 1860, so far as obtainable, with the years in which they were 
respectively chosen. 

Assessors — 1850, Lucien B. Eaton; 1851, same; 1852, Warren 
Wheaton; 1854, Rensselaer Wallace; 1856, Moses Hastings; 1858, 
Orange Potter; 1860, Samuel Milnes; 1862, F. F. Burdick; 1864, 
0. M. Wilder; 1866, Amos M. Corey; 1868, Charles McClue; 1870, 
AmosM. Corey; 1872, George W. Collins; 1874, David B. Tee- 
ters; 1878, Ira Reed; 1880, Joshua Weyburn; 1882, W. A. Parish. 

Justices of the Peace — 1851, John McClew; 1852, Warren Whea- 
ton; 1853, Samuel A. Stewart; 1864, Cephas McCuller and L. S. 
Eldridge; 1855, Eben P. McAllister; 1856, John J. Rubly; 1858, 
Charles D. Chadwick; 1859, Eben P. McAllister; 1860, William 
H. Coe; 1861, Cephas McCuller and Martin Stodard; 1862, C. D. 
Chadwick and Martin Stodard; 1863, Eben P. McAllister; 1864, 
Cephas McCuller; 1865, James M. Hall; 1866, C. D. Chadwick; 
1868, Thompson C. Terry; 1869, Eben P. McAllister; 1870, James 
M. Hall and Thompson C. Terry; 1872, Eben P. McAllister; 1874, 
Joel E. Shutt and Thompson C. Terry; 1876, Eben P. McAllister; 
1878, Joel G. Shutts; 1880, Thompson C. Terry and Charles W, 
Gray; 1882, Sylvester McNett; 188'4, Thompson C. Terry and 
Charles W. Gray. 

Constables — 1858, E. G. Hastings and G. H. Hobson; 1859, Nor- 
ton C. Wilder, Samuel Chadwick and Moses Hastings; 1860, Moses 
Hastings and Samuel Chadwick; 1861, same; 1862, George Osburn, 
Levi Cosper and Henry Webb; 1863, C. N. Wilder, Joshua Osburn 
and Hezekiah Depue; 1864, James Baker and L. T. Lincoln; 1865, 
J. H. Wilder and T. C. Terry; 1866, T. C. Terry, J. Baker and E. 



o 



^ 



v^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 529 

Peavy; 1868, Francis M. Green, J. J. Brown and Henry Webb; 
1869, A. Weichman, L. B. Keed and G. W. Baker; 1870, James 
Terry, John Peavy and William Merrill; 1872, James Terry, John 
Hall and A. R. Hughs; 1874, Lewis B. Reed, S. B. Dewey and 
Joseph Wickman; 1878, J. H. Wilder, Levi Clark and Samuel P. 
Casebeer; 1880, Thomas Hall, Isaac Eckhart and Joseph Wilder- 
1882, Thomas Hall, E. B. Clock and George Collar; 1884, G. W. 
Harding and Joseph Wickman. 

Trustees — 1859, Clayton Mallory; 1860, Simeon Gilbert; 1861, 
same; 1862, Elias Cosper; 1863, same; 1864, Ezekiel Brown; 1865 
same; 1866, same; 1867, same; 1868, Elias Mallory; 1869, H. C. 
Austin; 1870, Joshua Weyburn; 1872, Harmon Shutts; 1874, Geo 
Collins; 1878, E. Brown; 1880, Henry C. Miller; 1882, same; 1884^ 
A. J. Wickman. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Barton Collins (deceased) was the first of the pioneers of James- 
town Township, as before stated. His wife, who shared his lot and 
survived him a third of a century, was better known to the old set- 
tlers from her longer residence. She was married to Mr. Collins 
in 1820, and in 1835 they came to this State and county, being the 
first white settlers of Jamestown Township. They settled upon 
the farm where they both remained their natural lives, and which 
is now the property of George W. Collins. Mr. Collins died in 
January, 1849, after which Mrs. Collins lived on the homestead 
with her son until her death, July 16, 1882, at the age of eighty- 
five years, six months and fourteen days. 

She was the mother of eleven children, and had the satisfaction 
of seeing them grow to be respectable and influential men and 
women. Five of them preceded her to rest, leaving six to mourn 
her loss, they being George W., Charles and Mrs. C. Mallory, re- 
siding in Jamestown; Mrs. Hastings, of Fremont, Mrs. Saxton of 
Coldwater, Mich., and Mrs. Seeley, of Noble County. Mrs. Col- 
lins was a member of the Baptist church, in her native State from 
which she brought a letter and afterward became identified with 
the society of that denomination organized at Jamestown but 
which went down some years before her death. She retained her 
eyesight and faculties to a good old age, and was a great reader 
taking much comfort in perusing the papers. 

Michael Depue (deceased) was born in New Jersey, Jan. 17 
1805. His father moved to New York State and lived for some 



\K*- 



G — il (sT 

530 HISTORr OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

time near Rochester, and when Michael was a young man re- 
moved to Marion, Ohio. Mr. Depue married Angelina Drake at 
Marion in 1831, with whom he lived nearly half a century. They 
were the longest surviving couple of those who settled in James- 
town prior to 1840. Mr. Depue and wife came to Jamestown Sept. 
8, 1836, and settled on the west half of tlie southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 15. They afterward made their home at Hall's Corners, 
Mich. Mr. Depue died at Hall's Corners, Feb. 17, 1880, aged 
seventy-five years and one month, having lived to see the forest 
melt away before the advance of civilization, and, like the sturdy 
oak spared by the woodman's ax, having seen his comrades fall 
until but few were left. 

Thomas Mugg (deceased) was born in Baltimore, Md., Nov, 26, 
1797, and while young moved with his parents to Yates County, N. 
"5^., where he grew to manhood and married Miss Eliza Ireland, 
with whom he removed to Ohio, returning thence to JSTew York 
some two years later. In 1837 he again came "West, this time to 
Steuben County, settling upon the farm since owned by his son, 
just west of Angola. In that early day Steuben Countj^ was a 
wilderness. Hundreds of native Indians occupied a portion of the 
farm as a camping ground, and the wolves made night hideous with 
their howls in the vicinity of the pioneer's log cabin; everything, 
in fact, presented a striking contrast to the marks of civilization 
and advancement now visible on every hand. Great as is the 
change which has wrought the wonderful tranformation, we can 
but reflect that it is due to the enterprise, industry and energy ot 
the pioneers, among whom the subject of this sketch and his worthy 
consort bore a conspicuous part. Mr, Mugg died April 16, 1879, 
in his eighty-second year. He was the father of ten children, only 
four of whom, three daughters and a son, survived his death. His 
first wife died in 1856. A year or two later he married a widow 
named Groves, who was his companion during the latter years of 
his life. Deacon Mugg, as he was universally called, had been a 
consistent member of the Free- "Will Baptist church for a number of 
years, and as a kind neighbor and upright citizen had won the 
confidence and esteem of th ose who knew him. He had served the 
public as County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace, and in 
other offices of honor and trust, 

Joseph Tousley (deceased), one of the very earliest settlers ot 
this township and county, was born in Canada in February, 1812. 
He came to Steuben County and settled in Jamestown Township 



^"^ 



^ • ' '■ a pv' 



.•^^ 



L^_ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 531 

^n February, 1836. He was for many years the village blacksmith 
jn that town, and was an industrious, hard-workinoj man. He was 
fully acquainted with all the hardships of pioneer life, and was one 
of the most interested and active members of the Old Settlers' Asso- 
ciation in this county. He died on Tuesday, March 5, 1878, at the 
age of sixty-six. His departure took away one of the most respected 
as well as one of the very first of the pioneers. 

George W. Baker was born in Middlesex, Yates Co., N. Y.,in 
1829, a son of James and Lydia (Dresler) Baker, natives of New 
York State, of German descent. In 181:2 his parents moved to 
Ohio, and lived in Huron County four years. In 1846 they came 
to Steuben Coutity, Ind., and located on the farm now owned by 
George W., which at that time was wild land, but is now well 
cultivated, and a part of one of the best farms in the township. 
George W. Baker lived with his father till twenty-one years of age, 
and then bought eighty acres of land south of the homestead which 
he cleared and improved. He was married June 7, 1857, to Nancy 
J. Bowen, daughter of Michael and Mary (Critchtield) Bowen, old 
settlers of Jamestown Township, coming here with his father, Fred 
Bowen, in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have two children — 
Delia M., born Sept. 13, 1860, is the wife of Fred Walters, of Branch 
County, Mich.; Fred J., born Jan. 18, 1863, is in business in Fre- 
mont, Ind. 

Hail. Ezekiel Brown was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 
1831, a son of Russel and Laura (Sweet) Brown. He was five 
years of age when his parents moved to Lagrange County, Ind., 
and there he was reared and educated in the old log cabin school- 
house. He remained with his parents till 1858, when he came to 
Steuben County and engaged in the mercantile business in Crooked 
Creek nearly a year and a half. He then bought 250 acres of land 
about 100 acres of which had the trees cut, but the stumps re- 
mained. He went to work with a will to make an ideal farm, 
which from his boyhood his fancy had portrayed. He has cleared 
his first purchase, and added to it 272 acres, and now has one of 
the finest farms in Steuben County. His residence and farm build- 
ings are unexcelled in the county, and his home is the embodiment 
of comfort and good cheer. Hospitality and a kind welcome greet 
all who visit them, Mr. and Mrs. Brown both taking pleasure in 
entertaining and making at home their guests. Mr. Brown was 
elected to represent his district in the Legislature in 1878, and per- 
formed all his duties satisfactorily, and with the same care be- 



n- 



IT" 



•*y 



^ 



532 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

stowed on bis private affairs. Mr. Brown was married in 1S55, to 
Mary C. Barry, daughter of John and Marj A. (Darrow) Barry, 
. natives of Orleans County, N. Y., who came to Indiana in 1835, 
They have two sons — Frank M. and Clinton N., the latter an at- 
torney in Beatrice, Neb. 

Bussel Brown was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 24, 1805, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Greenfield) Brown, 
grandson of Stephen, great-grandson of John, and great-great- 
grandson of Ezekiel Brown, all of Windham, Conn. His father 
was born in 1773 and although too young to participate in the 
war for independence his ancestors were prominent in the struggle. 
His maternal grandparents, Smith, came from Dublin, Ireland. 
His uncles, William and Daniel Smith, became prominently identi- 
fied with the early history of Rhode Island. Elijah Brown's family 
consisted of six children — Sarah married Joseph Tinker and died 
in Cayuga County, JST. Y., in 1877; Paul na is the wife of Thomas' 
Marsh, of Iowa; Daniel M. died in 1876, in Moravia, N. Y.; 
Russel; Hannah is the wife of Horace Rounds, of Cayuga County, 
N. Y. : Elijah E., of Niles, N. Y., who has represented his district 
in the Legislature several terms. Russel Brown was reared in his na- 
tive county, and was there married in 1828 to Laura Sweet, of Still- 
water, N. Y., daughter of William Sweet, of Massachusetts, whose 
name figures conspicuously on the rolls of the Revolutionary war. 
In 1836 Mr. Brown moved to Lagrange County, Ind., where he 
became prominently identified, assisting materially in the upbuild- 
ing of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had a family of five 
children — Philena died at the age of fifteen years; Ezekiel, o± 
Steuben County; Warren, of Lagrange County; Erastus, attorney 
at law and banker of Lincoln, Neb., and William, attorney at law, 
Angola, Ind. 

George W. Collins is a native of Rutland County, Yt., born in 
1829. In 1835 his parents came to Steuben County, and July 4 
his father made one of the first entries in the township. The log 
house near his present home was the first in the township. His 
early schooling was limited to three months in the log-cabin 
schools. His early life was spent with his parents and he learned 
in his youth the precepts that have in later life made him a suc- 
cessful business man. He was married in 1856 to Avis Walter, 
daughter of Seymour W. and Orra (Coe) Walter, of Essex 
County, Yt., who settled in Steuben County in 1846. Mr. and 
Mrs. Collins have five children — Stillman L., Seymour B., Orra E., 



J 






\ 



10 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COtJNTT. 533 

Lydia A., Bertie L Their home is one of culture and refinement, 
and the stranger and friend are always welcome to share in the 
good cheer that prevails. Mrs. Collins's parents had a family of 
seven children — Norris Walter, deceased; Clifton, of Branch 
County, Mich; Sydney, of Steuben County; Avis, Betsey, de- 
ceased; Mary A., now Mrs. Poulson, of this township; and George, 
deceased. 

Charles H. Cory is a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., 
born in 1843, a son of Ambrose and Eliza (Munn) Cory. His 
grandfathers were both drummers in the war of 1812. Ambrose 
Cory moved to Defiance County, Ohio, and in 1864 came to Steu- 
ben County and bought 160 acres of land in Jamestown Town- 
ship where he died in 1883, and where the mother still lives. 
They had a family of nine children — Charles H., Edward, Myron, 
Lncinda, Melvin, Ambrose, Frank, Orley and Nathan. Charles 
H. remained with his parents till manhood, receiving a common 
school education. He was married in 1871 to Sarah Reed, daugh- 
ter of William and Rachel Reed, old citizens of Lagrange County, 
Ind., and afterward residents of Steuben County. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cory have two children — Allie and Pollie. Mr. Cory has taken 
a special interest in educational matters and is a strong advocate 
of the free-school system. 

Charles T. Dewey was born in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1830, 
a son of Truman C. and Wealthy (Foreman) Dewey. His parents 
moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, when he was a child, and sub- 
sequently to Kalamazoo, Mich. In 1849 they moved to Steuben 
County, Ind. Charles T. has been an industrious, energetic man 
from his youth and is now reaping the reward of his early years 
of toil. He owns eighty acres of the old homestead entered by 
his father and to that has added eighty acres. His thrift and good 
management have made his home one of the best in the township. 
He is a man of excellent judgment, strict integrity, and is one of 
the prominent and influential farmers of the township. He was 
married in 1852 to Amanda Burdick who died in 1861, leaving one 
son — Frank. In 1862 he married Elmira D. Shutts, daughter of 
Charles and Susan (Ritchie) Shutts. They have four children — 
Fred N., a teacher in the Orland High School; Alice R., a teacher 
of the Jamestown schools ; Herman R. and Gracie M. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dewey are members of the Congregational church at Fre- 
mont. He is a member of Angola Lodge, No. 210, F. & A. M.; 

Angola Chapter, No. 58, R. A. M., and Council, No. 27, R. & S.M. 
34 



V 



- I p-^ 

( 

534 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Thomas Failing was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., 
March 20, 1796. He was married Dec. 8, 1818, to Catherine 
Klock, and to them were born five children — Ann, wife of Edwin 
Benedict; Elizabeth, widow of Abram Drygart; Nancy, widow of 
Jacob Young; Adam, and Mariette, wife of I. D. Miner, of Branch 
County, Mich. In 1835 Mr. Failing moved with his family to 
Tecumseh, Mich. In 1836 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and 
located land on section 85, Jamestown Township, and 160 acres in 
Scott Township. In 1837 he moved his family to Steuben County 
and settled in Jamestown Township, clearing and improving his 
land on section 35, and in 1860 he moved to section 33. He had 
$400 when he came to the county, which he laid out in land, and by 
hard work accumulated a large property and left his children in 
comfortable circumstances. He was in politics a Democrat, but 
cast his last Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He and his 
wife were members of the Presbyterian church, but there being 
no churches of their choice in the township when they settled 
here, never united with any church. Mrs. Failing died Oct. 24, 
1871, after a married life of over fifty years. Mr. Failing died 
Nov. 18, 1883. He was an upright, honorable gentleman and had 
many friends, especially among the early settlers of the county. 

Oeorge TF, Goodfellow is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., 
born near Syracuse in 1825, a son of Smiley and Permelia (Halstead) 
Goodfellow. In 1835 his Grandfather Halstead moved to Lenawee 
County, Mich., remaining there the rest of his life. In the fall of 
1835 his parents moved to Lenawee County, and leaving his family 
there his father proceeded to Steuben County, Ind., and entered a 
tract of wild land two and a half miles east of the present site of 
Fremont. The following year he moved his family to the frontier 
home, and commenced to clear the land and till the soil. There 
were at that time very few families in the township, and their 
nearest mill was at Union, twenty-six miles distant. The father 
and mother spent their lives in the vicinity of their first settlement? 
and were among the most active in building up the material inter- 
ests of the township. George W. Goodfellow remained with his 
parents till manhood. In 1864 he bought forty acres of land on 
section 22, Jamestown Township, which he has cleared and im- 
proved and now has one of the pleasantest homes in the county. 

Frank Haight is a native of St. Joseph County, Mich., born in 
1848, a son of Mathias and Harriet M. (Cady) Haight, his father a 
native of New Columbia, Pa., and his mother of New York. His 



-sIV 



■»v. 



A^ 



HISTOKT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 535 

grandfather, William Haight, died in St. Joseph County at the age 
pf ninetj-seven years. His Grandfather Cady was a carpenter, and 
died at the age of ninety-three years, from the effects of a fall from 
the scaffolding of a church steeple. In 1852 his parents moved to 
Tama County, Iowa, at that time the extreme west of civilization. 
They had a family of six children— Gideon M., of Salem, Kas., 
enlisted in the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry and was captured at Fort 
Donelson, remaining a prisoner in Libby Prison five months. 
Henry, now of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was a member of the Twenty - 
eighth Iowa Infantry; Frank; John, of Jewell County, Kas.; Mary 
E., wife of Charles E. Sponsler, and Charles E., of Burr Oak, Kas. 
Frank remained at home till 1862 and then went to Burlington, 
Kas., walking the entire distance, 500 miles in fourteen days. He 
remained one summer, and then went to Toledo, Iowa, and 
remained a year and a half, when he moved to Union Grove. In 
1873 he went to Albert Lea, Minn., and in 1874 came to Michigan. 
In 1876 he returned to Iowa and lived in Ouawa one season; thence 
to Woodbury County, and two years later returned to Michigan. 
In 1882 he came to Steuben County, and located in Jamestown 
Township, where he does a general blacksmithing and wagon and 
carriage repairing business. He makes a specialty of treating the 
hoof and shoeing horses, and has met with remarkable success in 
his treatment. He travels a part of each year and has won a wide 
reputation. Mr. Haight was married in 1873 to Katie Welker 
daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Laform) Welker, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. They have two children— Fulmer D., born Sept. 23 1874 
and Yerna B., born June 9, 1878. 

Willia7n B. Zemmon was born in Townsend, Sandusky Co., 
Ohio, in 1837, a son of Uriah B. and Emily (Mclntyre) Lemmon' 
natives of Tompkins and Livingston counties, N. Y. His Grand- 
father Lemmon was one of the first settlers of the Genesee Yalley. 
His parents moved to Sandusky County in 1826, and still reside in 
Townsend. They had a family of seven children— William H. • 
John M., an attorney of Clyde, Ohio; Sarah A. Thorpe, of 
Grundy County, Iowa; Rebecca Gardner, of Clyde, Ohio; Cyrus 
A., of Durango, Col.; Morris B., attorney of Clyde; Elizabeth 
Hoch, of Clyde. William H. Lemmon passed his early years on 
his father's farm, attending the district school during the winter. 
When the war of the Rebellion broke out he enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry. They were assigned to 
the Army of the Potomac and participated in the memorable bat- 



f 



H— "^ I I ■1^^^» 1^— ■«■ ■■■! ■ I. I I ■ — ^^^^^M^^—i^— l^—— ^ I I II — ■,.MI.- 111. > !■■■ ■^_...1 ^ «^ 

536 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ties of that division. After his return home in 1865 he located in 
Kinderhook, Mich., and in 1S66 moved to Steuben County, Ind.,. 
where he has been prominently identified with all interests of-pub- 
lic benefit. He is an enterprising man and is always ready to 
assist in furthering any project that promises advancement to the 
conjmunity. He was married in 1860 to Lois Mclntyre, daughter 
of William and Ann (Stephens) Mclntyre. Mr. and Mrs. Lem- 
mon have eight children — Editli, wife of J. Stoddard, of Butler 
County, Neb.; Sherman, also of Nebraska; Wilton, Eva, Erdie, 
Elda, Ella and Homer. Mr. Lemmon has served Jamestown 
Township as School Examiner and Justice uf the Peace, and has 
been Marshal of Fremont. He was Treasurer of his township in 
Ohio. 

Asa Mallory was born in Rutland County, Vt., Oct. 17, 1824, a 
son of David and Cynthia (Collars) Mallory. His early life was 
spent on the home farm, remaining with his parents as long as they 
lived. In the spring of 1850 he went to California making the trip 
overland, arriving in the Eldorado of the West six months after 
leaving home. He went to work in the mines and contracted ty- 
phoid fever. After several weeks of illness the physicians told him 
his only chance of recovery was to return to the States by water. 
After a voyage of fifty-five days he reached New York, but the 
exposures and hardships he had undergone left their impress in his 
system, and it was months before he regained his usual health. 
After his return home he assumed charge of the homestead and 
went to work to retrieve his losses in the West. The result was 
soon an addition of 125 acres to the original forty acres entered 
by his father, and good buildings and other improvements. Mr. 
Mallory was married in 1860 to Sytheria E. Wright, daughter of 
Sherman and Anna (Failing) Wright, old residents of Steuben 
County. Mr. and Mrs. Mallory have six children — Flora E., wife 
of Granville L. McClue; Cynthia B., Frank L., Herbert C, Clarence 
A. and Clyde L. Mr. Mallory is a man of strong political convic- 
tions, but has always refused to accept any oflicial position. He has 
never voted any^ but the straight Democratic ticket. 

Clayton Mallory was born in Rutland County, Yt., in 1816, a 
son of David and Cynthia (Collars) Mallory, of Irish descent. 
When fourteen years of age he left home and lived with his grand- 
parents four years, when he began working for farmers at $8 a 
month. When twenty years of age, in 1836, he came to Indiana, 
his father having preceded him in the early part of the year. As 

•c « ^ -• *^ 



•^jg- «>- ■ * '^ K ^ 



(p 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 537 

a result of the labors of the children they had $100, and with this 
the father bought forty acres of land a half a mile south of where 
Mr. Mallory now lives. In 1844 Clayton bought a tract of wild 
land, a portion of the school reserve. ISTot a tree had been cut on 
the land, but with a zeal characteristic of the man he soon brought 
it under a state of cultivation, and reaped a bountiful harvest as a 
reward for his labor. He has improved his farm till it is now one 
of the best in the township. He has been foremost in advancing 
all interests of public benefit and has served in nearly all the town- 
ship offices. He has been County Commissioner two terms, and 
was a Trustee when but one was required in the township. All 
trusts imposed on him have been fulfilled with fidelity and effi- 
ciency. Mr. Mallory was married in 1844 to Thirza Collins, daughter 
of one of the pioneers of Jamestown. She died in 1852 leaving 
one son — Oscar F., who married Edna Brooks, and has two chil- 
dren — Barton and Clayton. In 1853 he married a sister of his first 
wife, Jane Collins, and to them were born two children — Ella T., 
deceased, and Carrie A., who married T. A. Caswell and has two 
children — Ella J. and Ralph. After an illness of two years Mrs. 
Mallory died Aug. 30, 1883. 

Elias Mallory was born in Rutland County, Vt.", Jan. 30, 
1822, a son of David and Cynthia (Collars) Mallory. He came 
West in 1837, and on attaining his majority entered eighty acres 
of school land. His father was in limited circumstances and he 
was early obliged to depend on himself for a livelihood. His edu- 
cation was very meager. When he began to clear his farm he was 
obliged to borrow his father's ax to split the rails to fence it. As a 
result of his untiring labor and energy and his strict honor and 
integrity he has succeeded in placing himself beyond the pale of 
want and surrounding himself with all necessary comforts. He 
now owns 250 acres of valuable land where he lives, well stocked 
and with first-class improvements, and 160 in Pawnee County, 
Neb. He has been an influential man in his township, but be- 
ing retiring in his nature has refused repeated solicitations to fill 
official positions, the only office he ever held being Treasurer of 
the township. To him is due the credit of Jamestown's cemetery, 
which is the must beautiful resting place for the dead in the 
county. He, at his own expense, superintends the care of the 
grounds. Elias Mallory was married in 1844 to Rosilla A. Havens, 
daughter of George and Huldah H. Havens. They have one son 
— George E., who, Nov. 3, 1878, married Miss Louie Wiage, a 



Is 






638 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



daughter of one of Branch County's most enterprising citizens. 

Henry C. Miller was born in Elmira, Chemung Co., N. Y., in 
1847, a son of John M. and Sarah J. (Smith) Miller, natives of 
Orange County, N. T. His Grandfather Smith was a hero of the 
war of 1812. Jan. 1, 1868, Mr. Miller started for the West. He 
spent two years in Coidwater, Mich., and then came to Steuben 
County, Ind., and bought 160 acres of land in Jamestown Town- 
ship, on which he has erected some of the best buildings in the 
township. He was married in 1877 to Elvira L. Poland, a 
daughter of George W. and Sarah (Barr) Poland, old and influen- 
tial citizens of Steuben County. Mr. Miller is the youngest of 
four children. His sister Adeline is the wife of Amos Fenton, ot 
Emporium, Pa. Harriet married A. P. Roberts, of Elmira, N. Y., 
and Philip G. married Susan Stryker and lives in Gosper County, 
.TSTeb. 

Lamhert P. PersingiQ a native of JSTorthumberland Count}', Pa.? 
born in 1834, one of seventeen children of William H, and Nancy 
(Pitman) Persing. William H. Persing was born in 1791 and 
lived to the age of eighty-nine years. He was a miller by trade, 
and L. P. worked with his father in his boyhood. He followed 
the business in Columbia and Montour counties till 1870, when he 
came to Steuben County, where he has since remained, with the 
exception of two years. He is a practical miller, understanding 
every detail of the business. Mr. Persing was married in 1856 
to Lydia A. Kanonse, a daughter of one of the prominent citizens 
of Columbia County, Pa., and a pioneer of Branch County, Mich. 
They have six sons — John, William, Abraham, Henry, Charles 
and Pardoe. Mr. Persing has taken an especial interest in the 
common-school system, and has served several years as School 
Director. 

Herman C. Shutts was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, June 
6, 1839, a son of Charles and Susan (Ritchie) Shutts, natives of 
Tompkins County, N, Y. His grandparents, Gabriel and Mary 
(Sailor) Shutts, were natives of New Jersey. Gabriel Shutts was 
a militia man in the war of 1812. In 1835 Charles Shutts moved 
to Ohio, and became one of the most prominent men of Sandusky 
County. He was a man of sterling integrity. He was for many 
years a Justice of the Peace. His family consisted of five children 
—Herman C; Eliza, wife of C. N. Wilder; Mary J., wife of J. H. 
Wilder; Myra M., wife of C. T. Dewey; and Lucy C, wife of H. 
M. Calvin, of Osage City, Kan. Herman C. Shutts passed his 



*f 






i 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN OOUNTT. 639 

early life on the home farm, receiving a limited education in the 
district school. His father died in 1859, and he then took charge 
of the farm, managing it a year when the estate was divided, and 
he came to Steuben County and bought the property where he now 
lives. He has devoted his energies to improving his land, and 
has brought it under a good state of cultivation and made it one of 
the best farms in the county. His residence and farm buildings 
are unsurpassed in the township. Mr. Shutts was married in 1862, 
to Mary Colhns, daughter of Samuel and Be tsey (Bush) Collins. 
They have four children — Charles, Lucas, Jennie and Erva. Mr. 
Shutts has taken an active interest in all measures that promised 
improvement to his township. He has filled many positions of 
trust and responsibility, and among others was Trustee several 
years. In the fall of 1885 he was elected County Commissioner. 

Danforth C. Ward was born in Huron Count}^, Ohio, Sept. 20, 
1825, son of Isaac and Phoebe (Beebe) Ward. His father died 
when he was quite small, and his mother afterward married again. 
In 1837 he accompanied his mother and step-father to Steuben 
County, Ind. In 1843 they located on the farm where his mother 
still lives. He cut his foot and was obliged to walk with crutches, 
being unable to do any farm work for some time. He was mar- 
ried in 1846 to Abigail M. Cady, daughter of David and Mary Mc- 
Master, natives of Vermont and Connecticut, and among the first 
settlers of Jamestown Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have had a 
family of nine children, but four of whom are living — Charles, 
Truman, Rhoda R,. and Granville. Mr. Ward is an upright, hon- 
orable business man, and has won the esteem of all with whom he 
has had any dealing. He takes an active interest in all that per- 
tains to the promotion of the welfare of the county. 

Daniel Wheaton, one of the most respected and influential citi- 
zens of Jamestown Township, is a native of Litchfield, Conn., a 
son of Terrace and Maria M. (Bostwick) Wheaton. Mr. Wheaton 
has been twice married. His first wife was Alvira Way, a native 
of Litchfield, Conn. She left one daughter — Mary. His second wife 
was Millie Kellogg, daughter of one of the old and well-known cit- 
izens of Steuben County. Mr. AVheaton has been identified with 
the business interests of Steuben County for many years, and has, 
by his untiring energy and strict integrity, gained the esteem of 
the citizens of his township. 

Joseph H. Wilder was born in Cuba, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 
1828, a son of Kendal and Laura (Stephens) Wilder, early settlers 



-^'^ — - - — ^[^ 

1 p ' 

540 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of Cuba. Kendal Wilder moved from Vermont in the winter of 
1819, and was the third settler in Cuba Township. The first year 
he kept " bachelor's hall," and in 1820 married Laura, daughter of 
Francis and Mary (Stone) Stephens, natives of Massachusetts, and 
early settlers of Lima, N. Y. Francis Stephens was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war. The paternal grandparents of our subject, 
Calvin and Polly Wilder, were natives of Vermont, and late resi- 
dents of Crawford County, Pa. Joseph H. is the eldest of six 
children; Mary is deceased ; Norton is a resident of Steuben County; 
Oliver, of Newton, Ind.; Sherman,of Hornellsville, N. Y. ; Charles 
of Cuba, N. Y., living on the old homestead with his father who is 
now ninety-three years of age. Joseph H. Wilder remained at 
home till twenty-one years of age, receiving a fair education in the 
district schools. In 1849 he came West as far as Sandusky County, 
Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile business three years. 
He then came to Steuben County, and bought a tract of wild land, 
the only improvement being a slab house, with one end entirely 
out to admit of a chimney. The outlook was not favorable to suc- 
cess, but with a determination that surmounts all difficulties he 
went bravely to work and has brought his farm under a fine state 
of cultivation. In 1877 he built the hotel in Jamestown, where he 
has been a popular and efficient landlord. He was married in 1854 
to Mary J. Shutts, daughter of Charles and Susan (Ritchie) Shutts, 
and granddaughter of Gabriel and Mary (Sailor) Shutts, and John 
and Ellen (Up dyke) Ritchie. 



c" 




\ 



\ 



i^ 



CHAPTER XIY. 



FREMONT TOWNSHIP. 



FiBST Known as Bkockville. — Geogkaphy and Topography, — 
Early Settlement. — Criminal Carelessness. — More Pioneers 
AND What Became of Them. — The Roll of Those Who Came 
Before 1840. — First Houses. — Familiar Bruin. — Pioneer 
Merchant. — A "Thundering Good Fellow." — R. A. Gaines 
AND His Career. — On the Rise to Fortune. — Mysterious 
Death of Father and Mother. — Where Was the $7,000. — 
Gaines Flies to Fields and Pastures Kew. — Persevering 
Hunt by the Son. — Found. — Going to Toledo to Market. — 
Platting of Bbockville, Afterward Fremont. — Mail Routes. 
— Ad. Knott's Store. — His Interesting Career and Sad End. 
— Fourth of July, 1838. — Indian Raid. — Revenge by the 
Whites. — Dissected Wagon. — A Learned Physician. — Subse- 
quent Practitioners. — Another Suicide. — Trapping Wolves. 
—How Mrs Cluck was Cured. — Goodwin and the Indians. — 
Squaw Believes in Woman's Rights. — Indian Justice. — The 
Funeral. — Sharp Practice. — Drowned (?) in Lake James. — 
First Dwellings, School-houses and Churches. — First Land 
Entries. — First Preachers. — Fremont. — Societies. — Business 
Firms. — Population. — Agricultural Statistics. — Property 
AND Taxation. — Politics. — Vote for President Since 1840. — 
Vote in 1884. — Lists of Township Officials Since 1850. — Bio- 
graphical. 

The township first known as Brockville, but afterward named 
in honor of the famous " pathfinder," JohnC. Fremont, is bounded 
on the north by Branch County, in the State of Michigan; on 
the east by Clear Lake Township; on the south by York and Scott, 
and on the west by Jamestown. It is four miles north and south, 
and five and three-quarters east and west. Its area is accordingly 
about twenty-three square miles, or 15,000 acres, of which 600 are 
covered by water. The largest lakes are Cedar, on sections 14, 
15, 22, 27, 26 and 23; Walter's Lake, on 18, and Fish Lake, on 16 

(541) 






54:2 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and 21. The Fort Wayne & Jackson branch of the Lake Sliore 
& Michigan Southern Railroad crosses the township from south- 
west to northeast, over sections 32, 29, 28, 21, 22, 15, 14 and 13. 
It has two stations, Fremont and Ray, the latter being partly in 
Branch County, Mich. 

One day in the latter part of August, 1835, John McMahan 
unhitched his horses about a mile from the present village of Fre- 
mont, and to him belongs the honor of being the first white 
settler in the township. Uncle Demary Tillitson passed Mr. Mc- 
Mahan about two hours after the latter had stopped, and he is 
thus entitled to the second place on the roll of old settlers. Mr. 
Tillitson "took up" eighty acres of land where the commodious 
residence of Erastus Farnhara (now of Chicago) was afterward 
erected, and Mr. McMahan settled a mile further north. He died 
in 1878, being survived by Demary Tillitson for a short time. 
That same fall several more settlers came into the township, among 
them being Jeremiah Tillitson, an uncle of Demary's, Jacob Roop, 
Fred Bowers and Peter Cluck. Jeremiah Tillitson died about 
1874, in his eightieth year. 

Jacob Roop was killed about 1865 by the carelessness of a drug 
clerk. He had been troubled for some time with the rheumatism, 
and called on a physician for something to relieve him. The doctor 
told him to take a spoonful of tincture of colchicum every three 
or four hours. Mr. Roop took the prescription to a drug store. 
The clerk didn't know what tincture meant, and so gave him col- 
chicum seed. He took one spoonful of them and in about three 
hours was in great agony, but thinking that it might be necessary 
to cure him took another spoonful. He grew rapidly worse. 
Medical aid was summoned from Fremont and other places, but 
notwithstanding every effort was made to save him he died in a 
few hours, having suffered terribly. Fred Bowers died of old age 
about 1869, being at the time of his death nearly ninety years of 
age. Peter Cluck was a blacksmith, and was noted as a very pow- 
erful man. One of his sons, Peter, succeeded him in that occupa- 
tion at Fremont. Another sou was killed in the late civil war. 
The old gentleman died about 1870. 

Among the first settlers in the township should be mentioned 
Elder Truman Burrows, a Baptist minister, John D. Barnard, 
Elijah Salisbury, Chester D. Salisbury, Avery Farnham and his 
brother Erastus. Elder Burrows died some years since, having 
attained a ripe old age. John D. Barnard and Chester D. Salis- 



k^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 643 

"bury removed to Orland to enjoy, during their declining years, the 
fruits of their early labors. Mr. Barnard is dead. Elijah Salis- 
bury went to California a few years since, and died in the Golden 
State. Erastus and Avery Farnham are both dead, the latter in 
1878 and the former several years previous. 

Tiie following also settled in the township prior to 1840 : Dan- 
iel Caswell, Thomas M. Brown, Peter Wolf, John Duguid, Jacob 
Wolf, Samuel Stewart, Aaron Goodwin, A. Crawford, James 
Lockwood, Henry Wilcox, James Duguid, Martin Tillitson, Henry 
Snow, John McClue, N. Ford, Charles Campbell, A. Campbell, 
Fred Bower, Horace Waite, William Campbell, Josiah Sabin, Dr. 
D. B. Griffin, James Winter, Dr. Reynolds, Alexander McNaugh- 
ton, John Havens, S. Goodfellow, E. Masters, M. Terry, R. A. 
Gaines, Rufus Beall, Michael Kreger, Samuel Tillitson, Enos 
Beall, S. A. Steward, Peter Rowe, John Stewart, C. Yan Horn, 
M. Meade, M. Carpenter, L. Yan Horn, Joseph Terry, Elias True, 
Silas Doty, and James Critchfield. Nearly all of the old settlers 
have passed away, but among the living are yet numbered Alex- 
ander McNanghton, John McClue, Thomas Knott, Dr. D. B. 
Griffin (now of Angola), and a few others. 

During the first few weeks after Demary Tillitson settled in 
Fremont Township, his only shelter was a few boards set against a 
tree. The lumber was hauled from Coldwater. His uncle, Jere- 
miah Tillitson, built the first log-house and he built the second. 
Bears would come snuffing around the houses, being not in the 
least afraid. Bruin would often put his nose through the crevices 
between the logs. Wolves were prowling around nights and would 
frequently venture close to the cabins. 

The first frame building was erected in 1836-'7 by a man named 
Goodwin. The house is yet standing, being nearly in the center 
of the village of Fremont. About the same time a Mr. Parker, 
from Fort Wayne, built a log store on the lot just where the 
American House is now. He is spoken of by one of the "oldest 
inhabitants" as a "thundering good fellow." His stock of goods 
would not make a very creditable showing now. It is said that all 
his worldly possessions might have been very easily loaded into a 
one-horse wagon. He remained two or three years and then sold 
out. A frame addition was then built to the store and it was 
turned into a hotel. Truman Gilbert was the first landlord. 

Early in 1839 R. A. Gaines came from Lima and brought a 
broken stock of goods that could have been put into a small wagon. 






-V 



\ 



^ 



5U 



HI8T0KY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



He sold everything at a fabulous profit, bnilt a larger store and 
stocked it with goods he bought in New York. Gaines also built 
the hotel now known as the American House, but did not keep it 
long. He sold or rented it to Truman Gilbert, who acted the part 
of " mine host " for some time. 

When Gaines brought his stock of goods from iS'ewYork he was 
in debt to some extent, having borrowed money of his father. He 
was very anxious that the latter should come West, and made such 
glowing representations of the fabulous richness of the new coun- 
try that the old gentleman was finally induced to sell his property 
in the East at a great sacrifice, and follow the footsteps of the son 
to the new country. The old gentleman had not been here long 
before the son desired to borrow what money the father had, about 
$7,000, saying he could double it in a year. The father was cau- 
tious, however, and didn't care to invest. In a short time they 
removed to Jamestown. Old Mr. Gaines had an attack of the ague 
one day, and his son persuaded him to take some medicine. The 
next day the father died. His wife, Richard's step-mother, was 
feeling somewhat indisposed. He persuaded her to take some 
medicine. The following day she also died. 

When the administrator of the estate came to examine the affairs 
of old Mr. Gaines, he was unable to find any of the wealth people 
supposed he had. There was a note for $300 given by Richard to 
his father some time previous. Soon after this Richard removed 
to Hillsdale, Mich. He had two stores there, and appeared to be 
doing a flourishing business. One fine morning every one was as- 
tonished to learn that he had sold out to ex-Sheriff Beall, and with 
$16,000 in his pockets had left for " fresh fields and pastures new," 
No one had the least idea where he had gone. His familj^ was 
left in a destitute condition. Before he left he told Mr. Beall that 
if any letters came to him to open and read them. 

In a day or two a missive came from Detroit, directed in a fem- 
inine hand. Mr. Beall opened and read it and found it was from a 
fashionable member of the demi monde whose home was in New 
York; but, judging from the letter, she had come on to Detroit to 
meet Gaines. They were then to go to some foreign land and en- 
joy their wealth. Beall showed the letter to Mrs. Gaines. She 
fainted and was too ill to travel for some time. When she recov- 
ered she took her family and moved to Ohio, where she lived with 
her brother until her family were grown up. When her son be- 
came of age, he resolved to search the wide world over for his father. 



-?t 



JFT 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 545 

He went to CHlitbrnia, thence to Mexico and Central America. 
Finally he went to South America, visiting all the principal towns 
in the northern portion of that continent, in every one of which he 
made inquiries for his father. After months and years of search- 
ing, he at last saw the name of R. A. Gaines in a newspaper. He 
found that the man was his father. 

The unnatural parent was engaged in the wholesale trade, and 
Dame Fortune appeared to have smiled upon him. He was re- 
puted to be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Before the son 
left, his father gave him enough money to start him in business. 
Mrs. Gaines was still living in the Buckeye State. She had sev- 
eral offers of marriage, but had declined them all and declared she 
would remain single until she knew what had become of her hus- 
band. When her son returned from South America and she 
learned huw the fatlier of her children was living, she immediately 
married a gentleman of considerable means, who had been waiting 
for her for several years. They are now living in Ohio and the 
son is doing business in the same State. 

In the early days of Fremont Township, Toledo was the nearest 
market. Demary Tillitson told how he took wheat there with an 
ox team and sold it for 50 cents per bushel and thought he was 
doing well. He used to go to Detroit quite frequently and return 
with loads of salt, dried apples, etc. 

In 1837 the village of Brockville was platted. Prior to that 
time the settlement had been known as Willow Prairie. In 1851 
the name of the postoffice was changed to Fremont, the reason for 
the change being that there was a Brookville in the southern part 
of the State, and the similarity in the names caused many mistakes 
to be made in the forwarding of letters. Jeremiah Tillitson, who 
was an ardent admirer of the distinguished officer and explorer 
John C. Fremont, christened the office after him, A. B. Good- 
win was the first Postmaster at Brockville. In 1838 a mail route 
was established from Blissfield, Mich., to Lima, Ind. The mail 
was carried on horseback, and William A. Bliss was the first con- 
tractor. After the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad was 
completed to Coldwater, Judge Storrs made representations to the 
Department at Washington which secured a tri-weekly mail, the 
route being from Coldwater through Jamestown, Fremont, Angola, 
and Auburn to Fort Wayne. On this route Seeley & Fox were 
the contractors. Judge Storrs said that the first lucifer matches 
he ever saw were brought by the mail-carrier from Blissfield. He 



-4 






■»v 



546 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



paid 10 cents for a small box, and considered them very wonderful. 

In 1842 Adam Knott, more familiarly known as " Ad" Knott, 
opened a "store." His stock of goods was very limited. He 
stored them in a goods box and a trunk which he kept under his 
bed. From that small beginning he worked onward and upward 
until he had as good a store as any one in the village. He then 
removed to Angola, and a few years later became a partner in a 
wholesale house in New York City. Finally he came back to 
Toledo and went into the wholesale trade there. Dame Fortune 
did not smile on him as she had in years gone by; part of his large 
fortune vanished like dew before the morning sun. He became 
bewildered, and at last his insanity became so marked that his 
friends placed him in an asylum, where he committed suicide. 
Thus ended the interesting career of one of the pioneers of Fre- 
mont Township. He started at the foot of the ladder, but, un- 
aided and alone, he attained wealth and prominence. In reaching 
that end he wrecked his own mind. Death kept aloof until 
finally the poor man in despair resolved to flee from worldly care 
and suflering, and at a moment when no one was watching he 
terminated his unhappy existence. The wealth he had spent his 
life in acquiring he left for others to enjoy. Notwithstanding the 
large amount he lost at Toledo, it is said that he was worth $50,- 
000 when he became insane. 

In the spring of 1838 the citizens of Fremont Township, though 
few in number, resolved to celebrate in a becoming manner the 
coming anniversary of American independence. As the glorious 
day approached they became more and more enthusiastic until 
finally they decided to erect a liberty pole, and have speeches and 
toasts and a good time generally. At last the day came, and a 
half hundred citizens assembled for the celebration. Now in 
those days there lived west of the village a practical joker named 
Goodwin, who was the happy possessor of an Indian pony. Dur- 
ing the day it occurred to him that he would be doing a brilliant 
thing if he could devise means whereby he could give the celebra- 
tors a good scare. It did not take him long to think of a plan. 
The thought was father to the deed. He procured an Indian 
blanket, made his face hideous by applying paints of various colors 
and took his flint-lock. 

The next thing in order was to mount his pony and start for the 
scene of the celebration. Men women and children were enjoying 
themselves to the utmost. A strange noise in the forest close at hand 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 547 

caused some of them to look in the direction whence it proceeded. 
They were horrified to see an Indian in the act of raising his gun to 
his shoulder to fire. The children screamed and ran crji'Jig to 
their mothers' arms; the women were on the point of fainting, 
while the masculine portion of the company started for their fire- 
arms. The Indian would disappear, bat ever and anon he would 
be seen peering from behind a tree. Finally Thomas Knott se- 
cured an old work horse and started in pursuit of the red man 
with a resolve to kill or be killed. More than once the trusty 
rifle of 'Squire Knott was brought to his shoulder. The Indian 
would dodge behind a tree and a moment later his gun would be 
pointed at the 'Squire, when the latter would take a turn at holding 
up a tree. This was kept up for some time, but the Indian finally 
made his escape. 

While Knott and the redskin had been engaging each other's at- 
tention, the male inhabitants had taken the women and children 
to a place of safety and were preparing for an Indian war. In 
the course of an hour or so Goodwin came around, having first 
been home and washed the paint off his face, and confessed that 
he was the Indian and he did it all for fun. At first the settlers 
were not disposed to take it in that light and there was talk of 
hanging, but he was finally allowed to go. Thus ended the Indian 
scare. Shortly after this the "boys" paid his place a visit. They took 
his wagon to pieces and scattered the different parts here and 
there. The ex-Indian was kept busy the remainder of the season 
hunting for his wagon. Part of it he found in the neighboring 
tree-tops, and part under the leaves in the forest. 

Dr. Stewart was the first physician in the township. He had 
great faith in the curative power of "roots and yarbs and sich." 
It is related that he was once called to see a patient suftering with 
what he called quinzy, but what would now be more readily recoo-- 
nized under the name of diphtheria. He gave the following pre- 
scription, and said the invalid would be all right in the morning. 
The learned (?) M. D. directed that some one should go to the 
woods and procure some of the inner bark of the witch-hazel. 
Another he sent to a spring or pool of water to get a green frog. 
The witch-hazel bark, the live frog and a quart of water were to 
be boiled down until the mixture was of the consistency of salve. 
A quantity of this as large as a pea was to be placed on the end of 
the patient's tongue. From there it would spread until all the af- 
fected parts were healed. This novel remedy had its effect. The 
patient died. 



f 



J.^ 



^ 



648 HI8T0KY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Dr. Griffin, now of Angola, was the second physician. He 
achieved success by using quinine for the cure of fever and ague 
instead of roots and herbs. In a few months after his arrival Dr. 
Stewart left and settled in Michigan, but owing to his intemperate 
habits met with little success. Several years after he returned to 
Fremont and united with the Sons of Temperance, taking a life 
pledge which he faithfully kept during the remainder of his life. 
Notwithstanding the excesses he indulged in for many years, he 
lived to a good old age. The last few years of his life were spent 
in the West. He died about 1869 or 1870. Dr. Griffin remained 
until 1851, when he went East and lived in New York nine jears. 
He then returned to this county, where he has since made his 
home. He resides now at Angola, but is not practicing. 

Dr. Hendricks was the third physician who settled in the town- 
ship. He is spoken of as a well-educated man and a successful 
practitioner. Among other doctors who came in early days may 
be mentioned Fitzgerald, Patterson and Drake. The last-named 
removed to Detroit, became a homeopathist, and acquired great 
wealth. He was killed by the cars at Ypsilanti, Mich., a few years 
since. Dr. Wakefield came in 1853; Dr. Lacey, an eclectic physi- 
cian, came soon after, and Dr. Moore was the next to settle in the 
township 

Jacob Froat was among the early settlers. In 1840 he became 
insane. He thuught his family did not want him to live any longer. 
Early one afternoon he took his rifle and went out. Nothing was 
thought of it for a time, his relatives supposing that he had gone 
hunting. When it became dark and he did not return they became 
worried and commenced searching. About nine o'clock he was 
discovered leaning over a fence near the house. Upon going to 
him, he was found to be in a dying condition, a bullet having pen- 
etrated the base of the brain. He was taken home and lived until 
the following day. Before he died he became perfectly sane. He 
said he had gone a little distance from the house, where he laid 
down with his back to a tree. Then he had taken his silk hand- 
kerchief and tied it to the trigger, after which he placed the muz- 
zle to his head and fired. In two or three hours he regained 
consciousness and managed to crawl to the place where he was found. 
He repented of the rash act, his last word being: " I die a fool's 
death." 

His was the first body that was buried in the township. The 
grave was located where the depot now is. The first tombstone in 



\ 



,4'^ 



10 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



549 



the township was erected over his grave. It stood for many years, 
but was finally broken. When the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Sag- 
inaw Railroad was constructed, the road bed was made over his 
grave, but the bones, if there were any that had not decayed, were 
left undisturbed. During his lifetime Froat used to take great de- 
light in trapping wolves. He used to catch them in pen traps, and 
on a certain occasion caught two at one time. He invited C. Ha- 
vens, now living in the village of Fremont, and some others to go 
alono- and have some fun. When they arrived at the pens they 
made a slip noose out of a hickory sapling, thrust it mto the pen 
where one of the wolves was confined and caught him around the 

neck. 

They then drew him near the edge of the pen and succeeded in 
pulling one of his hind legs outside. Next they cut through the 
gambrel cord and put a small hickory sapling through, the pole be- 
ing about twelve feet long, after which they opened the pen and 
allowed his wolfship to come out. The dogs, three in number, 
were set on, but the wolf, notwithstanding the disadvantages he 
labored under, succeeded in nearly killing the dogs, and would 
have escaped to the swamp if the mighty hunters had not tom- 
ahawked him. The other wolf was served in that way, but the dogs 
were not allowed to interfere, and it is somewhat doubtful if they 
had any desires in that direction. If they had any thoughts at all 
about the matter they probably concluded that one wolf fight in a 
day was a sufiiciency. 

Mrs. Peter Kluck had been bed-ridden for several months before 
the big Indian scare of July 4, 1838. For some time she had not 
left the house, and hardly ventured to get ofi" the bed. When 
news came that the Indians were on the war path she at once for- 
got her illness and caught up her child and ran to Mr. Goodwin's 
house, about three-quarters of a mile, distant across the prairie. 
The excitement cured her — she was never bed-ridden again. 

Tlie first Postmaster in the village was A. B. Goodwin, as stated 
above. He was appointed in 1838. In addition to being a United 
States oflicer, he engaged in the business of trading with the In- 
dians. His principal wares were such as suited that trade. The 
Indians came to him one day and borrowed a five-gallon keg, giv- 
ing a rifle in pledge for it. They then went to Nichols' store, in 
Jamestown, and had the keg filled with whisky, which took all 
their money. Soon the noble red men were hilariously drunk. 
35 






■ypT 



\ 



l^ 



550 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Nichols kept them there two weeks and succeeded in getting every- 
thing they had. 

The Indian who had pledged his gun at Fremont for the keg was 
finally induced to sell his squaw's pony, which she had paid for 
herself. This act on the part of her liege lord so aroused her in- 
dignation that she felt like killine: some one. Soon her husband 
came staggering along, and she drew a knife and stabbed him to 
the heart. According to the rules of the Pottawatomie Nation, 
where one member of the tribe kills anotlier the murderer is killed 
in the same manner by the nearest of kin of the murdered brave. 
The murderess in this case was the daughter of old Baw Beese, 
chief of the tribe, but he was a firm believer in equal justice to all, 
so made no effort to save his daughter from her impending fate. 

Immediately after the crime was committed a messenger was 
dispatched to bring a brother of the deceased, who lived at Notta- 
wassippi Prairie. He arrived in a few hours and the squaw was led 
forth. She stood before him and bared her breast for the fatal 
blow. For a moment the glittering blade was held aloft, and then 
it descended with terrible force. Just at that instant, however, the 
squaw inclined her head forward and the knife struck her on the 
forehead, passing down through the center of her face, making a 
frightful wound but not killing her. She was lifted to her feet, 
and on a second trial the knife pierced her heart. Sheldon Havens 
and John D. Barnard and wife were returning from Fremont, where 
they had been visiting Elder Burrows. When a short distance 
from Jamestown they were stopped by the Indians and Mrs. Bar- 
nard was told to get out. 

Of course she complied with the modest request. One of the 
Indians then told Mr. Barnard there was a squaw " much sick." 
He then led the way to where the dead squaw was lying, and com- 
manded Mr. Barnard and Mr. Havens to help put her in their 
wagon. They drove on a few rods and were horrified to see her 
husband lying dead, just where he had fallen. His body was put 
in the wagon and the Indians guided them to a slight elevation of 
ground where a grave had been ah-eady dug. The bodies were re- 
moved from the waofon and placed on a blanket near the open 
grave. Nothing was done for a few moments. Barnard and Ha- 
vens thought as they had assisted thus far they would remain and 
see the rest of the performance. Finally the Indians became rest- 
less and uneasy. Taking the gentlemen by the shoulders they 
marched them to the wagon and said: " Smokaman marchee, 



\ 



je. 



/El 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



551 



marchee, quick ! " Notliinor was done toward interring the bodies 
.until the white men were well out of sight. In a few days Dr. B, 
F. Sheldon resurrected the bodies and used them for dissecting 
purposes. 

About two weeks or so after the murder the Indians returned 
to Goodwin's at Fremont, taking back the keg he had loaned them, 
and wanting the gun that had been left in pawn by the Indian who 
was subsequently killed. Goodwin preferred the gun to the keg, 
and so he told them he could not deliver the gun unless they 
brought the Indian who had left it. They endeavored to explain 
that the warrior was dead, but Goodwin pretended not to under- 
stand, and retained the gun for several months. He had to keep 
it out of sight of the Indians or they would have stolen it. 

Forty years ago Goodwin moved into Iowa. The country was 
new, but German settlements had been formed. He made his 
home in one of these settlements and a few years later his wife 
died. He then married a German Catholic girl. Goodwin had a 
short time before united with that church himself. He was a 
shrewd man and became quite a leader among the German Catholics 
in that part of the State where he lived. 

In the early days the whites would go out among the Indians 
for the purpose of trading. Whisky would be traded for ponies, 
but quite often the Indians would steal them back in a few days. 
One pleasant night in 1837 three young men left Fremont for the 
purpose of visiting the Indian camp a few miles out. C. Havens 
formed one of the party. Before they left the camp in the morn- 
ing they had agreed to give the Indians ten gallons of whisky and 
$5 in money for a pony. One of the warriors came into the 
villao-e with them for the purpose of securing the first five gallons 
of fire water. 

Mr. Havens had been warned that he would have to keep a sharp 
look-out or his pony would be stolen. He kept it locked up every 
night for three weeks and then thought it would be safe, so he left 
it in the lot outside. In the morning it was gone. 

The Indians were removed in 1838. They used to have a pow- 
wow once every year, at which time they would get beastly drunk. 
The squaws would take their fire-arms and hide them, so they 
could not hurt one another. "When the grand jubilee time came 
in 1838, the Michigan militia were held in readiness, and when 
the Indians became helpless they formed a hollow square arou;id 
the red men and in this way they were removed to the West. 



\ 



552 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Considerable excitement was once occasioned by the finding of a 
woman's clothing on the bank of Lake James. A note was pinned 
to one of the garments written by a woman who had lived in Fre- 
mont for some time, saying she was going to drown herself. The 
lake was dragged, bat no body was found. About the same time 

a man named J turned up missing, leaving a wife and two 

or three children to shift for themselves. The woman who had 
written that she was about to drown herself left two daughters. A 

year or more passed by when it was learned that Mrs. TV was 

not drowned, but was living with Mr. J in the Wolverine 

State. 

The first frame building in Fremont Township was a barn. It 
was built for Jeremiah Tillitson, by Thomas Knott. The barn 
afterward came into the possession of John Kaufman, who lives 
three miles southeast of the village of Fremont. In 1844 the frame 
of the first church (Methodist) was raised. There was some 
trouble about the title to the land, so the frame was moved to its 
present location. The building was not completed until 1851. At 
the first quarterly meeting the congregation used the sleepers for 
seats. The foundation was not put under the building until 1859, 
previous to which time it rested on blocks. The swine found a 
cool retreat under the building during the hot days of summer. 
In 1863 the roof was blown off but replaced at once. The Method- 
ists retained possession of the building until about 1872, when 
they sold it to the Evangelical Association, and commenced their 
present fine brick structure. 

The first frame school-house in Fremont Township was built in 
1845. The building was afterward moved to the main street and 
occupied as a meat market by Stephens & Isenhower. The house 
was built by subscription. In 1856 a new school-house was built, 
30x36 feet in size, two stories high, and cost $1,400. It was de- 
stroyed by fire Aug. 16, 1877, and the same year witnessed the 
erection of the present structure, which, with the grounds, cost 
$6,000. 

The first entry of land was made June 23, 1834; three tracts of 
eight}'^ acres each, on which the south part of the village is located, 
being entered by G. D. Palmenter, S. A. Palmenter and John 
McCume. 

Among the first preachers to give gospel words to the pioneers 
in the place was Elder Burroughs, a Baptist, from Mill Grove 
Township. Elder John Hall also used to visit them in early years. 



■7>" 



Is 



^ 1=^ — ^ 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



553 



as did Elders Stealy, John Panl Jones, Smith and others. Elder 
Arnold was the first Methodist minister to "settle" with them and 
preach. 

Fremont maintains lodges of both the great benevolent secret 
societies. Northeastern Lodge, No. 210, F. & A. M., was organ- 
ized at Fremont, Jan. 16, 1856, with nine charter members. The 
first officers were: Joseph Hutchinson, W. M, ; Hawkins A. King, 
S. W. ; Silas Darrow, J. W. ; S. W. Corbin, Secretary; John W. 
Follett, Treasurer; E. F. Jagger, Tyler. The charter was granted 
May 26, 1857, and under this the first Master was W. H. H. Day. 
Those who have successively been Master of Northeastern Lodge 
are Joseph Hutchinson, W. H. H. Day, J. K. Fox, Boy den, 
S. L. Dunt, B. B. Holcomb, E. G. Melendy, Dr. L. Abbott. The 
lodge owns its own hall, which was erected at a cost of $1,000. The 
lot cost $250, and the whole property is valued at $2,000. The 
present officers are as follows: E. G. Melendy, W. M. ; D. J. 
Tillitson, S. W.; William McKeehan, J. W. ; D. M. Banm, 
Secretary; G. A. Dygert, Treasurer. 

Steuben Lodge, No. 231, L O. O. F., was organized at Fremont, 
Sept. 1, 1863, with five members. The first officers were: G. A. 
Milnes, N. G.; S. A. Powers, Y. G. ; Lyman E. Williams, Secre- 
tary ; Benj. F. Dawson, Per. Secretary; F. A. Briggs, Treasurer. 
For 1885: Elias Kinsey, N. G. ; Henry Trecar ten, Y.G.; J. B. 
Holcomb, R. S.; Moses Kinsey, Treasurer ; E. G. Melendy, Per. 
Secretary ; John W. Yan Alstine, Warden ; J. B. Milnes, Con. ; 
J. C. Moore, L G.; George Heller, R. S. N. G. ; M. Fetterhoof, 
L. S. N. G.; D. J. Tillitson, R. S. Y. G.; Samuel Wolf, L. S. Y. 
G. There are now in good standing twenty-six members; and in 
all; 122 names have been entered on the rolls. The total funds 
and resources of the lodge are now $2,207.42. 

Judson KilpatrickPost, No. 45, G. A. R., was mustered on Satur- 
day evening, Feb. 11, 1882, with the following charter members: B. 
J. Gofi;Burt Hnbbell, M. B. Loop, Ira Reed, Charles White, J. L. 
Hagerty, Peter Rautz, Robert Gunn, Jerome Frost, Moses Fritz, 
R. H. Dygert, Moses Kinsey and D. Hutchins. The election of 
officers resulted in the choice of M. B. Loop for First Commander, 
and Moses Kinsey for First Senior Yice-Commander. The post, 
though yet young, has been remarkably prosperous, and is in ex- 
cellent working condition. The present officers are: B. J. Goff, 
Commander; Curtis Cassel, S. Y. C. ; Joel G. Sbutts, J. Y. C; 
Andrew Caswell, Q. M. ; Daniel Hiller, O. D.; Charles Allen, O. 



-©V 



554 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

G. ; Stephen Curwin, Chaplain; William Bloomer, Surgeon; Moses 
Kinse}^, Adjutant; C. H. Dougherty, Q. jM. S. ; Robert McCuen, 
S. M. 

The Fremont Congregational church was organized by Rev. E. 
Aiidrus and Rev. J. E. Roy, D. D., in 1874, The society flour- 
ished, especially when under the pastorate of Rev. John Y. Hick- 
mott. After him came Rev. B. W. Andrew, in June, 1883. Their 
church was built in 1881, at a cost of $1,400. The Sunday-school 
prospers under charge of Moses Kinsey. 

The Methodists have a brick church, commenced in 1880 and 
completed in 1884, at a cost of $2,500. Fremont Circuit was set 
off in 1872, and has had the following preachers : W. H. Daniel, 
J. C. Macklin, C. King, H. M. Lamport, II. C. Kleugel, E. S. 
Preston, G. W. Howe, J. C. Ambrose, and A. H. Currer. The 
church has about lift}' members. The Sunday-school is under J. 
C. Bisbee. 

The Fremont society of the Evangelical Association was organ- 
ized by Rev. M. Alspach in 1856. It was connected with the De 
Kalb Mission, Indiana Conference, until September, 1864, and was 
served by Rev. Bartholomew in 1857, Revs. Myers and C. Uda, 
and some others. Services were generally held in Frederick 
Straw's house, until 1874, when they purchased the M. E. church, 
which, with the remodeling, cost $1,300. The present pastor is 
Rev. D, P. Rumberger. The society has thirty-two members. 
The Sunday-school, under J. P. Isenhower, has about forty at- 
tendants. 

Fremont is the largest place in the county outside of Angola, 
and is the only incorporation besides the county seat. It is well 
situated, in the midst of a prosperous, intelligent farming com- 
munity, and has a bright future before it. Among the leading 
business men of the place should be mentioned Willard L. Scott, 
general merchandise; George Heller, general merchandise; Chad- 
wick & Dewey, general merchandise; Philip Michael, hardware; 
Moses Kinsey, hardware; B. J. Goff, groceries; James Milnes, 
groceries; S. L. Bricker, groceries; Peter Ran tz, groceries; Jacob 
Isenhower, grocery and meat market; Stevens & Son, meat mar- 
ket; Mrs. S. J. Burdick, millinery; Miss De Lancy, millinery; A. 
J. Broughton, furniture; J. K. Fox, furniture; A. Caswell, Hilton 
Hotel; J. Y. Bevier, American Hotel; Warren Wilkinson, post- 
office; John Mawhood & Co., saw and grist mill; Farnham es- 
tate, flouring mill; James Pettit, blacksmith; Richard Dygert, 



Ma 



"7" 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 556 

blacksmith; Kluck & Hollo way, blacksmiths; Fred Pifer, wagon 
shop; De Forrest Young, wagon shop; Burdick Bros., drugs; A. 
Paul, drugs; Havens & Son, jewelers; C. H. Dougherty, jeweler; 
George F. Ball, bank; Sam Wolf, boots and shoes; B. B. Hol- 
comb, harness; J. H. Hall, harness; Daniel Shaeffer, confection- . 
ery; Henry Trecarten, cooper; Henry Kaler, flouring and saw- 
mill; W. H. Piper, saw-mill; Peter Huston, saw-mill; H. F. Car- 
penter, saloon; G. T. Johns, saloon; John Hoover, barber shop; 
Mrs. E. B. Bevier, dressmaker; Mrs. Edna Black, dressmaker; 
Mrs. Marian Gilbert, dressmaker; Mrs. Milly Eosecrans, dress- 
maker; Mrs. Roxie Travis, dressmaker. 

The village oflBcers are as follows: Trustees, Samuel Straw 
(President of the board;), J. A. Mclntyre, and Lyman Abbott; 
Clerk, Daniel Shaeffer; Treasurer, Willard L. Scott; Marshal, C. 
Lint; President School Board, E. G. Melendy; Secretary, J. B. 
Holcomb; Treasurer, S. L. Bricker. 

The legal profession is i-epresented at Fremont by E. G. Me- 
lendy, J? B. Langworthy and W. C. Chadwick. The resident 
physicians are W. S. Robinson, J. L. Hagerty, L. Abbott, T. B. 
McNabb, and E. B. Simmons, all of whom are "regular," and 
Dr. Miller, homeopathic. 

The population of the village of Fremont was in 1870, 392; in 
1880, 632— an increase of 240 in ten years. The citizens now 
claim a population of 1,000. The population of the township, 
exclusive of the village, was in 1870, 570, and in 1880, 626— an 
increase of fifty-six. This is about twenty-eight inhabitants per 

square mile. 

The following statistics of leading crops are for the last census 
year— 1880: Acres of wheat sown, 3,421 average yield per acre, 
twenty bushels; total crop, 68,420 bushels; acres of corn, 1,151; 
average yield per acre, fifteen bushels; total crop, 17,265; acres of 
oats, 447; average yield per acre, forty bushels; total crop, 17,880 
bushels; acres of meadow, 665; average yield of hay per acre, one 
and a half tons; total crop, 982 tons; acres of potatoes, ninety- 
one; average yield per acre, fifty; total crop, 4,550 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 12,722.51; 
value of same, $219,520; value of improvements, $107,610; value 
of personal property, $68,710; total valuation, $395,840; number 
of polls, 249; number of dogs, 109; total taxation, $9,358.24. As 
property is assessed on a basis of one-third, the wealth of Fremont 
Township may be estimated at $1,187,520. 

I te 






"^"Jp 



556 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Since the organization of the Republican party the township 
has uniformly given Republican pluralities. Before 1856 it was 
carried by the Whigs two Presidential years, by the Free-Soilers 
once, and lastly by the Democrats. The Liberty or Free-Soil 
* party was for ten years very strong in this township. The small- 
est plurality ever cast here was in 1852 — three Democratic; and 
the largest was in 1856 — ninety-seven Republican. The vote at 
each Presidential election has been: 



1840— William H. Harrison.... 59 14 

Martin Van Buren 45 

1844— Henry Clay 53 27 

James K. Polk 26 

James G. Birney 5 

1848— Martin Van Buren 51 24 

Lewis Cass 27 

Zachary Tavlor 24 

1852— Franklin Pierce 34 3 

Winfield Scott 31 

John P. Hale 26 

1856— John C. Fremont 114 97 

James Buchanan 17 

1860— Abraham Lincoln 136 92 

Stephen A. Douglas 34 

1864— Abrah am Li ncol n 1 20 74 

George B. McGlellan. . . 46 



1868— Ulysses S. Grant 141 

Horatio Seymour 59 

1872— Ulysses S. Grant 122 

Horace Greeley 102 

Charles O'Conor 1 

•Rutherford B. Hayes. . . 177 

Samuel J. Tilden 115 

Peter Cooper 14 

James A. Garfield 203 

Winfield S. Hancock. . . 137 
James B. Weaver 10 

1884— James G. Blaine 211 

S. Grover Cleveland. . . 121 

Benj. F. Butler 7 

Jno. P. St. John 17 



1876- 



1880- 



83 
20 



62 



66 



90 



The vote in 1884 on State and county ticket was as follows: 



Governor. 

Wm. H. Calkins 210 90 

Isaac P. Gray 120 

Roberts. Dwiggins 19 

Hiram Z. Leonard 7 

Congressman. 

Theron P. Keator 219 105 

Robert Lowry 114 

Jesse M. Gale 18 

Geo. H. Hartsuck 7 

Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson 209 81 

Frank M. Powers 128 

Senator. 

Nicholas Ensley 210 82 

Lafayette J. Miller 128 

Representative. 

Doak R. Best 211 66 

Wm. W. Wyrick 145 



Commissioners. 



87 



87 



Herman C. Shutts 207 

Adam Failing 120 

Thos. McClue 29 

Tho3. P. Rummel 208 

Alvah Carpenter 121 

John Dygert 28 

Jno. M.Sewell 118 118 

Sheriff. 

Allen Fast 210 98 

Chas. Squires 112 

Thos. R. Moflfett 32 

Treasurer. 

Clny Lemmou 210 90 

Edwin Jackson 120 

Martin V- Gam 27 

Surveyor. 

Robert G. Morley 212 68 

Moses J. Parsell 144 

Coroner. 

T. Ray Morrison 205 54 

Edward B. Simmons 151 



Following is a list of the names of those elected to fill the vari- 
ous township offices since 1850, with the calendar years in which 
the same were chosen: 

Assessors.— UbO, C. Yan Horn; 1851, Orlow W. Parish; 1852, 






\ 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTi". 557 

same; 1854, same; 1856, O. A. Colvin; 1858, Willard L. Scott; 
1860, same; 1862, same; 1864, G. W. Critchfield; 1866, Joshna 
Michael; 1868, Jacob K. Fox; 1870, F. M. Scott; 1872, Jacob K. 
Fox; 1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, Adam Stroh; 1880, same; 
1882, Almaron JR. Follett. 

Justices of the Peace. — 1852, Archibald Crawford; 1854, George 
Sovvle; 1855, Enos Michael; 1856, Jeremiah Tillotson and Eben O. 
Leach; 1858, Jeremiah G. W, Colbiirn; 1859, Joseph H. Hall and 
Josiah Sabin; 1860, George S. Havens; 1863, Joseph H. Hall; 
1864, Melvin Tillotson and Cyrus Handy; 1865, B. F. Wade; 
1868, Joseph H. Hall and Cyrus Handy; 1869, Oliver P. Dodge; 
1870, Joseph H. Hall and Cyrus Handy; 1872, Joseph H. Hall 
and Samuel Wolf; 1874, Jacob K. Fox; 1876, John Y. Bevier and 
Cyrus Handy; 1880, F. W. Robinson, Elias Straw and J. K. 
Howell; 1884, E. G. Melendy, Elias Straw and Spencer Handy. 

ConstaUes.—l^?>^, Melvin Tillotson and Philip Michael; 1859, 
Philip Michael, James Petit and Gilbert Dunham; 1860, Charles 
Cory and Jacob Michael; 1861, Philip Michael and O. N. Caswell; 
1862, Melvin Tillotson and Joshua Caswell; 1863, Melvin Tillot- 
son, James Petit and I. W. Badger; 1864, Nathan G. Olmstead, R. 
J. Duguid and G. W. Critchfield; 1865, R. J. Duguid and Nathan 
G. Olmstead; 1866, Nathan G. Olmstead, Samuel Wade and John 
Peters; 1868, Henry E. Whaley, Oliver P. Dodge and G. A. Du- 
guid; 1869, Henry E. Whaley, A. M. Caswell and M. Y. Garn; 

1870, Henry E. Whaley and Stuck; 1872, David W. French 

and Martin Y. Garn; 1874, Morris B. Lemraon, L. Y. Patterson 
and Alonzo Smiley; 1878, William Yan Alstine, John Gore and 
George Wharton; 1880, John Gore, Elon Chapin and J. E. Mc- 
Elhenie; 1882, John Gore; 1884, James Pettit and William 
Harter. 

Trustees.— l^h^, Daniel ShaefFer; 1860, same; 1861, same; 1862, 
same; 1863, same; 1864, same; 1865, same; 1866, same; 1867, 
same; 1868, Emory G. Melendy; 1869, same; 1870, same; 1872, 
Theodore MeNabb; 1874, James K. Howell; 1878, Erastus Farn- 
ham; 1880, same; 1882, Theodore B. McNabb; 1884, E. C. Shupp. 

BIOGKAPHICAL. 

J. L. Burdick., one of the pioneers of Steuben County, Ind., 
was born in Windham County, Yt, April 10, 1825, son of Jared 
and Lurancy (Franklin) Burdick, his father a native of Connecti- 
ticnt and his mother of Massachusetts. They were married in 






"® 



^ 



J- 



558 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1820 and settled in Yermont. In 1836 they moved to Steuben 
County, going irom Vermont to Troy, N. Y.; thence to Buffalo, 
where they took a boat for Detroit. At Detroit they bought an 
ox team and came across the country to Indiana. They settled in 
the eastern part of Jamestown Township, in the oak openings, 
and there they made a home and lived thirty years. They afterward 
moved to Hillsdale, Mich., where they died. They had a family 
of twelve children — Charles, of Washington County, Neb.; Jared 
L., our subject; Amanda, deceased, married Charles T. Dewey; 
Mary, wife of Asa "Waterhouse, of Coldwater, Mich.; Eunice E., 
widow of Dr. S. L. Dart, lives in Fremont; Harriet A., wife of 
Charles D. Chadwick; Melissa, wife of Charles T. Gilbert; Lydia 
A., wife of Jacob Michael; Frank L. , of Mendou, Mich.; Freder- 
ick, of Nebraska, and two who died in infancy. Jared L. Burdick 
grew to manhood in Steuben County, receiving his education in 
the common schools. He was married Feb. 29, 1852, to Sarah A. 
Sowles, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born April 5, 1831, 
daughter of A. W. A. Sowles. Soon after their marriage, March 15, 
1852, they started for California, crossing the plains and arriving 
at Placerville the first of August. They remained in California 
till 1856, when they returned East by water, landing in New York, 
and thence to Indiana. Since his return to Steuben County he 
has followed agricultural pursuits, and now has a pleasant home in 
Fremont Township. Mr. and Mrs. Burdick have three children. 
Edgar was the first white child born in Placerville, Cal. ; Ida is the 
wife of William Wells, of Angola; Arta lives with her parents. 
Mr. Burdick is a member of Northeastern Lodge, No. 210, F. & 
A. M. 

William Callen^ a native of Cumberland County, Pa., born 
June 21, 1828, is a son of James and Sarah Ann (Sprilman) Cal- 
len, natives of Germany, who came to America in their youth and 
were married in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of twelve 
children; one died in infancy and eleven lived till maturity — 
Mary, Jane, George, James, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ellen, Lucinda, 
Kebecca, William and Agnes. The mother died May 15, 1833, 
and the father in 1849. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. 
William Callen was reared in his native county. When twenty 
years of age he went to Dauphin County, Pa., where he was mar- 
ried Feb. 3, 1849, to Lydia Siiaff'er. In 1851 they moved to Steu- 
ben County, Ind., and the following spring settled on the farm 
where they now live. A few acres were cleared and there was a 



l9 



H 



(T 



t 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 659 

small lo^ cabin on the land. With this exception all aronnd them 
was a heavily timbered country. They came to this county in 
conj])any with Jacob Fux, one of the most prominent men of Fre- 
mont. They were possessed of but limited means, but their young 
hearts were full of enthusiasm and their wills and constitutions 
strong, and they bravely went to work and made for themselves 
and children a pleasant home, where true comfort is now found 
and love reigns supreme. Mr. Callen has been one of the irost 
enterprising men of the township and has served as Supervisor. 
In politics he is a Republican. He and. his wife are members of 
the Evangelical church. To them have been born eight children 
—Daniel, born Nov. 10, 1849; Peter, Sept. 4, 1852; John, June 
7, 1854; Emma, Dec. 4, 1856; Clara, April 3, 1859; Ray, Feb. 2, 
1870, and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Callen's father, "William 
Shaffer, died in May, 1831, when she was eleven months old. He 
was a member of the German Reform church. Her mother, 
Margaret (Beck) Shaifer, was a member of the Lutheran church. 
She died Jan. 14, 1875. They had a family of ten children — 
Barbara, Samuel, Jacob, John, Susannah, Margaret, Daniel, Peter, 
Mary, and Lydia. 

A. M. Caswell, proprietor of the Hilton House, Fremont, Ind., 
is one of the pioneers of Steuben County. He was born in 
Geauga County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1834, a son of Lorenzo D. and 
Eliza (Holt) Caswell, natives of Massachusetts, and early settlers 
of Geauga County. In 1836 his parents moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and settled on the State line, on section 15, Fre- 
mont Township. They settled on a wild tract of land, and were 
obliged to live in a tent till a cabin could be built. Being late in 
the spring they cleared a small patch and put in a crop of corn for 
the next year's bread. Their meat was procured from the forests, 
deer, wolves, wild turkeys, bears and hogs being abundant. Their 
light was made by dipping a piece of cotton cloth into a saucer of 
coon's oil, and igniting it. To them were born five children — A. 
M. ; Fatima, wife of M. Follett, died in Fremont; Oliver, died in 
1867; Henry, of Quincy, Mich.; Julia. Mrs. Caswell died in 
1848. Mr. Caswell is living in Quincy, Mich., aged seventy-four 
years. They were life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. A. M. Caswell was reared and educated in the pioneer 
times of Steuben County. When nine years of age, he began to 
help his father in the field. In 1856 he embarked in the hotel 
business and in 1863 went to Quincy, Mich., and for two years was 

Vivs *" ^'i' ©Ft" 



vvfc 



'k* 



560 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

in the grocery business. In 1865 he returned to Fremont and 
bought the American House, which he exchanged three years 
later for a liouse in Waterloo, known as the Long House. He car- 
ried on this house six months and then sold out and returned to 
Fremont, and the following fall was employed as traveling sales- 
man. A year later he bought a mill which he ran but a short 
time when he bought a farm on which he lived six years. Feb. 
22, 1883, he again moved to Fremont and rented the Hilton House. 
He keeps one of the best hotels in Kortheastern Indiana, It is 
furnished in good style and the table is always supplied with the 
best the market affords. In connection with his hotel he has a 
line livery stable where will be found both single and double 
teams, for either gentlemen or ladies. Mr. Caswell was married 
March 17, 1859, to Leonia 0. Barker, daughter of Samuel Barker. 
They have two children — Alice A., and Carrie, wife of J. B. 
Langworthy. In polities Mr. Caswell is a Republican. 

C. H. Dougherty^ jeweler, Fremont, Ind., was born in Hardin 
County, Ky., July T, 1833, a son of Samuel and Matilda (Brown) 
Dougherty. In 1850 his parents moved to Henderson County, 111., 
where they spent the rest of their lives. When sixteen years of 
age he began to learn the jeweler's trade of C. B. Mathews, of 
Oquawka, remaining with him till the breaking out of the Rebell- 
ion when he enlisted in Company E, Tenth Illinois Infantry, being 
one of the first to respond to the call for troops. His regiment 
was assigned to Pope's division, and participated in the engage- 
ments at New Madrid, Island No. 10 and Fort Pillow. They 
were then ordered to the support of Grant, at Corinth, and subse- 
quently camped at Tuscumbia. They crossed the river and joined 
Negley's command at Nashville, where for several days they 
foraged for all their food, living part of the time on parched corn 
and coffee made of acorns gathered in the woods near. by. They 
were left at Fort Negley on guard duty and from there went to 
Bridgeport, Ala., the base of supplies for Rosecrans's army. While 
there an explosion caused the sacrifice of the lives of many of the 
Tenth Regiment. From there they were sent to relieve the Fifth 
Regular Infantry, and captured several prisoners and were then sent 
to Pefry Ford to guard them. They were subsequently at Mission 
Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kene- 
saw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, and with Sherman to 
the sea. Thence by water from Savannah to Fort Buford, and 
Bentonville, S. C, where they fought their last battle. He was 



"Tt 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 561 

at the grand review at Washington and was discharged at Louis- 
ville, Ky., in July, 1865, having served over four years. He then 
returned to Henderson Count}', IlL, and worked at his trade with 
Mr. Mathews. In 1866 he went to Aledo, Mercer County, and re- 
mained two years, when he went to Keithsburg. In August, 1875, 
he came to Steuben County, and established his present place of 
business. He has a fine stock of goods, keeping constantly on 
hand everytliing in his line. He is honorable in all his dealings, 
genial and pleasant to customers, and has built up a good business. 
Mr. Dougherty was married Dec. 7, 1865, to Mattie Owen, of Hen- 
derson County, 111. Tliey have one child — Frank. Mr. Dougherty 
is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. 

Adam Failing, the fourth of a family of live children of Thomas 
and Catherine (Klock) Failing, was born in Montgomery County, 
N. Y., and was a child when his parents moved to Steuben County, 
Ind. He was reared on a frontier farm, receiving his education 
in the common schools. He was married Nov. 23, 1876, to Susan- 
nah Gudey, who was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 25, 1855, a daugh- 
ter of John and Susannah Gudey, natives of Pennsylvania, the 
father born in Dauphin County and the mother in Huntington 
County. Her parents came to Steuben County in 1860, and here 
the mother still lives and tlie father died. Nine of their eleven 
children lived till maturity. To Mr. and Mrs. Failing have been 
born two children — Edna Pearl, born Nov. 16, 1878, and Inez J,, 
born Nov. 11, 1880, died in October, 1881. Mr. Failing has been 
identified with Steuben County the most of his life, and has assisted 
materially in advancing all interests of benefit to the community. 
He owns 801 acres of valuable land in Jamestown Township, 400 
acres being under cultivation. He is a man of fine address and 
good business ability and is one of the leading citizens of the 
county. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, and the Grange, 
at Jamestown. 

Almoron R. Follett, one of the enterprising farmers of Steuben 
County, Ind., was born in Berkshire County, Mass., July 23, 1826, 
a son of Rensselaer and Eliza (Powell) Follett, natives of Berkshire 
County, the father born in 1801 and the mother Dec. 3, 1802. 
Dec. 18, 1823, his parents were married and in 1830 moved to 
Monroe County, Mich., and a short time after to Ypsilanti, Wash- 
tenaw County, where they both died in 1838. They were the 
parents of seven children — Eliza A., born Sept. 25, 1824; Almoron 



^- 



T 



•V 



562 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



K., July 23, 1S26; William H., July, 1828; Marcus M., April 28, 
1830; Harriet C, February, 1832; James S., 1834; Adelia M., March 
6, 1836. Marcus and Almoron are the only ones living. Left an 
orphan at the age of twelve years, our subject found a home with 
an uncle in Lake County, remaining with him till sixteen years of 
age. He then started out to make his own way in the world. He 
worked for wages several years till he had accumulated enough to 
buy some land and then began farming for himself. In April, 
1855, he came to Steuben County, and purchased a farm two miles 
east of Fremont, on section 26, where he lived twelve years, and 
then bought the farm where he now resides. Mr. Follett was mar- 
ried in Perry, Lake Co., Ohio, March 28, 1849, to L >viiia Barker, 
a daughter of Samuel A. and Rebecca C. (Caldwell) Barker, her 
father born July 9, 1797, and her mother May 19, 1802. Mr. and 
Mrs. Follett have had live children — Elmer B., born Jan. 13, 1851 ; 
Adelia M., April 14, 1853, wife of Albert A. Koons; Harriet L.^ 
Aug. 16, 1855, wife of Dr. S. H. Fuller; Leonora L., Sept. 1, 1857; 
Lina, Aug. 20, 1863, died aged thirteen months. Mrs. Follett' s 
mother died Dec. 20, 1850, and her father in March, 1863. They 
were married July 4, 1817, and had a family of six daughters — 
Lorena L., Mary M., Melvina, Lydia L., Rebecca C. and Lovina C. 
Jacob K. Fox, furniture dealer and undertaker, Fremont, Ind., 
was born in Dauphin County, Pa., Oct. 2, 1826, a son of Samuel 
and Margaret Fox, of German descent. His father first married 
Catherine Eyer, who died leaving two daughters. He then mar- 
ried our subject's mother, and to them were born three sons — Sam- 
uel, Joseph (deceased) and Jacob. His father died in Dauphin 
County in 1845, and his mother in Carroll County, 111. Jacob Fox 
was reared in his native county and in his youth was apprenticed 
to the carpenter's trade, serving two years and ten months, receiv- 
ino- as remuneration his board and clothes. In 1851 he came to 
Indiana, landing in Fremont, Nov. 2. He followed his n-ade 
twenty years, erecting some of the best dwellings and bus*'jess 
houses in the town. In 1871 he formed a partnership with Joshua 
Michael, which continued till October, 1883, when he sold his in- 
terest to Mr. Michael. In December, 1884, he bought the under- 
taking stock of the estate of Joshua Michael, deceased, and 
formed a partnership with Jacob Michael in the furniture and 
undertaking business. Mr. Fox has been identified with the busi- 
ness interests of Fremont over thirty-three years, and has assisted 
largely in sustaining and advancing all her interests. He was 



V 



■vK 



^k^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



563 



married April 18, 1850, to Susan Michael, and to them were born 
eight children four of whom are living — Clara, wife of Peter 
"Weaver; Lavina, Sadie and Cora. Mrs. Fox died Jan. 15, 1871, 
and Mr. Fox subsequently married Lavina Michael. Mr. Fox has 
been an active member of the Masonic fraternity twenty-nine years, 
and has been a representative to the grand lodge sixteen times. He 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
He was reared in the Dunkard church, his parents being members 
of that denomination. 

'Wakefield Gleason was born in Jackson Township, Steuben 
Co., Tnd., Nov. 18, 1857, the youngest of nine children of Porter 
and Amy (Sams) Gleason, his father a native of JN'ew York and his 
mother of Fairfield County, Ohio. In 1839 his parents moved to 
Steuben County and settled in Jackson Township, where they en- 
tered land and experienced all the hardships and privations of pio- 
neer life. They are members of the Christian church. In early 
life Mrs. Gleason was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
but after her marriage transferred her allegiance to the church of 
her husband's choice. Their family were — Adam, Amos, Lydia 
(deceased), Myron, James, Ellen, Philetus, Eoline (deceased), and 
Wakefield. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, receiving 
his early education in the district schools, and later attending the 
Angola High School. He was married Oct. 10, 1880, to Ellen 
Duke, a native of Jackson Township, born Sept. 8, 1860, a daugh- 
ter of Benjamin and Charlotte (Culf) Duke, natives of Mansfield, 
Ohio, and early settlers of Steuben County. Mr. Gleason has 
always been identified with the agriculturists of Steuben County, 
and is one of the most promising young men of his township. He 
has a good farm, well improved, which shows the eifect of a thrifty 
and enterprising owner. 

B. J. Ooff^ grocer, Fremont, Ind., was born in Erie County, 
Pa., June 29, 1834. His father, Orrin GoflT, was a native of Mont- 
pelier, Yt., a son of Bethuel GoflT, a soldier of the Revolutionary 
war. His mother was Emma Stanclift, a daughter of Lemuel 
Stanclift, also a Revolutionary hero and an early settler of Erie 
County. His parents were married in Erie County in 1824. Soon 
after their marriage they went to Medina County, Ohio, but re- 
turned again to Pennsylvania, where the father died in 1842. The 
mother is still living. To them were born four sons, three of 
whom were in the service of their country in the war of the Re- 
bellion. Azro resides in New York City. Osman D. served three 



^\ 



G 



■^ 



56i HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

months in the Nineteenth Ohio Yolunteer Infantry and twelve 
months in the Eighty-third Pennsylvania as Second Sergeant, 
and subsequently as Sergeant-Major of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Indiana. Orrin F. was a member of the Twenty- 
third Indiana Battery, and died of fever at East Tazewell^ 
Tenn. B. J., the subject of our sketch, was reared in his na- 
tive county, receiving a liberal education. When twenty years 
of age, in 1854, he enlisted in the naval service of the United 
States, and served four years. When the war broke out, in 
1861, he was one of the first to answer to the call for troops, 
and enlisted in the three-months' service. After the expiration of 
his term he re-enlisted, in August, 1861, in the three-years' ser- 
vice, in Company C, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, and was 
commissioned Second Lieutenant. He participated in the engage- 
ments at Centerville, Hampton Cross Roads, Big Bethel, York- 
town, White House Landing, Hanover Court House, Cold Har- 
bor, and Gaines's Mills, where he was wounded by a shell in the 
right side. He was sent to Annapolis Hospital. He was appointed 
Assistant Provost Marshal, with rank of Captain, and served 
as such about three months in the city of Baltimore; but not re- 
covering from his wound he resigned Nov. 1, 1862, and wiS dis- 
charged, his discharge being signed by General McClcllan. Mr. 
Goif was married in 1858 to Amy D. Swarthout, a native of Gen- 
esee County, N. Y., born Sept. 1, 1835. They have had six chil- 
dren; but two sons are living — James O. and Bethuel Arthur, 
While Mr. Goff was in the army his family moved to Montcalm 
County, Mich,, and thither he went after his discharge. In the 
spring of 1863 he moved his family to Fremont, but in 1865 moved 
again to Micliigan. In April, 1881, he came to Fremont, where 
he has since been successfully engaged in the grocery business. 
Mr. Goif is a man of firm, upright business principles, and is a 
noble accession to any community. He is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and with another comrade organized the 
post in Fremont, they paying all the expense of getting the char- 
ter. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic or- 
ders. 

William M. Goodell is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born 
Sept. 15, 1822. His father, John Goodell, was born in Yorkshire, 
England, Dec. 19, 1799, and was married May 1, 1821, to Eliza- 
beth Mead, a native of the same county, born Feb. 2, 1800. They 
are living in Oneida County, having had a married life of sixty- 



V 



10 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



565 



four years. They are the parents of nine children — Sarah, Mary, 
Isabel, Jane, Adeline, Myra, William, Daniel, and Robert (de- 
ceased). William M. Goodell is the eldest son. He was reared 
in his native county on a farm, receiving a limited education. He 
was married in Water ville, Oneida Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1S51, to 
Fidelia Olmstead, a native of Waterville, born Oct. 31, 1828, a 
dauijhter of Walter and Mary (Bennett) Olmstead. To them have 
been born five children, three of whom are living — Ira; Ella, wife 
of Eh-oy Carpenter, and Ray. Walter died Jan. 14, 1853, and 
Adelbert April 12, 1857. In March, 1860, Mr. Goodell removed 
to Camden, Hillsdale Co., Mich., and in the spring of 1865 to 
Fremont, where they have since resided. Mrs. Goodell's parents 
were natives of Connecticut, her father born March IT, 1805, and 
her mother Jan. 2, 1806. They had a family of six children — 
Caroline, Susan, Edmund, Ellen, Amelia and Fidelia. 

Joseph H. Hall, harness-maker, Fremont, Ind., was born in 
Washington County, N. Y. , Aug, 24, 1824, a son of John and 
Jane (Allen) Hall, natives of Washington County. His father 
was a soldier of the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of 
Plattsburg. His mother died in 1832 and his father in 1862. 
They had a family of five children — Nancy, wife of James Arm- 
strong; John R. ; Jane, wife of David Paul; J. H. ; William, on 
the old homestead. J. H. Hall was reared and educated in his 
native county. When twenty years of age he came West to 
Branch County, Mich., and began to work at the harness- 
maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. For 
the first year he received $25, and for the last $100 and his 
board, clothing himself. In 1853 he came to Fremont and opened 
a shop, where he continued in business until 1864, when he en- 
listed in Company A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He was 
appointed Quartermaster's clerk at Chattanooga, and subsequently 
was detailed as Sutler. He was mustered out at the close of the 
war, and again worked at his trade till 1873, when he sold out 
and moved to a farm. Mr. Hall has been identified with the busi- 
ness interests of Steuben County over thirty years, and has been 
one of the foremost to advance all her interests. He has held the 
office of Justice of the Peace eighteen years arid Notary Public 
four years. He is a member of Greenleaf Lodge, No. 349, F. & 
A. M. In politics he is a Republican, in early life affiliating with 
the Whig party. Mr. Hall was married in Branch County, Mich., 
in 1848, to Mary Beach, a native of Genesee County, N. Y., and 
36 



^9 



~ 1 (0 

566 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to them were born four children, but two of whom are living — Ida, 
wife of E. Hilton, and Effie. Mrs. Hall died in 1859, and Mr. 
Hall subsequently married Adelia S. Beach. They have had four 
children, three of whom are living — Charles, Earl and Irene. 

Willia77i T. Heathy one of the most enterprising farmers of 
Fremont Township, and an early settler of Steuben County, was 
born in Columbia County, N. Y., July 27, 1816. His parents, 
Reuben and Sally (Bishop) Heath, were natives of Berkshire 
County, Mass., and early settlers of Columbia County. They were 
the parents of ten children, three of whom are now living. When 
twenty years of age our subject left his native county and went to 
Curtisville, Mass., and worked in a chair factory, and at the same 
time taught music in the surrounding country. He was married 
April 15, ISIO, to Harriet D., daughter of Zenas and Ruth Wil- 
cox, of Berkshire County, Mass. Soon after their marriage they 
moved to Geauga County, Ohio, and in 1848 to Steuben County, 
Ind. In 1849 he settled on his present farm, the only house at 
the time being a small log cabin. In this the family lived live 
years. Five acres were cleared and with this exception Mr. Heath 
has made his beautiful home by his own industry. He is a man 
of keen perception, liberal education, dignified, yet easy in his 
manners, and is a general favorite in social circles. Inheriting 
from his father a talent for music, and having this talent cultiva- 
ted, he has become one of the most popular and successful teachers of 
vocal music in Northern Indiana, and has done more to advance and 
elevate the public in the art than any other teacher in this section. 
His daughters, Josephine and Belle, are both accomplished musi- 
cians and teachers. The latter is the wife of Prof. A. M. Hol- 
brook, a musician of wide reputation. Mr. Heath is not only 
admired for his superior musical talent but his upright and hon- 
orable dealing lias gained him many friends. His readiness to 
assist all laudable enterprises has often obliged him to devote 
time to the put)lic at the expense of his personal interests. His 
obli^iug and generous disposition has made him forgetful of self, 
and has therefore added to his popularity and made him most 
hio-hlv esteemed by all who know him. 

' Benjamin B. Holconib, harness-maker and saddler, Fremont, 
Ind., was born in Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., March 24, 
1819. His parents, James and Hannah (Bentley) Holcomb, were 
married in Oneida County, N. Y.,and settled in Onondaga County. 
In 1825 they moved to Monroe County, near Rochester, and in 



*4- 



'Il^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 567 

1836 started for the West via the lakes, on the steamer Dewitt 
Clinton. They landed at Toledo, at that time only a landing, the 
only house there being used as a hotel. With teams they pro- 
ceeded to Jackson County, Mich., and a short time after to Cam- 
den, Hillsdale County, where they entered land and made a per- 
manent home. The father died April 9, 1863, and the mother 
Aug. 7, 1871. They had a family of eight children all of whom 
lived to have families of their own — Harriet is the wife of A. 
Purdy, of Branch County, Mich.; Mary Ann, wife of Jesse Doyle, 
of Buchanan County, Iowa; Benjamin B. ; Charlotte A., wife of 
Dr. L. M. Jones, died Feb. 4, 1883; Myron C, of Johnson County, 
Kas., married Susan Phenecie; Susan, wife of William Worden, 
of Coldwater, Mich.; George W., of Hillsdale County, Mich., 
married Permelia Hughs; Roxy C, widow of Charles Travis. 
The mother was a member in early life of the Close Communion 
Baptist church but later joined the Free- Will Baptist. The father 
was a member of the Universalist church. Benjamin B. Holcomb 
was reared on a farm. When a boy he learned the shoemaker's 
trade of his father and afterward learned the harness -maker's 
trade. He came to Steuben County and worked with J. H. Hall 
his brother-in-law, who opened the first shop in Fremont, helpino- 
to make the first harness in the town. He also made the first 
Sweeney horse collar and tiie first pair of square lines in Fremont. 
Nov. 17, 1860, he moved his family to Fremont and formed a part- 
nership with Mr. Hall which continued a few years, when he en- 
gaged in farming. In 1873 he returned to Fremont and again opened 
a harness shop,and has continued the business to the present time. 
He has been a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders 
several years and has held many responsible positions in both orders. 
In politics he is a stanch Democrat, the only time he ever voted 
against the party being at the second election of President Lincoln. 
Mr. Holcomb was married in a log cabin in Branch County, Mich, to 
Sarah L. Beech, a native of Genesee County, N. Y., born Mav 1 

1819, a daughter of Samuel and Irena (Lawrence) Beech, who set- 
tled in Saline, Mich., in 1831. Of their three children but one is 
living — Jerome B,, who married Hattie IST. Phelps. 

Thomas Johnston was born in Ontario County, N. Y., Feb. 28 

1820, a son of William and Polly (Walden) Johnston, his father 
a native of Schoharie County, N. Y., born in 1784 and his mother 
of Connecticut, born in 179 L In 1839 his parents moved to Oak- 
land County, Mich., where the father died in April, 1852, and the 









>> 



568 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



mother in 1867. Thej had a family of eleven children — Caro- 
line, wife of James llnderhill, of Mill Grove Township, Steuben 
County; Eraeline, wife of Jesse Underhill, also of Mill Grove 
Township; Louisa, widow of "William Dillingliam; Mary, wife of 
Augustus Woodworth; Thomas, Warren, Betsey (deceased), 
Rachel, widow of George Bruce; Henry (deceased), Theodore L., 
and Mercy, married Joseph Davids, both deceased. Thomas John- 
ston came to Steuben County, Ind., Feb. 26, 1840, having when 
he reached here but 18 cents in money, and went to work as a 
dav laborer. In 1842 he entered land in Scott Township, where 
he built a log cabin and began to open up a farm. In 1846 he 
sold his land and bought a tract in Otsego Township, and in 1864 
bought the Merriman homestead where he now resides. He has 
helped to clear the timber off of three farms in Steuben County. 
He now owns 138 acres of choice land in Pleasant Township, 100 
acres improved and valued at $100 an acre. He also owns 160 
acres in Lake County, Mich., valued at $1,500. He has been 
identified with the county forty-five years, and has witnessed all 
its varied changes and improvements, assisting materially in the 
transformation. He was married July 16, 1844, to Roselma 
Merriman, a native of Ohio. To them were born eight children, 
six of whom are living — Louisa, William, Emma, Leonora, Charles 
and Frank. Mrs. Johnston's father, Rufus Merriman, was a na- 
tive of Connecticut, born Jan. 23, 1794, and her mother, Dolly 
Merriman, of New York, born Sept. 13, 1803. They were mar- 
ried March 11, 1824, and in early life moved to Ohio, in 1835 to 
White Pigeon, Mich., and in 1836 to Steuben County, Ind. They 
died in 1864, the father May 10, and the mother June 10. They 
had a family of eight children — Lawson, Roselma, Richard, Alvin, 
Julia. Jerome, Henry and Alvira. Mrs. Johnston and Alvira, 
now Mrs. Carey, of Angola, are the only ones living. 

Robert Mc Cuen^ farmer, Fremont Township, was born in County 
Entrim, Ireland, June 23, 1824, where he grew to manhood and 
married Miss Nancy Maxwell. In 1853 he left his native county 
and came to America, locating in Detroit, Mich., where he was 
employed as watchman at the freight house of the Michigan Cen- 
tral Railroad. In 1859 he removed to Steuben County, Ind., and 
bought a farm in Fremont Township. He was in very limited cir- 
cumstances when he came to the county, but he has been pros- 
perous, and has paid for his farm, and now has a pleasant and 
comfortable home. He owns eighty acres of land a mile from Fre- 









•S- ®- 



J^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 569 

mont, valued at $50 an acre. His residence and farm buildings 
are all in good repair, and his home betokens a thrifty owner. Mr. 
McCuen enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in the fall of 1864 in 
Company A, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Infantry, 
and served till the close of the war. His regiment was assii^ned 
to guard duty at Nashville and participated in the last battle at 
that pface. While in the army he contracted rheumatism and 
heart disease, and has never fully recovered from its effects. Mr. 
and Mrs. McCuen have had six children; five are living — Mary 
Ann, wife of Henry Grim; Elizabeth, Agnes, Kate and Lucinda. 
Agnes is attending Hillsdale College, and three of the daughters 
are successful school-teachers. Mr. Mc Cuen is a member of the 
Methodist and his wife of the Presbytei'ian church. 

J. S. C. Mc Naughton^ one of the pioneers of Steuben County, 
Ind., was born in Washington County, J^. Y., March 28, 1830, a 
son of Alexander and Maria (Crawford) Mc Naughton, his father 
Scotch and his mother of Irish descent. In 1836 his parents 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 24, Fre- 
mont Township; ten years later they moved to section 13, same 
township, where the mother died March 30, 1867. The father 
died Jan. 24, 1884. They were members of the Reformed Pres- 
byterian church. Four children wer e born to them in New York, 
and two in Steuben County — Ann Eliza (deceased), J. S. C, Arch- 
ibald, Robert, Maria (deceased), and Sarah J. J. S. C. McNaugh- 
ton was reared and educated in Steuben County, completing his 
education in the High School at Angola. He was married in 1853 
to Jannett Dugaid who died Nov. 30, 1866, leaving four chil- 
dren — Theodore, Louisa J., Eleanor M. and Robert. April 17, 
1869, he married Mary Jane Mitchell, daughter of James and Sa- 
rah J. Mitchell, and to them have been born five children — John 
French, Leslie E., Nettie B., Ada L. (deceased) and James H. 
Mr. Mc Naughton was raised in the old pioneer days and has ex- 
perienced all the varied phases of life in an early day, and since at- 
taining manhood has assisted materially all enterprises of public 
benefit. Mr. and Mrs. Mc Naughton are members of the Reformed 
Presbyterian church, at Ray, Ind. 

Philip Michael, hardware merchant at Fremont, Ind., was born 
in Dauphin County, Pa., Feb. 17, 1837. His father, Philip Mi- 
chael, was also a native of Dauphin County, born in 1801, where he 
grew to manhood and married Susannah Fitting, a native of the 
same county, born April 6, 1805. Of this union fourteen children 



^FT 



-♦ 



■VQ ^ " U*- 



» 



570 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

were born — Enos, Mary, Ann, Katlierine, Susan, Joshua, Sarah, 
Levina, Philip, Jacob, Lydia, David and two died in infancy. Philip 
Michael,Sr.,wfis a weaver by trade, and in his youth followed that oc- 
cupation, often working at 50 cents per day and bearding himself. 
Thus he acquired tiiose habits of economy which helped him to 
succeed in after years. In 1S50 he and his family, in company with 
Michael E. Banm, Thomas Fisher, George Ilicker, Samuel Wade 
and families, left their native State and started across the Alle- 
ghany Mountains with teams, for the far West, arriving' at Fre- 
mont, Steuben County, May 28. He laid out the northwestern 
part of Fremoni, known as Michael's First and Second Addition, 
His wife died Aug. 2, 1864, and he March 20, 1870, leaving their 
children comfortably settled in life close to the old home. In their 
youtli they were members of the Lutheran church, but shortly after 
coming to this county joinei the Grerman Methodist denomination^ 
in which faith they died. Philip, the ninth of the family, remained 
with his parents until he was eighteen years of age; then went to 
Elkhart, Ind., and was apprenticed to the carpenter and joiner's 
trade with Joshua Stephens, an uncle, remaining with him two 
years. Soon after Mr. Michael's return to Steuben County, he 
began farming, which he followed for six years, wlien he embarked 
in the mercantile business. In 1877 he commenced his present 
business. Mr. Michael has been enojao^ed in the hardware business 
eight years. His salesroom is 60 x 24; tin-room 20 x 24. His 
stock is carefully selected, and by close attention to business he 
has worked up a good trade. He carries a stock of about $5,000. 
He is agent for the Champion reaper and mower, which is meet- 
ing with good sales tlirough his careful attention. Mr. Michael 
is an honest, upright business man. A man of keen perceptions, 
dignified in his bearing, yet polite and courteous toward every one, 
and has won the confidence and esteem of a large circle of Steu- 
ben's most wortliy citizens. In politics he is a staunch Republican. 
April 26, 1860, he was married in Fremont, Ind., to Miss Mar- 
tha Tillitson, a daughter of Jeremiah Tillitson, one of the first 
settlers of Fremont Township, settling in 1835. She was born in 
Steuben County, Ind., Feb. 27, 1839. By this union there were 
three children — Clyde U., Leon E. and Ira E. 

Daniel Miller was born in Allen Township, Cumberland Co., 
Pa., Jan. 31, 1825, a son of John and Barbara (May) Miller. In 
1854 his parents moved to Steuben County, Ind., where the father 
died in 1879 and the mother in 1880. But four of their twelve 



■^ 



HISTORY OF STKUBEN COUNTY. 571 

children are livinc^. Tliey were members of the Lutheran church. 
Daniel Miller was reared a tHriner and when twenty years of age 
began to work at the cooper's trade, which he followed several 
years in connection with farming. May 9, 1853, he left his native 
county and came with a team to the wilds of Indiana, fording 
streams and crossing mountains, arriving in Steuben County June 
5. He settled on what is now John McMahon's farm. In the 
fall of 1855 he bought and moved to the farm where he now re- 
sides, at that time a heavily timbered tract, with not a tree cut. 
Mr. Miller was married in 1850 to Miss Mary Schaeffer, a native of 
Dauphin County, Pa., born April 14, 1828, daughter of William 
and Margaret (Beck) Schaelfer. To them have been born nine chil- 
drcT), all save one in Steuben County — Margaret N., born Oct. 20, 
1852, died April IT, 1855; Barbara, born July 18, 1853, died April 
20, 1855; Mary E., born Dec. 17, 1854; Joshua, Feb. 10, 1857; 
George, Aug. 30, 1860; Oliver S., Nov. 4, 1864; Daniel, Nov. 19, 
1866; Lucetta E., Oct. 16, 1868; Harper T., May 1, 1871. 

George A. Mihies, deceased, was born in Lockwood, England, 
Dec. 16, 1813, and died at Fremont, Ind., Jan. 30, 1877. He re- 
moved with his parents to America the lirst of September, 1826, 
and lived with them in Philadelphia till sixteen years of age, and 
then went toManayunk and learned the machinist's trade, remain- 
ing there till he attained his majority. He was employed as fore- 
man in the shop of Sellar Brothers, machinists of Philadelphia, 
several years, and ran the first engine on one of the roads running 
into Baltimore. In April, 1840, he removed to Ohio, and resided 
in Allen County till 1842 when he came to Steuben County, Ind., 
and assisted in building the large grist-mill at Jamestown, having 
supervision of the machinery. He then bought a farm near the 
village, where he lived till 1862, when he exchanged his farm for 
village property in Fremont, and for several years was engaged in 
the dry-goods and hardware business. He was a Justice of the 
Peace for some time and discharged the duties of his ofiice in an 
efficient and satisfactory manner. His policy was peace with as 
little law as possible. Mr. Milnes was purely a self-made man. 
His education was mainly acquired by persistent and incessant 
study after his day's work was done. His school days ended with 
his ninth year. While an apprentice and for two years after his 
marriage he took lessons from a brother apprentice whose advan- 
tages had been better than his own. In 1850 he was admitted to 
the bar but having no taste for the profession never practiced. He 



\ 



572 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was in early life a member of the Baptist church, and in 1844 trans- 
ferred his alle^ience to the Christian church, and for a time was a 
preacher for the latter denomination. He subsequently became a 
believer in the final restitution of mankind and withdrew from the 
church. Jan. 5, 1836, he joined Friendship Lodge, No. 23, I. O. 
O. F., of Philadelphia, and for this act was censured by his church. 
They however gave him a letter of recommendation when he left 
for the West. Sept. 1, 1837, he was transferred to Manayunk 
Lodge, No. 31, and after his removal to Indiana, Angola Lodge, No. 
180. June 23, 1859, Heaton Encampment, No. 60, at Angola, was 
instituted, and he was initiated into the order and was elected 
Chief Patriarch, and in May, 1860, was sent to the grand encamp- 
ment as its first representative. In November, 1876, he was elected 
Most Eminent Grand High Priest, by the unanimous vote of that 
body. Sept. 1, 1863, he instituted and became a charter member 
of Steuben Lodge, No. 231. He loved the order and it was his de- 
sire to pass all the chairs of the grand encampment. He was also 
a member in good standing in Northeastern Lodge, No. 210, F. & 
A. M. Mr. Milnes was married Nov. 8, 1835, to Miss Eve Ann 
Blankley. To them were born nine children — Mary A., wife of 
Thomas Moffett; Joseph, enlisted in the Fortj'-fourth Indiana In- 
fantry and died from effects of exposure while in the service; Emma 
(deceased) was the wife of Abner Beck; Josephine, wife of George 
Heller; Antoinette, wife of Moses Kimeey; Arwood E., married 
Estella Dutcher; James B., Dora, Calvin, and two who died in in- 
fancy. 

John Wesley JVoyes, one of the early settlers of Steuben County, 
was born in Grafton County, N. H., June 14, 1802, a son of James 
and Kebecca (Kussell) Noyes, natives of Massachusetts, where they 
were married and subsequently moved to Newbury, Yt., and later 
to Grafton County, N. H. In 1811 they moved to New York, 
and in 1833 to Kalamazoo County, Mich., where Mr. Noyes 
bought land and engaged in farming until his death, which occurred 
two years later, in 1835. The mother died at the home of our 
subject in 1850. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, the father being in his early life a minister in that denom- 
ination. They were the parents of twelve children, but six of 
whom are living — John W., Eunice, Mary, wife of Clark Briggs, 
of Nebraska; Eliza; Philip Rowe, of Mills County, Iowa; and 
Chauncey, of Dakota. James, Elizabeth, George, Rebecca, Dan 
and David are deceased. George was the first white man who died 



J9^ 

5| 'V * 



•»« SL- 



A^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



573 



in Ann Arbor, and his wife was the first white woman who lived 
there. John W. Noyes received a common-school education, at- 
tending school in the"^ winter and working on a farm in summer. 
In 1834 he moved to Michigan and settled near Saline, and the 
next year went to Kalamazoo County to take charge of his father's 
estate. In 1846 he came to Fremont and engaged in the mercan- 
tile business with Beall. Two years later he bought the 

American Hotel and for eight years was engaged in the hotel busi- 
ness, keeping a good house and doing a lucrative business. He 
then bought the farm where he now lives, located inside the corpo- 
ration of Fremont. He owns a large amount of property in Fre- 
mont and is one of the wealthiest and most influential men of the 
place. The store of Noyes & Beall was the first in Fremont, at 
that time known as Willow Prairie. Mr. Noyes was married in 
1827 to Dolly Rowe, a native of New York City, born in 1810. 
To them have been born eleven children, eight of whom are living. 
In politics Mr. Noyes was originally an old-line Whig, but since 
its organization has affiliated with the Republican party. He and 
his wife are members and earnest and liberal supporters of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Noyes is a public-spirited, whole- 
souled, upright,enterprising citizen. His interests have been with 
the advancement of the county since his first settlement, and he 
has always assisted every enterprise of public benefit liberally, both 
with time and money. He has been the poor man's friend, none 
worthy ever being repulsed if they went to him for aid. 

Daniel Schaeffer,' h?i\ev and confectioner, Fremont, Ind., was 
born in Dauphin County, Pa., July 7, 1825, the seventh of eleven 
children of William and Margaret (Beck) Schaeff'er. His parents 
were prominent citizens of Dauphin County, where they spent 
their lives. Daniel remained with them on a farm till thirteen 
years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the baker's trade, 
the agreement being that he was to serve six years and to receive 
his board and clothes and three months' schooling, and at the ex- 
piration of his term a suit of clothes valued at $25. After serving 
his apprenticeship he worked at his trade in Pennsylvania till 1855, 
when he moved to Steuben County and opened the first bakery in 
Fremont. He thoroughly understands every detail of his trade 
and has built up a good business. Mr. Schaeffer was married 
Feb. 25, 1847, to Sarah Ann Wharen, a native of Dauphin County, 
born May 14,1825,daughter of John and Susannah (Young) Wharen. 
Mr. and Mrs. Schaeff'er have had eight children— John T., Will- 






= , V 

574 HISTORY OF STECJBEN COUNTY. 

iam H. (deceased), Annie C, Emma J., Frank W., Benjamin C, 
Mary A. and Sarah A. Mr. and Mrs. SchaefFer are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church and he has been a zealous worker 
in the Sabbath-school cause, having been Superintendent continu- 
ously for ten years until 1865. In early life Mr. Schaeffer was a 
Whig,casting his first Presidential vote for Zachary Taylor, but now 
affiliates with the Kepublican party. He has held some public po. 
sition in the town and township the most of the time since his 
residence here. 

John Schaeffer^ farmer and stockraiser, Fremont Township, was 
born in Dauphin County, Pa., April 10, 1820, a son of William 
and Margaret (Beck) SchaefFer. He was reared on a farm, receiv- 
ing a common-school education. He was married in his native 
county in 1847 to Eve Walmer, a native of the same county, born 
in 1823. In the spring of 1845 he came to Steuben County, Ind., 
and entered land and returned to Pennsylvania. In 1848 he 
moved his family to this county and settled on the farm where he 
now lives, which he has brought from a state of heavy timber to 
that of cultivation. He now owns 172 acres valued at $75 an acre. 
To Mr. and Mrs. SchaefFer have been born seven children, five of 
whom are living— David J., John W., Elinor E. (wife of Henry 
Dewey, of Reading, Mich.), Daniel A. and Margaret M. (wife of 
Elwood Ginn). They are members of the Germam Methodist 
church, and are liberal and earnest supporters of Christianity. 

Willard L. Scott, merchant, Fremont, Ind., is a native of 
Livingston County, N. Y., born March 9, 1830. In 1834 his 
parents, Charles and Amy (Collar) Scott, immigrated to Michigan, 
and located near Jonesville, making the journey with teams and 
being three weeks and three days on the way. Mr. Scott cleared 
a small patch of ground, but afterward moved to Hillsdale, and 
later to Fremont, where he lived with his son Willard till his 
death in April, 1858. His wife died at the residence of her son in 
May, 1860. They were the parents of three children — Isabella, 
wife of I. W. Bates, of Hillsdale County; Lucy Ann, widow of J. 
L. Corning, and Willard L., who was their only son. He received 
but a common-school education, the only school being a mile and 
a half distant, and his attendance was limited to the winter months. 
In 1849 he came to Steuben County, and was employed two years 
as clerk for Corning & Raymond in a branch of their Hillsdale 
store. In 1851 he returned to Hillsdale, but the following fall 
came again to Fremont, and clerked two years and a half for 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 575 

Arcliibald Crawford, In the spring of 1855 he bought a stock of 
goods in company with Hon. Enos A. Noyes, and the firm of 
Noyes & Scott continued till 1858. In February, 1863, he, in 
company with J. W. Koyes, bought the business of Daniel 
Phenicie, and continued till 1865, when Mr. Noyes sold his 
interest, and in 1869 E. B. Noyes bought an interest and they re- 
mained together ten years. Since then Mr. Scott has continued, 
the business alone. Mr. Scott is a genial, liberal-hearted man, 
and has made a success of his business ventures, readily winning 
the confidence of all his customers. He was married in 1854 to 
Hannah B. Noyes, daughter of J. W. Noyes, of Fremont. They have 
two children — Linnie and Duane. In politics Mr. Scott is a Kepnb- 
lican. He tells many interesting anecdotes ofhis life in a new country. 
Although but four years of age when his parents left New York he 
remembers many incidents that transpired on the journey and 
after their settlement. He has experienced all the privations com- 
mon to boys reared on a pioneer farm, his educational advan- 
tages being meager as compared with the children of this day, but 
he made the best use of the time allowed him and has acquired a 
good business education. Having an inquiring mind and a reten- 
tive memory his knowledge of the world and business is surpassed 
by few men of the county, and his influence is felt and acknowl- 
edged wherever his presence is known. 

Jacoh ShenJc, one of the prominent citizens of Steuben County, 
is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born July 1, 1807, a son of 
Rudolph aud Catherine (Smith) Shenk, natives of Pennsylvania, 
his father born in 1779, and his mother in 1783. Their family 
consisted of seven children — Christian, Jacob, Anna, Elizabeth, 
Rudolph, Catherine and Henry. In 1828 they moved to Erie 
County, Pa., locating in what is now the cit}'^ of Erie, on property 
that became very valuable, where the mother died in 1846, and 
the father in 1863. Jacob, the second son and the subject of our 
sketch, removed with his parents to Erie County and remained 
there till 1855, when he came to Indiana, and lived in Lagrange 
County twelve years. Then moved to Williams County, Ohio, 
and three years later to Steuben County and settled one mile 
north of Fremont, and subsequently bought the farm which he 
now owns, consisting of 156 acres of choice land, valued at $50 an 
acre, with a good residence and farm buildings. In 1881 he 
moved to Fremont, where he is living retired, having given up the 
active pursuits of farm life. He was taarried in 1835 to Maria 



576 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

"Wolf, who died in June, 1S50. Their children were — Elizabeth, 
Catherine A., Charlotte, Henry, Washington I., Hudolph, Mar- 
garet and Maria. In September, 1851, he married Caroline Fissler, 
a native of Germany, born June 29, 1829, daughter of Jacob and 
Margaret Fissler, her father born.in 1800, and her mother in 1801. 
When she was four years of age her parents moved to America 
and settled in Erie County, Pa., where her father died in 1847, and 
her mother in 1862. They had a family of eleven children — Jacob, 
Angelina, Anna, Carrie, William, Catherine, Samuel, Sarah, Martha, 
and two who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Shenk have been 
born four children — Sarah C, Charles E., Ella M. and Ada V. 
Mrs. Shenk is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Mr. 
Shenk in politics is a Democrat. 

Joshua Stephens, one of the successful business men of Fre- 
mont, Ind., was born in Susquehannah Township, Dauphin Co., 
Pa., in an old house used as a barracks at the time of the Indian 
troubles, Oct. 6, 1824, a son of Andrew and Mary (Braden) 
Stephens, his father of English and his mother of Irish descent. 
He is the third of eight children, and the eldest of the live living. 
His only sister, Ann, is the widow of Henry E. Cakes. His 
brothers, John B., Benjamin F. and Andrew, live in Elkhart, Ind. 
The father died in 1832. In 1852 the mother came to Indiana 
with her children and died in Elkhart, but her remains were taken 
to Dauphin Countj^ and buried by the side of lier husband. 
Joshua Stephens was thrown on his own resources when iilteen 
years of age. When nineteen years of age he began to learn the 
carpenter and joiner's trade with James Harper, for whom he 
worked five years, afterward worked two years with Isaac LFptegraph 
and one year with others. In 1851 he came to Steuben County, 
Ind., and was twenty-eight days on the road, having to ford 
streams, there being but few bridges or public roads. He located 
in Fremont Township, and worked at his trade two years. In 1853 
he went to Elkhart and remained eight years. In 1861 he moved 
to Coldwater, Mich., and in 1863 came again to Fremont and 
worked at his trade two years. He then engaged in farming 
eleven years, and in 1876 came to Fremont and embarked in the 
hardware business, which he sold to his brother-in-law, Philip 
Michael. In 1878 he embarked in the market business in which 
he has since been engaged. In politics he is a Republican. He 
and his wife joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1837, and 
still remain members, Mr. Stephens was married Jan. 31, 1850, 



±L 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 577 

to Sarah E. Michael, a native of Dauphin County, Pa., born in 
Autrust, 1833, a daughter of Philip Michael. They have had six 
children; five are living — Andrew, Ai, Benjamin F., Edmund A. 
and Charles W. Their only daughter died at the age of four years. 

Ellas Straw^ farmer, Fremont Township, was born in Dauphin 
County, Pa., Nov. 9, 1884, a son of Frederick and Catherine B. 
(Wagner) Straw. He was reared in his native county and there 
married, in 1855, Catherine Baker, a native of the same count}', 
born in 1839, a daughter of Frederick Baker. In the spring of 
1856, full of youthful ambition and with good health and strong 
wills, they left their native State and moved to Steuben County, 
Ind., locating first in Fremont, then a hamlet with two general 
stores. They soon after bought a tract of land on section 28 for 
which they paid $200. This they improved and lived on till 1864 
when they sold it for $950. They then bought the farm where 
they now reside. They own 120 acres of land, all well improved, 
valued at $50 an acre. Mr. and Mrs. Straw have had eight chil- 
dren — William, John (deceased), Albert, Granville, George,B[arvey, 
Augusta Jane (deceased) and Hermie. In politics Mr. Straw is 
Republican but in local elections casts his suffrage for the man he 
considers the most worthy. He and his wife are members of the 
Evangelical Association. 

Frederick Straw is a native of Dauphin County, Pa., born 
June 9, 1811, a son of George and Elizabeth (Gearhart) Straw. 
But two of a family of ten children are living — Frederick and 
Susannah, wife of John Hoover, of Pennsylvania. In the sprino- 
of 1856 Mr. Straw moved with his wife and children to Steuben 
County, Ind., and bought land just west of the present site of the 
depot in Fremont. There were thirty acres cleared and the rest 
was heavily timbered. He now has 180 aci-es of the best land in 
the township, well improved with good comfortable buildino-s. 
At that time there was but one store and a blacksmith shop where 
now is the thriving village of Fremont. In early life Mr. Straw 
was a Jackson Democrat, but since its organization has afliliated 
with the Republican party. He was married in August, 1832, to 
Catherine Wagner, a native of Cumberland County, Pa., born in 
1813. To them were born eight children — Elias; Anna, wife of 
Rev. Benj. Wade, of Cass City, Mich. ; Eliznbeth, wife of Jacob 
Isenhour; George W.; Frederick, of Muscatine, Iowa; Amanda; 
Benjamin, of Osage County, Kas., and Philip A. Mrs. Straw 
died June 17, 1871. She had been a member of the Evangelical 



~^ 



—. ] 10 

578 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Association since 1S42 and was one of its most earnest and con- 
sistent workers. She was a noble Christian, a devoted wife and 
mother, a kind friend and neighbor, and her death was a sad 
blow to many friends and acquaintances, with whom she had 
labored since her settlement in the county. Mr. Straw is now 
reaping the reward of years of toil and hardship. He has a pleas- 
ant home, kind children, and scores of friends to cheer his path- 
way. His joungest son, Philip A., is a lecturer of wide repute, 
at present traveling in Africa. He has had a fine education, and 
being a fluent speaker and of natural talent he charms his audi- 
ences, and his services are in constant demand. 

Demary Tillotson, the oldest settler of Fremont Township, was 
born in Pi ttsford, Monroe Co., N. Y., April 26, 1810, a son of 
Nathan and Mary (Kellogg) Tillotson, early settlers of Monroe 
County. The mother died in 1821 and the father afterward went 
to St. Clair County, Mich., where he died. They had a family of 
sevcTi children, three of whom are living — Joseph, of Monroe 
County, JN. Y.; John and Demary. Our subject received a lim- 
' ited education in the common schools of his native county. After 
the death of his father he was thrown on his own resources. In 
1833 he went to Branch County, Mich., and bought 160 acres of 
land near Coldwater, In August, 1835, he came to Steuben 
County and settled on section 28, Fremont Township. His family 
lived for three weeks under a shed made by laying boards on 
crotched limbs cut from the trees, till their log cabin could be 
built. Mr. Tillotson was the second settler of the township; the 
first, John McMahon, preceded him about an hour, and was pre- 
paring to feed his team when Mr. Tillotson drove by. He opened 
up a farm where the Noyes place is now located, near the depot 
at Fremont, then known as Willow Prairie. He lived on this 
place four years and in 1839 settled where he now lives. He was 
married April 12, 1835, to Harriet Shepard, a native of New 
York, and to them were born six children — Jerome, William, 
Truman T., Merritt, and two who died in infancy. Jerome was 
drowned in Lake James, Steuben County. William was a mem- 
ber of the Fifty-fourth Indiana lufautry in the war of the Ke- 
bellion and was killed at Yicksburg. Mrs. Tillotson died March 
18, 1850. She was a member of the Baptist church and a most esti- 
mable woman. In January, 1853, Mr, Tillotson married Mrs. Sarah 
(Thomas) Phenecle, a native of Franklin County, Pa., born Oct. 
5, 1824, widow of James Phenecie. To them were born two 






--t» -- -^V- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 579 

daughters — Sarah, wife of Homer Withington, and Ida. Mrs. 
Tillotson died July 21, 1883. She was a member of the Wes- 
leyan Methodist church, and was loved and respected by all who 
knew her. Mr. Tillotson left New York with a man named Sim- 
eon Pierce, but left him at Detroit and proceeded to Branch 
County on horseback, and when he landed there had $95 and his 
horse. Although a poor man when he came West he was pos- 
sessed of a determined will and strong ambition, and made a suc- 
cess of all his business ventures, leaving no stone unturned that 
would aid in furthering his interests. He tells many thrilling and 
amusing reminiscences of his life in a new country. Before he 
raised any grain he was obliged to go to English Prairie to buy 
it and then take it to be ground, it was midnight before he was 
ready to start for home, and the snow was two feet deep. His 
oxen wanted to go home in the same direction that they made the 
journey and started toward English Prairie, and it was with diffi- 
culty that he got to the main road. He then rolled himself up in 
an old-fashioned cloak and with a bag for a pillow went to sleep. 
When his oxen reached a small store, Dr. Calton's tamerack store, 
at which they were accustomed to stop, they came to a stand-still. 
This wakened him, and he got up and started them on again. By 
this time the wolves began to howl around him but paying no at- 
tention to them, he again slept till they reached Cove's cabin, 
where the oxen again stopped and he alighted and put up for the 
rest of the night. Many are the adventures Mr. Tillotson had 
with wild animals and Indians, and his manner of telling them 
cannot be portrayed by any but one who has had the experience of 
like adventures. He is a man of unquestionable integrity, and 
now, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, is reaping the reward of a 
well-spent life. He has lived to see the county of his adoption 
change from a wilderness to finely cultivated farms and prosperous 
villages, and many of the improvements are due to his energy 
and enterprise. 

Henry Trecarten was born in Lubec, Washington Co., Me., 
May 18, 1837, a son of William and Sarah A. (Drake) Trecarten, 
natives of St. John, New Brunswick. There was a family of eleven 
children, seven sons and four daughters, all of whom lived till ma- 
turity. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, 
and learned the cooper's trade of his father. In 1863 he left Maine 
and went to Chicago, 111., where he lived two years, and in 1865 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Fremont. He had 



V 

^-^ 
V 



FT 






^ 



580 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



but $75 in money when he reached Steuben County, but he is a 
natural mechanic, and by energy and industry has accumulated a 
competency, having a pleasant home and surrounded with all the 
comforts of life. Mr. Trecarten was married in June, 1865, to 
Harriet (Tigns) Grant, widow of Harrison Grant, who died from 
the effects of disease contracted in the army. They have three 
children — Myrta M., Oassius M. and Cora E. Mr. and Mrs. Tre- 
carten are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Tre- 
carten is a member of Steuben Lodge, No. 231, I. O. O. F. 

Charles White was born in Edinbnrg County, Scotland, Oct. 6, 
1820, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Watson) White. His mother 
died in 1823, leaving two sons, Charles and David. His father 
afterward married Fannie Gibbs, and to them were born six chil- 
dren — Ann, William, Jesse, Fannie, James and Jane. When four- 
teen years of age, our subject was apprenticed to learn the trade of 
a machinist, and served four years, his only remuneration being 
his board. He was married in his native country, in 1815, to 
Marian White, also a native of Scotland, born Oct. 16, 1823. To 
them were born ten children, but four of whom are living — Charles 
M., Lottie, wife of Jackson Little, Lillie and Annie. In the spring 
of 1850 he left his native heath and came to America in a sailing 
vessel. He located in New York, where he found employment in 
the navy yard, and the following fall sent for his wife. In Aug- 
ust, 1853, he moved to Detroit, Mich., and in 1859, to Angola, Ind., 
where he was engaged in the manufacture of fewing machines. 
The following fall he purchased and removed to the farm where he 
now lives, a mile and a half from Fremont. May 10, 1862, he en- 
listed in Company M, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and participated in 
the battle of Salina, on the Cumberland River; was on the Morgan 
raid at the time 1,500 of his men were captured; the siege of Knox- 
ville and all the engagements against Longstreet. The regiment 
was then dismounted and sent to reinforce Sherman's army, and 
participated in the battles of Buzzard's Roost, Resaea, Stone 
Mountain, siege of Atlanta and Stoneman's raid. They were capt- 
ured at Macon, Ga., July 31, 1864, and confined in Andersonville 
three months. Miller six weeks, Savannah two weeks, Blackshear 
one week, and Thomasville, Ga. , till May 1, 1865, when they were 
released and sent to Jackson, Fla. His son Charles M. was a mem- 
ber of the same regiment, and was with him in all his experiences. 
Mr. White was a charter member of Angola Lodge, No. 180, I. O, 
O. F., and is now a member of Steuben Lodge, No. 231. He has 



■f 



\ 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 581 

passed all the chairs and has been a representative to the Grand 
Lodge of the State. He is also a charter member of Heaton En- 
campment, No. 60, and of the Grange and Grand Army of the Re- 
public. He has been Master of the Grange six years. He and 
his wife are members of the Congregational church. 

Jacob Wolf^ one of the pioneers, and a prominent and influen- 
tial citizen of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Washington 
County, Pa., Nov. 19, 1815, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Wood) 
Wolf, natives of New Jersey, where they were married and 
lived till 1807 when he moved to Washington County, Pa., where 
the mother died in 1827. In 1828 the father removed to Tusca- 
rawas County, Ohio, where he died in 1837. They had a family 
of six children, two born in New Jersey and four in Pennsylvania — 
Ruth, now of White County, Ind., the widow of William Wolf; 
Peter, who settled in Steuben County, Ind., in 1836, and died in 
Branch County, Mich., in 1882; Abbie (deceased) was the wile of 
Ellis Hughes; Mary died in infancy; Jacob; Sarah (deceased) was 
the wife of Hugh Hughes. Jacob Wolf removed with his father to 
Onioin 1828, and in the spring of 1837 came to Steuben County, 
and located in Angola, at that time a hamlet of a few log cabins. 
When he left Ohio he had 44 cents in money. He was by trade a 
blacksmith, and finding no employment in Angola, went to CTnion 
Mills, south of English Prairie, and worked at his trade a short 
time. Becoming discouraged he came to Fremont and ordered a 
suit of clothes made, intending to return to Ohio, but finally con- 
cluded to remain, and worked in different places till 1842, when he 
bought the farm where he now resides. He has been a hard work- 
ing man, and his beautiful home is the result of his many years of 
unabated toil. He is now one of the well-to-do farmers of the 
county, he and his sons owning 450 acres of land, all gained by his 
untiring industry. Mr. Wolf was married June 6, 1841, to Delilah 
Masters, daughter of Uriah Masters, a pioneer of Steuben County. 
They have had eight children, five of whom are living — Phoebe, 
wile of J. C. Bisby; Ann, wife of J. C. Tobias; William, John and 
Sarah. Mr. Wolf is in politics a stanch Democrat. During the 
war of the Rebellion he was a loyal Union man, and gave of his 
means liberally for the support of the widows and orphans of the 
soldiers. He is a public-spirited, whole-souled man, supporting 
all projects of public benefit, and giving liberally to all benevolent 
objects. He and his wife joined the Methodist Episcopal church 
37 



-*F 



\ 



-^ l >> 



582 



HISTOKT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



in their youth, and ever remained true to its principles. Mrs. 
Wolf died Jan. 14, 1877, loved and lamented by all who knew her. 
Mr. "Wolf is still an active business man. For the past eighteen 
years he has dealt extensively in stock, which has given him an ex- 
tended acquaintance throughout the county. 




•i^ 



"^ V 



^ 



CHAPTER XV. 



CLEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP. 



The Northeastern Corner of Indiana. — Description. — Ge- 
ography. — Clear Lake. — First Settlers and Land Entries. — 
First Birth, Marriage and Death. — Early Religious Services. 
— Drowned in the Lake. — Population. — Agricultural Sta- 
tistics. — Property and Taxation. — Politics. — Yote for Presi- 
dent since 1852. — Detailed Vote in 1884. — Lists of Township 
Officials. — Biographical. 

The smallest township in the county, occupying the northeastern 
corner, not only of Steuben County, but also the State of Indiana, 
is Clear Lake. It is congressional township 38 north, 15 east, and 
is bounded as follows : On the north by Branch and Hillsdale 
counties, Mich.; on the east by Hillsdale County, Mich., and 
Williams County, Ohio; on the south by York Township, and on 
the west by Fremont Township. It is four miles north and south, 
by two and three-quarters east and west. Its area is therefore 
about eleven square miles, or 7,000 acres, nearly 1,000 being 
covered by water. The township derives its name from the beauti- 
ful lake that is situated nearly in the center, on the north banks of 
which two hotels were built, a few years ago, for the accommoda- 
tion of tourists. Clear Lake deserves to become still more popular 
as a resort. It was at one time proposed to build to it a branch 
from the railroad, but this plan was unfortunately given up. Be- 
sides Clear Lake, there are several smaller bodies of water, all 
connected with it. The soil is of a sandy nature, except in the 
eouth part of the township, which is of a rich, sandy loam. Most 
of the township is considered fertile. Tne surface is rolling, and 
interspersed with small rivulets which empty into the lake. 

The first settler of Clear Lake Township was John Russell, who 

entered land on section 21, in March, 1836. He used his covered 

wagon for shelter when he first came, and the following summer 

or fall built a log cabin in the woods. With Mr. Russell came his 

?on8 Isaac. Anthony, Wayne, Hiram, John, George and Silas, and 

two daughters, mostly grown. 

(583) 



_ to 



-y Q_ 



584 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Levi Douglas and Thomas Cope entered land, the former on 
section 28 and the latter on 33, in April, 1836, and located the 
same year. Lewis Wells settled Dec. 19,1836; Charles Throop 
entered land on section 33; George and Clark Throop on section 
29, in 1836, and settled on the same in 1837. George Hotchkiss 
settled on section 28 in the winter of 1838. Hiram Throop and 
Erastus Brown settled in 1840. The Lords and Burroughs came 
Soon after, at about which time the township began settling up 
rapid ly. and continued so until the land was all taken. 

The first white child born in Clear Lake was Noah Douglas, son 
of Levi and Abigail D juglas, in the winter of 1837, and the second 
was L )vica C, daughter of Charles and Sally Throop, in January, 
1838. The first marriage took place in 1839, Rodney Beach and 
Charlotte Diuiglas being the contracting parties. The first person 
who died was Levi Douglas, the event occurring in 1839, and he 
was shortly followed by Lovica and Marian Throop, both of whom 
died in the same year. The first school-honse was built at Harris's 
Corners, on section 33, in 1843, and the school was taught by 
Ariali Beach. 

The first religious services were held at the house of Levi 
Douglas in 1838, by a Mr. Swiger. an exhorter of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and the first preaching was by an itinerant 
Methodist preacher, at the funerals of Levi Douglas and the chil- 
d en of Charles Ttiroop. 

At a picnic held at Clear Lake, July 4, 1858, a terrible accident 
occurred, in which eleven persons were drowned. This cast a 
gloom over the occasion, which is yet spoken of by those who were 
eye-witnesses of this sad occurrence, which was the result of care- 
lessness on the part of the man in charge of the boat, who was 
under the influence of whisky. 

The population of the township in 1870 was 455; in 1880, 519 — 
an increase of sixty-four. 

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year, 
18S0 : Acres of wheat sown, 967 ; average number of bushels 
grown per acre, twenty; total crop, 19,340 bushels; acres of corn, 
522; average product of upland, forty bushels per acre, and of 
bfttom, forty-five bushels; total crop, 21,250; acres of oats, 332; 
average product, thirty bushels per acre; total crop, 9,960; acres 
in meauow, 318; average product, one and a half tons of hay per 
acre; total crop, 477 tons; acres in potatoes, forty; average prod- 
uct, seventy-five bushels per acre; total crop, 3,000 bushels. 



4^ 

[ 



"7 



T 



■^ 


a -. 




^ <?> 


^ 


{ 


HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 585 

In 1884 there were assessed 6,024.47 acres of land, valued at 


• 




$45,735; value of im] 


arovements, $14,705; value of personal 






property, $15,990; total, 


$76,430; number of polls, 57; number of 






dogs, 43; total taxes levied, $1,772.71, As property is assessed on 






H basis of one-third, the 


wealth of Clear Lake may be estimated 






at $229,290. 








The politics of Clear 


Lake are not very decided. They are as 






the Indian said of the 


white man, " mighty onsartin," In the 






days of the Whig party 


the township gave a small majority for 






that party. It was Republican from 1856 to 1864, and Demo- 






cratic from 1868 to 1880. 


In 1884 it turned once more and gave 






seven more votes for Blaine than for Cleveland. The following 






is tbe vote for President each year since the organization of the 






township. 








1852— Winfield Scott 

Franklin Pierce 

John P.Hale 

i 1856— John C. Fremont 

James Buchanan 

1860 — Abramam Lincoln 

Stephen A. Douglas. . . 

1864 — Abraham Lincoln 

George B. McClellan.. 

1868 — Horatio Seymour 

Ulysses S. Grant 


. 21 11 
. 10 
. 1 

. 33 10 
. 23 

. 48 24 
. 24 

. 33 9 
. 24 

. 50 9 
. 41 


1872— Horace Greelev 52 18 

Ulysses S. Grant 34 

1876— Samuel J. Tilden 47 10 

Rutherford B. Hayes.. . 37 
Peter Cooper 10 

1880— Winfield S. Hancock... 53 14 

James A. Garfield 39 

James B. Weaver 1 

1884— James G. Blaine 46 7 

S. Grover Cleveland... 39 

Benjamin F. Butler 4 

John P. St. John 2 






The vote in 1884 on 


State, district and county ticket was as 






follows : 








Governor. 
William H. Calkins 


. 46 7 
. 39 
. 4 
. 2 

. 46 8 
. 38 
. 4 
. 2 

. 46 3 
. 43 

. 47 5 
. 42 

. 46 1 

. 45 


Commissioners (continued). 
Thnmas McClue 7 






Isaac P Gray 

Hiram Z. Leonard 






DHuiel P. Rummel 46 7 

Alvah Carpeuitr 39 

John Dygert 6 

John M. Seweli 39 39 

Sheriff. 

Allen Fast 46 7 

Charles Squires 39 






Robert S. Dwiggings 

Congressman. 

Theron P. Keator 

Robert Lowry 

George F. Hartsuck 

Jesse M. Gale 

Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson 

Frank M. Powers 

Senator. 

Nicholas En.sley 

Lafayette J. Miller 






Thomas R. Mofleit, 6 

Treasurer. 

Clay Lemmon 46 7 

Edwin Jackson 39 


\ 




Martin V. Gam 6 

Surveyor. 

Robert G. Morley 46 1 

Moses J. Parsell 45 






Hepresentative. 

Doak R. Best 

William W. Wyrick 






Commissioners. 




Coroner. 




< 


Herman C. Shutts 

Adam Failine 


46 7 
. 39 


T. Ray Morrison 46 1 

Edward B. Simmons 45 


> 


. o 






Is 


-7 


6 •- 




"• a 


-r* 



■V 



Q- 



J- 



586 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Following is a list of those elected to fill the various offices in 
Clear Lake Township, together with the years in which they were 
chosen : 

Assessors— 1S52, Cyrus Hundy; 1854, William N. Wilbur; 1856, 
Meriah D. Potter; 1858, S. N. Teft; 1860, William Gowthrop; 
1862, Wilson Teeters; 1864, M. B. Potter; 1866, D. B. Teeters; 

1868, Nathan Odell; 1870, A. F. Throop; 18Y2, Wilson Teeters; 
1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, Andrew J. Smith; 1880, William 
Lords; 1882, San Francisco McElhenie. 

Justices of the Peace. — 1855, William N. Wilbur; 1858, George 
Sowle, 1859, Abram Grant; 1862, George Sowle; 1863, Alvin Pat- 
terson; 1865, Whitman Rathbun; 1866, A. J. Teeters; 1869, John 
McElhenie and David Harris; 1870, V. W. Rathbun; 1872, L. C. 
Young; 1874, V. W. Rathbun; 1876, Lewis! C. Young; 1878, V. 
W. Rathbun; 1880, Henry Bennett; 1882, George A. Smith and 
Alvin Patterson. 

Constcibles. — 1858, William Lundis and Martin Smith; 1859, 
Henry Leeds and S. A. Teft; 1860, S. A. Teft and D. C. Grant; 

1861, J. E. McElhenie and Henry A. Lord; 1862, George B. Sowle 
and E. H. Brown; 1863, George B. Sowle, C. Hoffman and S. A. 
Teft; 1864, George B. Sowle, Martin Smith and E. P. Brown; 
1865, G. B. Sowle and J. W. Sheets; 1866, H. Brooks and John 
May; 1868, Martin H.Smith and John Teeters; 1869, Wesley 
Cass and Martin H. Smith; 1870, Samuel Nelson and Joseph 
Cough; 1872, William Bloomer and John Teeters; 1874, James E. 
McElhenie and Sam Brooks; 1878, J. E. McElhenie and Jerry J. 
Sliatto; 1880, Daniel Haines and Thomas Painter, 1882, Daniel 
H. Buck and Thomas Painter; 1884, James Shaw and William 
Bloomer. 

Trustees. — 1859, Stephen A. Powers; 1860, same; 1861, same; 

1862, Benjamin McCloutt; 1863, Washington Newell; 1864, same; 
1865, A. F. Throop; 1866, John Smith; 1868, Andrew J. Teeters; 

1869, David B. Teeters; 1870, same; 1872, same; 1874, Martin Y. 
Chapman; 1878, David B. Teeters; 1880, same; 1882, Yalentine 
W. Rathbun; 1884, Samuel Lash. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Morris L. Chandler is a native of Perryville, Madison Co., N. 
Y., born Sept. 12, 1818, a son of Simeon and Temperance (Post) 
Chandler. On his twelfth birthday the family were on Lake Erie, 
en route to their new home in Hartiand Township, Huron Co., 



•<" 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



687 



£.W 



Ohio, where his father purchased a tract of heavily timbered land. 
The family comprised six children — Samantha, deceased, married 
H. Burnett; Morris L., Orrin P., Jerome, now of Montana; Enos 
and Thomas, of La Crosse, Wis. "When Morris L. was twenty- 
one years of age he left home and located near Coldwater, Mich., 
where he remained twelve years. In 1851 he came to Steuben 
County and purchased the farm in Clear Lake Township where he 
now lives. He has been uniformly successful in all his business 
transactions and has acquired a competency for his declining years. 
He is an aflfable, courteous gentleman, and has been a useful and 
influential member of society. He was married in 1842 to Mary 
J. McMillan, a native of New York, who moved with her parents 
to Coldwater, Mich., in an early day. But one of their four 
children is living — Mary A., now Mrs. Wilson Teeters. Mrs. 
Chandler died and in 1857 Mr. Chandler married Lavina, daugh- 
ter of Wilson and Sophia (Smith) Teeters. 

George H. Davenport^ a pioneer of Steuben County, Ind., was 
born in Bethany, Genesee Co., N. Y., April 15, 1819, a son of 
Rufus and Nabby (Hall) Davenport, natives of Vermont, his 
father born in 1787, and his mother in 1793. They were the 
parents of ten children — Calvin, Betsey, William, Sylvia, George 
H., Sally, Kufus, Nabby, Marcus, Marshall, and one who died in 
infancy. They moved to Genesee County, N. Y., in an early day, 
and in 1830 to Cattaraugus County, where they died. In early life 
the mother was a member of the Baptist church, and afterward 
joined the Methodist Episcopal church. George H. Davenport was 
married in September, 1840, in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., to 
Lucina Lovejoy, burn Jan. 25, 1824, a daughter of Almon and 
Haimah (Ames) Lovejoy. Their children were eight in number; 
four are living — Hannah, the wife of David Mowrey; Elizabeth L., 
wife of Marvin L. Perigo; Ellen M., wife of Augustus Stiles; 
Charles G., of Woodbridge, Mich. Their eldest son, William R., 
enlisted in the Second Michigan Cavalry, and afterward in the 
Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, and died in the hospital at Lexington, 
Ky. ; Mary J. married Christian Estel, who was killed by lightning 
in July, 1870, and she died the following November. Two died in 
childhood. In November, 1842, Mr. Davenport moved to Steu- 
ben County, Ind., and settled in Clear Lake Township, moving to 
the place where he now lives in 1849. He built the first house on 
section 16. When Mr. Davenport left Lake Erie he had but one 
York shilling, and had to run in debt for having his goods hauled 



*7r 



Is 



588 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to the county. Their children were educated in the log-cabin 
schools; their first teacher was Adeline Bailey. Mr. Davenport 
now has a pleasant home and is a respected farmer of the town- 
ship. Mrs. Davenport is a member of the Baptist church. Her 
father was born in 1792, and her mother in 1796. They came to 
Steuben County in 1842, and subsequently moved to Michigan, 
where the father died at the age of eighty-eight, and the mother 
aged eighty-four years, after a married life of sixty-seven years. 
They were members of the United Brethren church. 

Samuel Lash was born in Ashland County, Ohio, June 25, 
1845, a son of William and Barbara Lash, his father a native of 
New Jersey, and his mother of Pennsylvania. His parents were 
early settlers of Ashland County, where his mother died in March, 
1885, and his father still lives, aged eighty-two years. Their family 
consisted of twelve children, seven of whom are living. In politics 
"William Lash was in early life a Democrat, but now affiliates with 
the Kepublican party. He was Captain of a militia company 
several years. Samuel Lash was reared on a farm, receiving in 
his youth only limited educational advantages. He was ambitious 
and when not at work applied himself to study and gained a good, 
practical education. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One 
Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio Infantry, which at first was known 
as the home guards. They were subsequently sent to the field 
and participated in the battle of Petersburg, Sept. 14, 1865. He 
was married to Eliza, daughter of Frederick Brouse. They have 
had seven children, six of whom are living — Orville, Ada, Alta, 
Elmer, William and Eva. Mr. Lash is a Kepublican in politics. 
He is serving his fourth year as Trustee of Clear Lake Township. 
He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. 

Robert McElroy, farmer, section 33, Clear Lake Township, is 
one of the enterprising citizens of Steube n County. He is a 
prosperous farmer, owning 144 acres of land, 100 acres under culti- 
vation, valued at $50 an acre. He was born in Canada East, 
March 13, 1833, a son of Kobert and Mary Ann (Hamilton) Mc- 
Elroy, natives of Ireland. They died when our subject was thir- 
teen years of age, and thus early he was thrown on his own 
resources. He was married in 1859 to Alz ina Brooks, of Huron, 
Ohio, daughter of Menshall Brooks. They have nine children — 
Joseph C, Mary J., Florence, Menshall, Ulysses, Bessie, Eliza, 
Katie and Hattie. In 1862 he enlisted in Huron County, Ohio, in 
the Twelfth Ohio Battery, and participated in the engagements at 

s 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 589 

Fredericksburg, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary 
Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Resaca. He was mustered out at the close 
of the war at Camp Chase, Cohimbus, Ohio. He was shot in the 
right shoulder by a picket while out on a pass, being mistaken for 
another man. He was also injured by his horse tailing on him. 
Mr. McElroy is a member of Judson Kilpatrick Post, No. 45, G. 
A. R., at Fremont. In politics he is a stanch Republican. 

Christopher Oberst, far mer, Clear Lake Township, was born in 
Ottawa County, Ohio, Aug. 26, 1840, a son of John and Baibara 
(Auldt) Oberst, natives of Germany, who came to America at)out 
1835, and settled in Rochester, N. Y. , removing three years 
later to Ottawa County, Ohio, where the mother died in January, 
1856, and the father Sept. 12, 1877. They were members of the 
Lutheran church. Their family consisted of eight children, four of 
whom are living — Conrad; Maria, widow of Peter Bowman; Eliza- 
beth, wife of Martin H. Smith, of Washington County, Neb., and 
Christopher. Our subject remained in his native county till man- 
hood, and was there educated. He enlisted in 1861 in Company 
A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the engage" 
ments at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River and Chicka- 
raauga, where he was wounded Sypt. 20, 1863. The ball struck 
his shoulder and passed down into the right side where it still re- 
mains. He lay on the field ten days, having fallen into the hands 
of the rebels, and was then paroled and immediately sent to the 
hospital. In May, 1864, he joined his command at Chattanooga, 
and was mustered out the following November. After leaving the 
service he came to Steuben County, and bought the farm where he 
now lives. He was married Sept. 3, 1861, to Mary M. Lord, a 
daughter of Henry A. and Catherine (Flora) Lord, her father a 
native of Maine, and her mother of Richland County, Ohio. Mr. 
and Mrs. Oberst have two children — Marian A. and George A. 
Mrs. Oberst's parents moved to Steuben County in 1849, and 
located in Clear Lake Township. The father died in Eaton, Mich., 
in 1866, and the mother in November, 1884. They had a family 
of eight children, six of whom are living — Mary M., Henry A., 
John M., James A., Edwin D. and Waldon B. 

Valentine W. Bathhun one of the early settlers of Steuben 
County, Ind., was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., July 6, 1826, 
a son of Valentine W. and Roxanna (Smith) Rathbun, natives of the 
New England States, his father born in 1792 and his mother in 
1795. In 1831 his parents moved from Cayuga to Huron County, 



J^ 



590 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTV. 

Ohio, tlience in the fall of 1841 to Erie County, and in the spring 
of 181:2 to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Scott Township. 
The mother died in Scott, Aug. 28, 1858. She was a member of 
the Free-Will Baptist church and a sincere Christian. She left a 
family of eight children — Niles, Nancy L., Phidelia J., Valentine 
W., Joseph S., Roxanna P., Hannah and Charlotte. In 1859 the 
father married Isabella Hamilton, and to them were born five 
children — Mary D., Emma L., Nettie, Minnie I. and Homer R. 
Mr. Rathbun died May 16, 1876. He was a Drum Major in 
the war of 1812; in politics was a Whig and Republican. Valen- 
tine W. Rathbun, Jr., remained with his parents till manhood, 
receiving a good education for the early days. He was married 
June i, 1851, to Paulina Hardy, a native of Cayuga County, N. 
Y., born Sept. 23, 1823, a daughter of Ephraim and Annis(Coburn) 
Hardy, natives of the New England States. Mr. and Mrs. Rath- 
bun have five children — Ginevra, A., wife of Samuel Davis of York 
Township; Albert Henry, married Catherine Kinsley; Charles D., 
of Iowa; Walter M., married Harriett Merrifield; Oscar Bradley, 
died in infancy. Mr. Rathbun was in limited circumstances when 
he began life but has by his industry and good management ac- 
quired a good property. He owns 261 acres of land, 186 acres 
under cultivation, valued at $50 an acre. When the war broke 
out he was examined but was refused on account of disability. 
He was appointed recruiting officer and assisted in* raising volun- 
teers for the service. He has been Justice of the Peace sixteen 
years, and Trustee one term. In politics he is a Greenbacker, and 
his religion is as Thomas Payne's, who said "This country is my 
home, and to do good is my religion." 

David B. Teeters was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, a son of 
Wilson and Sophia (Smith) Teeters, his father a native of 
Lancaster County, Pa., and his mother of Wilkes Barre, Luzerne 
Co., Pa. His parents moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, about 
1812, and a few years later to Sandusky County, where they lived 
about twenty years. In 1854 they moved to Steuben County, Ind., 
and bought the land where our subject now lives, at that time 
partially improved. Wilson Teeters was a man of unlimited energy, 
and surrounded himself and family with all the comforts of life. 
He accumulated a large landed estate which was well improved. 
He became a prominent man in the township and served in several 
official capacities. He died in the spring of 1854 after a life of 
untiring zeal and well filled with noble deeds. His family com- 






v> 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 591 

prised ten children — Priscilla, deceased, was the wife of James E. 
McElheny; Harriet, wife of Peter Buck; Andrew J.; Lavina, wife 
of M. L. Chandler; Elisha; Catherine, deceased; John, of Nebraska; 
Mary W., wife of A. M. Styles, of Minnesota; David B. and 
Wilson. David B. passed his early lite in Sandusky County, 
Ohio, in a manner common to farmers' boys. He remained with 
.his parents caring for them in their old age and inherited the 
homestead. He was married in 1S63 to Susannah, daughter oi 
John and Sarah JBrouse) McElheny, of Wayne County, Ohio, 
who settled in Steuben County in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Teeters 
have eight children — Annetta, Rosette, Orpheus, Ada, Edith, 
Hattie, Lavina and Perla. Mr. Teeters is one of the energetic, 
public-spirited, enterprising citizens of Clear Lake Township. He 
has served his fellow townsmen as Assessor and Trustee several 
terms each, and has always performed his duties in a painstaking 
and satisfactory manner. Mrs. Teeters's parents are residents of 
Ray, Ind. They have had a family of twelve children — Thomas, 
of Williams County, Ohio; Susannah, now Mrs. Teeters; "William 
J., of Missouri; Margaret J., wife of John Shock; Walter C, of 
"Williams County, Ohio; Sabina S., deceased, wife of Charles 
Odell; John D., deceased; Maria, now Mrs. Simon Geedy; 
Ephraim, of Steuben County; Arklo W., of Missouri; Clara, wife 
of Charles Smith, and Ella, wife of Ray C. Stump. 

Elisha Teeter's is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, a son 
of Wilson and Sophia (Smith) Teeters. He remained with his 
parents till manhood, coming with them to Steuben County. He 
was an industrious young man and labored assiduously till he had 
' provided himself with a home. He is an upright, honorable citi- 
zen, and by his untiring energy and enterprise has made himself 
one of the well-to-do and influential men of the township. He 
was married in 1868 to Fidelia Oberst, daughter of John and 
Sarah (Florence) Oberst, the former a native of Germany, and the 
latter of New York. She is the eldest of a family of six children, 
tjie ot-hers being John, of Burt County, Neb.; Frank, of Steuben 
County; Olive, wife of John Briggs, of Cumming County, Neb.; 
Jennie, wife of Hal. Christy, of Dodge County, Neb., and Fred, 
of Washington County, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Teeters have had 
two children — Frank and Harrj', the former deceased. 

L. I. 0. Young^ one of the prominent farmers of Clear Lake 
Township, was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, May 6, 1837, a 
son of Charles and Nancy (Scothorn) Young, his father a native of 



{3 '■ 

^1 



9 



vK 



iL 



592 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Bedford County, Pa., born Feb. 28, 1788, and his mother of Eock- 
ingham County, Va., born Aug. 1, 1798. When young people 
they went to Ohio and were there married in 1818. They first 
settled in Pickaway County, and in 1821 moved to Sandusky 
County, where they were among the first settlers. They had a 
family of nine children eight of whom lived to have families of 
their own. Noah lives on the old homestead; Nathan is deceased; 
Rebecca, deceased, was the wife of James Hies, and died in Texas; 
Elizabeth is the wife of Mathew Hutchins, of Clyde, Ohio; Susan 
married Milton T. Brown and settled on a part of the R. H. God- 
dard farm in Scott Township, about the year 1848. They died in the 
prime of life, and with their two youngest children were buried in 
the Fremont cemetery. Their son Charles R. is a citizen of Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn. Mary married Hon. James Fowle,ot Camden, Mich., 
and both are deceased. Their son, Elcho, is a student in San Joaquin 
Valley College, California. Nancy F., wife of James Rollins, of 
California; Lewis I. C, our subject; Elsie Ann, wife of Rev. E. 
H. Curtis, died in California. Mr. Young died in Sandusky 
County, Dec. 10, 1841. Mrs. Young subsequently married Itha- 
mar Brown and moved to Steuben County, where she died March 
28, 1862. She was a member of the United Brethren church, and 
was beloved by all who knew her. L. I. C. Young received a 
liberal education, remaining on the farm with his mother till man- 
hood. April 10, 1858, he came to Steuben County, and settled on 
section 18, Clear Lake Township. He taught school in the winter 
and worked on his farm in the summer for several years. Aug. 26, 
1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, 
and was soon after detailed recruiting oflicer. The following 
spring, April 11, he joined his command at Murfreesboro, Tenn. 
He was taken sick and in May, 1863, was sent to Louisville, where 
he was in the hospital till August, when he returned home on a 
sick leave. In the early part of winter he joined his regiment at 
Bridgeport, Ala., and served till October, 1865. Since his return 
home he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He (pwns 
119 acres of valuable land, on which he has erected large and com- 
modious buildings. He has been prominently identified with all 
the material interests of the county, and has held several h^cal 
ofiices of trust. He was Justice of the Peace nine years. He has 
always taken an interest in educational matters and is a stront; 
supporter of the free-school system. Mr. Young was married Jan. 
28, 1862, to Elizabeth S. Potter, daughter of Merrit D. and Anna 






:4. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



593 



M. (Fort) Potter, the former born Sept. 15, 1810, and the latter 
May 15, 1813. Mrs. Young is the only one of three children liv- 
ing. Charity E. and Henry J. are deceased. The latter was a 
member of the Seventy-second Ohio Infantry, and died from 
exposure and cruelty in Andersonville Prison. Her mother died 
Nov. 22, 1856, and in January, 1859, her father married Margaret 
Hanselman. Their only child, Merrit G., lives in Kent County, 
Mich. Her father died Jan. 22, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Young have 
had eight children — Theressa M., born Jan. 17, 1863, died April 18, 
18T3; J. Orville, born Sept. 11, 1866, died July 29, 1867; Lulie 
E., born Sept. 26, 1868; Armina V., born Jan. 1, 1871; Ozro V., 
born Aug. 28, 1873; Eda Z., born Oct. 23, 1875; Amy P., born 
Dec. 28, 1882 died Jan. 3, 1883; Mattie G., born Jan. 28, 1884. 
Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the United Brethren church, 
of which he is a local preacher. 




^- 



r 



-S, Q .^ ^ => y>- 



CHAPTER XVI. 



YORK TOWNSHIP. 



Geogkaphical. — Descriptive. — First Land Entries and First 
Settlers. — Immigrants Prior to 1840. — First Events. — First 
Schools. — Early Religious Meetin'^s. — First Mills. — Metz. 
— Business Firms. — Statistics of Population and Agricultu- 
ral Products. — Property and Taxation. — Political. — Vote 
FOR President since 1840. — Full Vote in 1884. — Township 
Officials since 1850. — Biographical. 

York Township is situated in the eastern tier, on the Ohio line, 
and is bounded as follows : On the north by Fremont and Clear 
Lake townships; on the east by Williams County, Ohio; on the 
south by Richland and Otsego townships, and on the west by 
Scott. When first erected by the Board of Commissioners in 
November, 1837, the civil township was made to include con- 
gressional township 37 north, ranges 14 and 15 east. The follow- 
ing year two tiers of sections were taken from the west side and 
attached to Pleasant Township. In March, 1849, the township 
was divided, fractional township 37, range 15 retaining the origi- 
nal name. In March, 1850, a strip one mile in width was taken 
from Scott Township and added to York, making the township six 
miles in length by nearly three and three-fourths in width. The 
area is therefore about twenty -two square miles, or 14,500 acres. 

The surface of the land ie rolling, the soil generally a rich clay 
loam, specially adapted to grazing purposes. The land was origi- 
nally covered by a dense growth of timber, among which abounded 
black walnut, oak, white wood, cherry and other valuable timber. 
This forest wealth has been almost destroyed by the necessary 
ravages of improvement, and the reckless waste of people who 
thouglit the supply exhaustless. The township is drained chiefly 
by Fish Creek and its branches, all flowing in a southerly direc- 
tion. The northern portion is on the divide between the waters 
flowing into lakes Michigan and Erie, a small portion of the town- 

(594) 



.^~ — ^ .. ^t 



n^ 



♦- 



HI8T0KT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 596 

ship bein^ drained bj Pigeon Creek. There are no lakes in the 
township, and but a small portion of water land. 

The first entry of land was made by Kichard Peters, May 12, 
1836, being all of fractional section 4. During the same month 
Koyal B. Hix, George W. Johnson, Martin Eldridge and several 
other persons located lands in the township. The first white 
settler was Fayette Barron, who built his cabin on the site of the 
present village of Metz, in the summer of 1836. In 1837 Clark 
and Calvin Powers, who had visited the county the previous vear 
and located land, arrived, also Stephen A. and Winn Powers, 
Augustus Wood worth and Jackson Cory. From that time to 1840 
there came Jeremiah Dillingham and his sons, John Larue, Adam 
Dygert, Cowee Barns, Griswold and Alvah Phelps, Charles F. 
Hodges, George Jenks, who was a half brother of the Powers, 
Royal Hix, George W. Johnson, David K. Jones, John Croy and 
others. These pioneers and a large portion of those who followed 
in after years were from the State of New York. 

Yolney Powers, son of Stephen A. and Mary Ann Powers, was 
the first white child born in the township, Mowry Powers, son of 
William and Betsey Powers, died in 1838, which was the first 
death in the township. He was buried in what is now the Powers 
cemetery. The first marriage occurred in 1841, the contracting 
parties being Augustus W. Woodworth and Mary Johnson, Stephen 
A. Powers, Esq., ofiiciating. 

Thomas Parsons (deceased), was born near Harrisburg, Pa. in 
April, 1823. In early life he emigrated with his parents to Craw- 
ford County, Ohio, and settled near Leesville, where he was mar- 
ried Sept. 16, 1845, to Xancy M. Mc Claskey, who died Aug. 7, 
1876. In October, 1845, he emigrated to Lagrange, Ind., where 
he resided about two years. He then removed to York Township 
Steuben County, which was his home the remainder of his life. 
He died at Angola, July 9, 1880, aged fifty-seven years and three 
months. During the latter part of his life he sufiered much from a 
nervous affiiction which many times caused mental aberration, and 
WHS the cause of much anxiety to his friends and neighbors. 

Calvin Powers (deceased), one of Yorks most esteemed citizens 
was born in Ontario County, K Y., March 5, 1808. From the Em- 
pire State he came to Indiana and settled in York Township, this 
county, in the early summer of 1837. He was one of the several 
brothers who settled in that neighborhood, which has always since 
that time borne their name. His energy, industry and care- 



-v 



G 



i^ 



596 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ful matiagetnent contributed not only to his own prosperity, but to 
the welfare and advancement of the neighborhood and county in a 
marked degree. These characteristics, in connection with a very 
decided firmness, integrity and uprightness, rendered him a promi- 
nent and influential man, and gave him no inconspicuous place in 
the history of the county. The various positions of trust and re- 
sponsibility to which he was called were discharged with scrupu- 
lous regard for right and justice. He took great interest in the 
moral and educational advancements of the community, and la- 
bored with modest endeavor to forward the work of schools and 
churches. Mr. Powers is buried in the cemetery which bears his 
name, and near the place where he began life as a pioneer of the 
county, and where he passed so many years of an industrious life. 
He was twice married, his second wife surviving him. He also 
left six children — three sons and three daughters. 

Joseph W. Thomas (deceased) was born in Bucks County, Pa. , 
in 1823, and moved with his parents, Moses and Prudence Thomas, 
to Crawford County, Ohio, in 1835, and five years later to Will- 
iams County, in the northwest corner of the Buckeye State. He 
was the second of a family of eleven children. His early years 
were attended with the usual hardships known only to the 
pioneer, and developed in him a vigorous manhood. He settled 
in York Township, this county, soon after 1840, and during the 
first year of his residence here taught school with flattering suc- 
cess. He held various offices in his community, and satisfactorily 
discharged the duties of all. He died June 7, 1882, after a severe 
illness of months. 

A REMINISCENCE OF PIONEER DAYS. 
BY ANDREW CEOY. 

John Croy, his son Andrew, and Elmus Barron, being of rather 
reckless dispositions, resolved to go on a hunting expedition. This 
was in the year 1841, and at that time the forests abounded with 
wild animals, such as bears, wolves, wildcats, etc. Being packed 
for the chase with blankets, provisions, dog and guns, these three 
men started out for near Mud Lake, J^orth West Township, Will- 
iams Co., Ohio, and after experiencing much difficulty, they 
finally reached the land of their hopes. After erecting their camp 
as quickly as possible, to protect them from the rain, Croy and 
Barron thought they would steal out that afternoon, and perchance 
capture a bruin, leaving Andrew to keep camp and get supper 



^"^ 






'^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN OOtTNTT. 



597 



ready. It being dark and rainy, they lost their way, and Andrew- 
fearing that such must be the case, used his lungs with all power 
and energy, pounded on old trees, and felled a large tree, hoping 
thereby, to guide thera back, but all to no effect. When the wan- 
derers found that they were lost theyasked themselves, " What 
shall we do to be saved,'' and the answer was "fix shelter for the 
night, without supper, and make a life struggle in the morning for 
it." At night, while meditating over the past, devising some plan 
to retrace their wanderings, they thought to escape by following 
their back tracks, which they did some time the next afternoon, by 
the ground and leaves being so wet and soft. But lo! on reaching 
their camp, Andrew, dog, provisions and blankets were gone. An- 
drew, after staying there till the following day, had given up all 
hope of their return and started for home, arriving there a little before 
night had set in, Croy and Barron soon after reached home, having 
had nothing to eat except a squirrel since leaving camp. They 
came to the conclusion that civilization was not so bad after all. 



AN INCIDENT OF EARLY TIMES. 



BY ELMUS BARRON. 



David K. Jones, one of the noted pioneers of York Township, 
came with his mother from New Hampshire in the spring of 1835, 
and settled on the banks of Wall Lake, west of Orland, in what was 
known in those days as the Vermont settlement. In 1836 he en- 
tered land in York and Richland for himself, his mother, and other 
parties. In the spring of 1838 he and his mother settled on the 
south half of the northeast quarter of section 32, and in 1840 built 
themselves a cabin. When Jones was living on section 32, wild 
animals abounded in the forests, and he experienced much trouble 
with bears trying to steal his pigs, and Mr. Jones not being much 
of a hunter, was generally unprepared for their night attacks. One 
night Bruin made his way to the pig-pen of Mr. Jones, which was 
about three rods from the cabin, when after securing his prey he 
started for the woods with the pig in his arms. The pig's cries 
soon brought Mr. Jones out of his bed, and grabbing the poker, he 
started for the chase. The bear, after going about six rods from 
the pen, came to a brush fence which bothered him to get over with 
his burden-, and at this place Mr. Jones came up to him and struck 
a blow, which, owing to tiie darkness and excitement, missed the 
bear and struck the pig. After following close to the bear's heels 

for about forty rods, lie came to a creek, anl Mr. Jones not caring 

38 



;p7^ 



^i:^': 



tk^ 



598 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to go farther over brush fences and through nettles three feet 
high made his way back as best he could. The next day several 
of the neighbors went out to hunt the bear. They found the re- 
main? of the pig a short distance from where Mr. Jones had left 
them the night before, but the bear was not to be found- 

FIEST EVENTS. 

The first school was taught in the winter of 1838, by Winn Pow- 
ers, in a log cabin located near where the Powers school-house was 
afterward built. This was the only school in the township until 
1844, when a frame house was erected on the land of Stephen A. 
Powers near the center of the township. This house was long 
known as the York school-house. Stephen A. Powers taught the 
first school here. The same year a rough log school-house was 
erected near Hathaway's corners, in which Martin Eldredge com- 
menced teaching, but after two weeks the school was discontinued, 
not through any fault of the teacher, but for want of scholars, the 
entire enumeration of the district not exceeding ten children. 

About the year 1840, the Methodists organized a class near the 
center of the township. They met in private houses, and later in 
the school-houses. They were occasionally cheered and revived by 
visits from the circuit preachers. In 1850 a church was fully or- 
ganized at Hathaway's corners, the membership of which became 
quite numerous, and in 1853 they erected a meeting-house at that 
point, which is still standing. Very early in the history of the 
county the Free-Will Baptists had an organization, and met for 
worship at the houses of Adam Dygert, Cowee Barns, and at other 
places. Their ministers were Elder J. H. Miner, Silas Ileadley 
and occasionally others. In 1842, a few Disciples, who had re- 
cently emigrated from Bedford, Ohio, organized a church of which 
Burdett B. Goodale was made pastor. This formed the nucleus 
for the present flourishing church at Metz, which now numbers 
about 150 members, and has a pleasant and commodious house of 
worship. Through the efforts of the Powers family a free church 
building was erected a few years since on section 2i^, on land do- 
nated by Clark Powers. It was called by its founders the Free 
church, but is now and probably will always be called the Powers 
church. 

Stephen A. Powers was the first Justice of the Peace. Peter 
Klock was the first blacksmith. A grist-mill was built in 1844, 
on Fish Creek, by Andrew Ferrier. This mill was built of hewn 



-i 



^ 



A^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 599 

logs; the bolt for some time was turned by hand, the elevator was 
a tin pail, and all the appliances were extremely cheap and rude. 
It was long known as the Pepper Mill, and it was facetiously said 
that it cracked two grains of corn into three pieces. In 1845 Clark 
Powers built a saw-mill on Fish Creek, on section 19, and in 1846 
George Peters built a steam saw-mill on section 4. Both tliese 
mills were burned many years ago. The first frame house was 
built by Bel a Dillingham on section 30. It is still in use as a part 
of Myron Powers' horse-barn. The first frame barn was built by 
Griswold Phelps on section 17. 

METZ. 

The village plat of Metz covers portions of sections 5 and 6 of 
Richland Township, and of sections 31 and 32 of York. The first 
settler of this village was Fayette Barron, who came here in the 
fall of 1836. His home was made in the limits of York Town- 
ship, being the pioneer settler of that township. This was 
years before any thought of a village here was entertained. 
The next settler was Joseph Bennett. One half a mile south a 
store was started in 1841 by Henry Letcher. 

The first mill in this vicinity was a primitive log structure about 
twenty feet square, built in 1844, by David Ferrier. The rude 
mill contained one rudely made set of stones; the bolting was 
done by hand. It was generally called "The Pepper Mill," and 
was one mile east of Metz. It was operated twelve years or 
more. A steam flouring mill owned by Shafi'er & Shenhour, now 
stands near its site. 

The first goods in Metz were opened by Justice Barron in 1851, 
who was in trade about three years, when he sold to Oscar Swift. 
The first blacksmith was Joel Wilson, who opened a shop in 1851. 
The first .hotel was opened on the present hotel site in 1851, by 
Dr. E. Pattee who was a resident physician of Metz. In 1854 
Edward Sargeant opened a hotel on the site now occupied by the 
residence of Dr. Wood. 

The postoffice was established in 1850, and named Metz by re- 
quest of Adam Simon, who was instrumental in securing a mail 
route from Toledo to Lagrange Centre. Joseph Bennett was the 
first Postmaster. Nathaniel Petitt started a wagon shop in 1854. 
The plat of the York side of Metz was made in 1855, Jerry Graves, 
E. L. & J.Barron proprietors. The plat of the Richland side was 



.^ 



•*xt3L 



A- 



600 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

made a little later bj W. W. Ferrier. James Shepard succeeded 
Wm. Swift in trade. 

The schools of Metz are in flourishing condition, for which the 
vilL-ige deserves great credit; in efHciency and in work accomplished 
will compare favorably with any village in the county. 

Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 239, I. O. O. F., was instituted^May 15, 
1S65, by P. L. Huffman, Deputy Grand Master, assisted by Dis- 
trict Deputy W. I. Howard. The charter members were H. D. 
Wood, J. O. Eose, W. A. Wood, S. M. LaRue and C. P. Powers. 
The present membership in good standing is thirty. The leading 
officers are: J. N. Snyder, N. G. ; Ford Norris, V. G.; J. F. 
Mus-er, Sec. ; J. W. Williams, Treas. ; G. W. Powers, D. D. 

The business firms of the village are: J. W. Goodale, furniture 
and undertaking; Goodale & Stevens, dry -goods; Culver & 
Norris, dry-goods; C. S. Myers & Co., drugs; JBowsier & Porter, 
hardware; Samuel D. Porter, postoffice; Caleb Kakeotraw, hotel; 
Job Williams, blacksmith; William Austin, blacksmith; Alonzo 
Williams, blacksmith; B. JBurch, wagon and repair shop; J. B. 
Shaffer, flouring mill; William Keek, saw-mill; Henry liapp, 
shoemaker; El. Barron, gunsmith; Mrs. Culver, millinery. The 
physicians are: Drs. F. F. Wood, C. W. Goodale, E. F. Staufler 
and H. M. Byall. 

The population of the township was in 1870, 857; and in 1880, 
I 099 — an increase of 242. This indicates a population of fifty per 
square mile. 

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year 

1880: Acres ot wheat sown, 1,543; average yield per acre, 17 

bushels; total crop, 26,231; acres of corn, 1,253; average yield, 
upland, 32 busliels per acre; bottom, 30 bushels per acre; total 
crop, 39,736 bushels; acres of oats, 571; average yield per acre, 
29 bushels; total yield, 16,559 bushels; acres of meadow, 857; 
average yield of hay, one and a half tons; total crop, r,285 ton&; 
acres of potatoes, 103; average yield per acre, 581 bushels; total 
yield, 5,974 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 14,476.90; 
value of same, $143,445; value of improvements, $36,715; value uf 
personal pro])erty, $47,170; total valuation, $227,330; number of 
polls, 164; number of dogs, 77; total taxes levied, $4,757.94. As 
property is assessed on a basis of one-third, this would indicate a 
total wealth of $681,990. 

Politically, the townahip lias been Republican since the orgaiii- 









i^ 



(8 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



601 



zation of that party; before that it was Democratic in all presi- 
dential years except 1S48, when the Whig ticket carried by sixteen 
Votes. Following is the vote cast at each presidential election: 



1840— Martin Van Buren 8 2 

Wiliiana H. Harrison 6 

1844— James K. Polk 34 5 

Henrv Clay 29 

Jamts G. Birney 1 

1848— Zachary T^.ylor 40 16 

Lewis Cfiss 24 

Mar in Van Buren 23 

1852— Franklin Pierce 42 6 

Winfield Scott 36 

John P. Hale 8 

1856— John C. Fremont 108 66 

James Buchanan 42 

Millard Fillmore 3 

1860— Abraham Lincoln 125 98 

Stephen A. Douglas 27 



1864— Abraham Linco'n 128 

George B. McClellan. . .66 

1868— Ulysses S. Grant 139 

Horatio Sevmour 66 

1872— Ulysses S. Grant 140 

Horace Greeley 34 

1876— Rutherford B.Hayes. .173 

Samuel J. Tiklen 46 

Peter Ci'oper 17 

1880-James A Garfield . . .171 
Winfield S. Hancock. . .66 
James B. Weaver 9 

1884- James G. Blaine 174 

Gruver Cleveland 51 

John P. St. John 12 

Benjamin F. Butler 4 



62 

73 

106 

127 



105 



123 



The vote in 1884 on State and county officers was as follows: 



Governor. 

William H. Calkins 174 123 

Isaac P. Gray, 51 

Hiram Z. Leonard 12 

Robert S. Dwiggins 4 

Congressman. 

Theron P. Keator 173 122 

Robert Lowr^ 51 

Jesse M. Gale 12 

George F. Hart^uck 4 

Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson 171 114 

Frank M. Powers 57 

Senator. 

Nicholas Ensley 174 119 

Lafayette J. Miller 55 

Representative. 

DoakR.Best 174 108 

William W. Wyrick 66 



Commissioners. 

Herman C. Shutts 174 123 

Adam Failing 51 

Thomas McClue 16 

Daniel P. Rummel 177 128 

Alva Carpenter 49 

John Dygert 15 

John M. Sewell 51 51 

Sheriff. 

Allen FAst 176 126 

Charlfs Squires 50 

Thomas R. Moffett 16 

Treasurer. 

Clay Lemmon 174 123 

Edwin jMckson 51 

Martin V. Garn 16 

Surveyor. 

Robert G. Morley 171 105 

Moses J. Parsell 66 

Coroner. 

T. Ray Morrison 174 107 

Edward B. Simmons 67 



The following names are of those elected to till the different 
township offices since 1850, and the years given are those in which 
they were respectively chosen: 

Assessors — 1850, John Woodward; 1851, Alonzo Dunham; 1852, 
John Woodward; 1854, Burdett B. Goodale; 1856, Francis Macart- 
ney; 1858, same; 1860, H. P. Hathaway; 1862, T. J. Warner; 1864, 
D. C. Hanselman; 1866, D. H. Hanselman; 1868, Henry Eldridge; 
1870, John B. Knisely; 1872, Berton Hubbell; 1874,' David B. 



^r^ 



^s. 






60^ HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. ■ 

Teeters; 1878, Sylvester M. LaRue; 1880, same; 1882, T. J. Wad- 
dington; 1884, William Ellis. 

Justices of the Peace — 1850, Martin Eldridge; 1852, Jacob O. 
Rose; 1853, John Woodward; 1855, Henry Eldridge; 1856, Joseph 
W. Thomas; 1859, Henry Eldridge; 1860, Joseph W. Thomas; 
1862; GainBurk; 1864, Joseph W. Thomas and William P. Weiss; 

1868, Joseph W. Thomas and Henry P. Hathaway; 1870, Henry 
Hathaway and Sylvester Gilbert; 1872, William R. Mitchell; 1874, 
George Sender; 1876, Harvey D. Ellis and James Hight; 1880, 
John Musser and Larry Gnndrum; 1884, Benton Dnnavan and 
George W. Powers. 

Constables— l^ft^^ James Sloan and Gain Bark; 1860, Gain 
Burk and Sheldon Daniels; 1861, Sheldon Daniels and S. M. LaRue; 
1862, Park. Hathaway and Henry Brooks; 1863, Park. Hathaway 
and Samuel B. Kelso; 1864, Samuel B. Kelso and J. O. Rose; 
1865, G. L. Stevens and Jackson Alguire; 1866, Samuel Kelso and 
Jeremiah Dillingham; 1868, William Reid and J. H. Handy; 

1869, J. J. Shatto and J. H. Handy; 1870, Henry Hawver and 
John H. Handy; 1872, A. N. Parish and John H. Handy; 1874, 
Garrett Gaskill and Martin H. Smith; 1878, John F. Musser and 
John Henry; 1880, Joseph McGrew and William Davis; 1882, 
Tracey Yaughan and Charles Hubbell; 1884, Tracey Vaughan and 
A. C. Demont. 

Trustees — 1859, Jacob McClasky; 1860, same; 1861, Alonzo 
Dunham; 1862, Jacob O. Rose; 1863, Henry P. Hathaway; 1864, 
same; 1865, Jacob O. Rose; 1866, G. B. Hubbell; 1867, same; 
1868; D. C. Hanselman; 1869, Myron Powers; 1870, William 
WicofF; 1872, same; 1874, Myron Powers; 1878, same; 1880, 
William WicofF; 1882, M. F. Rose; 1884, Daniel P. Rummel. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Elmus L. Barron, son of Fayette and Arvilla Barron, was born 
Feb. 14, 1823. He came to this State with his parents at an early 
date, and remained with them till their death. He was married 
Dec. 17, 1845, to Roxana A., daughter of David and Emily (Good- 
ale) Benjamin, and to them were born four children— Alsin us, a 
minister of Metz; Fayette, Mrs. Evelyn Allman and Ashley. Mr. 
Barron is by occupation a farmer and gunsmith, and makes his 
residence in the village of Metz. He in early years delighted in 
the chase,and has killed over 500 deer in this vicinity. He yet en- 
joys life to its fullest extent. He is a Democrat in politics. Mrs, 




\ 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 603 

Barron's parents came to this county in 1843 with their three 
dauo;hters — Roxanna A., wife of our subject; Clarinda, who mar- 
ried Daniel Rummel, and died in 1878, in her forty-eighth year; 
and Melvina, wife of Nathaniel Petitt. Mr. Goodale died Aug. IT, 
1833, in his thirty-fourth year. His wife died in her fiftieth year, 
Jan. 17, 1865. 

Fayette Barron, one of the pioneers of York Township, was 
born in Grafton County, N. H., Aug. 10, 1794. April 9, 1816, he 
married Ar villa Bradford, who was born in Vermont, March 26, 
1792, the youngest of eleven children of Major Bradford, a hero of 
the Revolution. In the summer of 1832 they moved to Sandusky 
County, Ohio, and in April, 1836, came to Steuben County, and 
stopped at the Vermont settlement, now the town of Orland, 
through the summer, and in November came to York Township, 
The Indians were their neighbors when they tirst came to the 
county, and it was nine months before Mrs. Barron saw a white 
woman. Mr. Barron entered 160 acres of land on section 32, York 
Township, on which is now located a part of the village of Metz, 
This land he began to clear and was rapidly converting it into a 
farm when he was called from this life to the one beyond, April 9, 
1840, aged forty-six years. Mrs. Barron died Aug. 11, 1866. They 
were members of the Baptist church. Their children were four in 
number — Roswell died in 1842, in his twenty-fourth year; Elmus 
L., of Metz; Justus, of Toledo, Ohio; Ar villa, died in 1873, aged 
forty-four years. She was the wife of De Witt Goodale of this 
county. 

Harmon Boyer was born in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1827. 
When in his tenth year his parents, John and Sarah Boyer, moved 
to De Kalb County, Ind., and in February of the following year to 
Otsego Township, of this county, where his father entered 160 acres 
of land and made a farm. He was one of the pioneers of that town- 
ship. Five children were born in Ohio, and one in Steuben 
County — David, of Minn.; Harmon, our subject; Mary Ann 
(deceased), wife of Heman Trowbridge; Margaret, died aged eight- 
een years; Mrs. Louisa Mayhood, of Fremont; Martha Ann (de- 
ceased), wife of John Mayhood. John Boyer died May 3, 1861, aged 
sixty-one years, and his widow, Sarah Boyer, March 11, 1864, aged 
sixty-three years. Harmon Boyer lived with his parents until be 
was past twenty-three years of age. He was married Sept. 5, 1852, 
to Diantha Gaskell, daughter of George and Theodosia Gaskell, 
early settlers of York Township, coming from New York in 1839. 



~ 



■» i - - — 1 ^ » 

604 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Her father died Oct. 10, 1870, aged sixty-three years, and her 
mother Nov. 17, 1884, aged seventy-five years. Mr. Boyer has 
always followed farming. He commenced married life in Otsego 
Township, and moved to York in the spring of 1864, and located on 
the farm of sixty acres, which he now owns on section 21. Mr. 
and Mrs. Boyer have six children — Plin Y.; Marcus D. ; Mrs. Sa- 
rah Eggleston of Jackson County, Mich.; Mrs. Theodosia Foster, of 
Williams County, Ohio; Adam and Lamora, Adam was married 
Feb. 25, 1885, to Florilla Moss, daughter of Raphel and Louisa Moss, 
uf Williams County, Ohio. In politics Mr. Boyer is a Republi- 
can, and in religion, is a member of the Disciples church. 

William Brooks, a representative of one of the pioneer families 
of Steuben County, was born in Derbyshire, England, April 8, 
1822, a son of George and Elizabeth Brooks. He was eight years 
of age when his parents came to the United States and settled in 
Ontario County, N. Y., and fourteen when they removed to Steuben 
County, and since that time he has been identified with York Town- 
ship and has witnessed its growth from a wilderness to its present 
condition of prosperity and thrift. He has been successful in his 
pursuits and has a fine farm of 133 acres on section 36, which was 
the old homestead of his father. He was married May 31, 1848, to 
Mary Richmond, a native of Wayne County, K. Y., born Dec. 24, 
1824, daughter of Isaac S. and Sarah Richmond. When she was a 
child her parents moved to Ontario County, N. Y. , and thence in 
October, 1841, to Steuben County, Ind., locating in York Town- 
ship. Their eldest son, Lysander, preceded them by two years, 
and died here in 1855. Seven children accompanied the parents to 
tlieir new home — George, (deceased); Mrs. Maria Butler, of Scott 
Township; Mrs. Brooks; Mrs. Diana Croy, of Metz; Mrs. Orpha 
Jackman, also of Metz; Mrs. Jennette Wolcott, of York Townshi]», 
and Charles P., of Scott Township. They settled on section 25 
of York Township, entering 160 acres of land. The mother died 
Oct. 18, 1864, aged seventy-three years, and the father May 6, 1874, 
lacking only eleven days of eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks 
have had five children, but three of whom are living — Frank E., 
Luretta, wife of Alonzo Kellogg, and Sarah E. Lorenzo died at 
the age of five years and Lurana aged two years. In politics Mr. 
Brooks is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

Orri7i A. Court was born in Marion County, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1833, 
a son of George and Fanny Court, early settlers of that county, lo- 



c 



\ 



Ql. 



lW 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



605 



eating there in 1825. He was reared a farmer remaining with his 
parents till manhood. He was married March 4, 1858, to Mary 
Brinker, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born March 12, 1838. 
Her parents moved to Marion County whenshe was a child, and there 
her mother died and her father still lives. In 1866 they left Marion 
County and became identified with the interests of Steuben County, 
baying a farm in Salem Township, where they lived till September, 
1873, when they bought the farm of ninety-five acres on section 8, 
York Township, where they now live. They have won many friends 
since coming to this county, and are among the most prominent 
citizens of the township. They are members of the Disciple's 
church and strict adherents to its tenets. In politics he is a radical 
Prohibitionist. To them have been born ten children — Fanny, 
Emma (died when sixteen years of age), John, Mary, Martha, Alma, 
George, William, Isora, and Curtis. 

Chester Dunham was born July 17, 1810, in Frankfort, Herki- 
mer Co., N". Y., a son of John andElizabeth Dunham. His parents 
moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1818, where his father died with can- 
cer, aged sixty-three years, and his mother died in her eighty- 
seventh year. Our subject was married July 17, 1844, to 
Miss Amanda Harper, a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, born 
March 9, 1821. She died April 5, 1884. Mr. Dunham lived in 
Cuyahoga County till 1866, his children being born in that county. 
Their names are — Delilah, who has been an invalid since ten years 
of age, Emily and Sarah, all living at home, and John Henry, 
Franklin S. and Martin L., residents of this township. Mr. Dun- 
ham has operated a cheese factory in the past successfully, and 
was also in the dairy business before coming to this county. He 
brought considerable capital with him, which he has increased. 
His present home is on section 30, this township, where he has a 
fine farm containing 160 acres. He pays great attention to stock 
raising, having one of the finest stock farms in Steuben County. 
He is one of the most active men to be found in the county, and al- 
though in his seven tj'-sixth year he attends to his large amount of 
stock, and does all the work except in the seasons of growing and 
gathering the crops. 

Lorenzo Dunham was born in Bedford Township, Cuyahoga 
Co., Ohio, May 29, 1833, a son of John and Elizabeth Dunham, 
early settlers of Cuyahoga County, from Herkimer County, N. Y. 
He is the youngest of ten children; all save the eldest, Ambrose, 
are living, three being residents of Steuben County, viz.: Chester, 






■V 



J. 



(0 



B06 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Alonzo and Lorenzo. March 14, 1860, Mr. Dunham was married 
to Sarah Ann Riddles, a native of London, England, born Sept. 17, 
1839. When she was five years of age her parents, William and 
Ann Riddles, came to the United States and settled in Cleveland, 
Ohio, where her mother died in 1848. Her father is living at 
Berea. Of a family of six children Mrs. Dunham is the only one 
living. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham have had five children — Theodore, 
born in Ohio, married and resides in this township; James, also 
born in Ohio; Florence, died October, 1878, aged eight years; Roze- 
nar and Olive. In February, 1864, Mr. Dunham became identified 
with Steuben County, locating on section 25, York Township, where 
they lived till 1879, when he bought his present home on section 
29. He owns 140 acres in the homestead and 160 acres on section 
25. After coming to Steuben County he engaged in buying and 
shipping live-stock to Eastern markets, Cleveland, Bufi'alo and 
Pittsburg being the principal points. He was in limited circum- 
stances when he came to the county, but by his strict business in- 
tegrity and capability, added to his attention to his business, he 
has been successful and has now a good property. In politics he 
is a Republican, and takes an interest in all the prominent issues 
of the day though no aspirant for official honors. 

Joseph C. Elliott was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., June 
20, 1822, a son of Samuel W. and Sally Elliott. In the spring of 
1840 he came to Steuben County, Ind., with his brother Samuel 
H., and located land in York Township. He was a single man 
and made his brother's house his home. He worked at whatever 
he could do the best, and was often employed in Hillsdale County, 
Mich., where he became acquainted with Sarah Garrett, to whom 
he was married Dec. 18, 1854. She was born in the State of Penn- 
sylvania, Dec. 20, 1831, a daughter of Jacob and Christine Garrett, 
natives of the same State. Her father died in Sandusky County, 
Ohio, and her mother in Branch County, Mich. After their mar- 
riage they lived in Hillsdale County three years and then moved 
to Steuben County and settled on section 6, York Township, where 
they have since lived. Their farm contains 120 acres of land, six- 
ty-five of which are under cultivation, and their residence and faim 
buildings are comfortable and commodious. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Elliott have been born five children — Josephine, wife of Francis G. 
Story; Janette, died in the nineteenth year of her age; Francis F., 
married to May Odell, May 9, 1885; John H. and Jessie are at 
home. Mr. Elliott is a member of Northeastern Lodge, No. 



"71 C5- 



<a \' 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 607 

210, F. & A. M., of Fremont. In politics he is a Democrat. 
Samuel R. Elliott, one of the earlj settlers of York Township, 
came to Steuben County in company with his brother, Joseph C, in 
the spring of 1840, from Huron County, Ohio. They cleared five 
acres and in the fall seeded it to wheat. The location made at that 
time by Samuel Elliott he still owns and occupies, on section 13. 
He was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1818, a son 
of Samuel W. and Sally Elliott, who moved to Monroe County, N. 
Y., where the father died about 1830. In 1831 the mother and her 
children moved to Lorain County, Ohio. She subsequently mar- 
ried Clark Winans and moved to Huron County. She died at the 
residence of her son Joseph, in this township, in 1865. Her family 
comprised ten children — Chauncy S., Horace B., Mrs. Hannah 
McClellan, Mrs, Amanda Austin, Mrs. Mary Yosburg, Samuel H., 
Mrs. Mary E. Sage, Joseph C, William and John H. Chauncy S., 
Horace B., Mrs. Yosburg and William are deceased. Mrs. Mc- 
Clellan is living in Kansas, the others are residents of this county. 
Jan. 1, 1846, our subject was married to Mrs. Jane Edwards, 
widow of John Edwards and daughter of Robert and Mary Srailley. 
She was born in Holmes County, Ohio, March 18, 1821. She had 
one son, Danford G. Edwards, born Jan. 30, 1842. He was a fine, 
intelligent young man, and was one of the many brave boys who 
gave their lives for their country. Having enlisted twice and been 
prevented from going by sickness, he enlisted the third time in 
Company K, Seventh Indiana Cavalry, and was killed in Weakley 
County, Tenn., Dec. 29, 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have been 
born four children — John H., who was born Nov. 26, 1846, was a 
gallant soldier serving over three years as a member of Company 
E, Seventh Indiana Cavalry. He was married Nov. 27, 1873, to 
Matilda Call, and died at his parents' home Jan. 15, 1881, aged 
thirty-four years, leaving three children — Ada B., Maggie J., and 
Berton H. Robert died in infancy. Emma C, born Dec. 9, 
1850, was married June 26, 1870, to H. J. Wilson, and with her 
husband and only child, Jennie J., resides on the old homestead 
with her father. Frances M., born May 27, 1860, married John 
Clark Sept. 2, 1874, and in 1877 went with him to Arkansas, where 
he died July 15, 1880, of yellow fever, aged thirty-two years. She 
with her only child, John, born Feb. 23, 1881, now lives with her 
parents. Oct. 10, 1861, Mr. Elliott enlisted in Company K/Forty- 
fourth Indiana Infantry. The first of his service was as hospital 
steward. He was in the ranks at Perryville and Stone River, and 






V 



^: 



(0 



608 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

at the latter battle was disabled and sent to the hospital, and sub- 
sequently was discharged for disability. In 1870 he moved to 
A.ntrim County, Mich., and built the first house in Mancelona 
Township. He was Township Treasurer and Justice of the Peace 
four years while there, but being unwilling to await the develop- 
ments of another new country he returned to his home in this 
township in 1876. He is one of the tried and trusted tnen of the 
township, and is at present serving as Supervisor. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics. He and his family are all members of the Disciples 
church. He is a member of Fremont Lodge, No. 210, F. & A. M., 
and of Kilpatrick Post, No. 46, G. A. R. 

Harvey D. Ellis, senior member of the firm of Ellis & Son, 
general merchants, York Center, Ind., was born in Montgomery 
County, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1829, the only child of Moses and Ma- 
rinda (Davis) Ellis. When he was about five years of age his 
parents moved to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and thence to Erie 
County, Pa., and in 1857 came to Steuben County and settled in 
Y^ork Township where they both died several years ago. They 
were members of the Baptist church and conscientious . and de- 
voted Christians. Harvey D. Ellis was married in Cattaraugus 
County, N. Y., to Emily Card, a native of Rhode Island. To 
them have been born four children — Dora, wife of Enoch Davis; 
Egbert, of this township; William H., partner of his father, mar- 
ried Ethie Plumly, and has one child, Vera; and Permelia, wife 
of Louis Southworth. Mr. Ellis owns a residence property of 
thirty-four acres of land and also the store and fixtures where he 
is doing business. The genial and accommodating manners of the 
proprietors have built for them a large and and constantly increas- 
ing trade. They also buy and ship produce which in itself is a 
good business. Mr. Ellis is Postmaster at York Center. 

John Ferrier was born in Hancock County, Ohio, Aug. 5, 1830. 
His parents, David and Susannah Ferrier, were natives of Ohio. 
In 1837 they moved from Hancock to Williams County, and from 
there in 1864 to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Richland 
Township, where the father died June 27, of the same year, aged 
fifty -four years. The mother died April 23, 1882, aged eighty-one 
years. Their family consisted of eight children, six born in Han- 
cock County and two in Williams County, Ohio — William, of 
Angola,; George, a member of a Massachusetts cavalry regiment 
in the war of the Rebellion, was killed Feb. 22, 1864, by one of 
Mosby's cavalry; Mrs. Mary Reed, of Richland Township; John, 



Is 



^k* 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 609 

our subject; Andrew, of De Kalb County; David and Jacob, of 
Kansas; and Mrs. Martha Wisner, deceased. Our subject's grand- 
father, Andrew Ferrier, was a native of Ireland and came to this 
country when young. He married his wife, Catherine Ferrier, in 
her native State, Pennsylvania, and in 1844 they settled in this 
township, Cuming here from Williams County, Ohio. He built the 
tirst mill on Fish Creek in York Township. John Ferrier re- 
mained at home till 1852 when he went overland to California, 
reaching his destination July 12. He remained there engaged in 
mining and farming five years and Feb. 28, 1857, returned to Steu- 
ben County. May 3 of the same year he was married to Mary 
Richardson, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Feb. 11 
1839, daughter of Isaac and Rachel Richardson, who moved to 
Williams County in 1853, and in 1856 came to this township, where 
they still live. To Mr. and Mrs. Ferrier have been born fourteen 
children, twelve of whom are living — Edwin E., Mrs. Francis Bell 
Lechliedner, Mrs. Rachel Robinett, Stephen, Herbert and Hattie 
(twins), James, Susan, Elizabeth, Sylvia, George and John. The 
eldest, Norman H., and one other died in infancy. In politics 
Mr. Ferrier is a Republican. He and his wife and seven of their 
children are members of the United Brethren church. He owns a 
tine farm of 170 acres on sections 32 and 33, his residence beino- 
on section 32. 

Leverett Frosty son of Solomon and Adeline (Davis) Frost, was 
born in Cattaraugus County, X. Y., Aug. 24, 1840. He remained 
with his parents till manhood, and was reared by them to agri- 
cultural pursuits. He is a natural mechanic and understands the 
use of all kinds of tools. He now lives on the old homestead of 
his parents and has charge of the farm. He was married Oct. 12 
1862, to Alzina Rathbun, a native of Scott Township, born Dec. 
21, 1845, Her father was killed by a falling tree in her child- 
hood. Her mother died in August, 1863. Her brothers and sis- 
ters were cared for by her till they grew to man and womanhood. 
Mr. and Mrs. Frost have had three children — Ethel died in Sep- 
tember, 1882, in Nebraska, aged twenty years. She was the wife 
•of J. H. Boor. Sonorah is the widow of Willis M. Wicoff, who 
died Feb. 11, 1885. Zeron lives with his parents. In politics Mr. 
Frost is a Republican. 

Solomon Frost was born in Broome County, N. Y., Aug. 10 
1818. His parents, Curtis and Cordelia (Bierce) Frost, moved to 
Oneida County, and thence to Cortland County in 1823 and there 



\ 



\ 



v^ 



610 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTy. 



he lived with them till 1835 when they moved to Huron County, 
Ohio. He remained in New York and went to Cattaraugus 
County and learned the trades of a carpenter, millwright, tanner 
and currier, serving an apprenticeship at each. In 1843 he went 
to Huron County and worked at the carpenter and millwright 
trades till 1854 and in April of the latter year became identified 
with Steuben County, buying eighty acres of land on section 6, 
York Township, which has since been his home. He worked at 
his trade till 1870, three years of the time at Kendallville, and 
while there rented his farm to his sons. He was married in Cat- 
taraugus County, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1838, to Adeline Davis, a native 
of Saratoga County, N. Y., born April 13, 1818. To them have 
been born three children — Lydia, widow of William J. Taylor, of 
Fremont Township; Leverett, on the homestead; and Jerome B., 
of Hillsdale County, Mich. Jerome enlisted in the defense of the 
Union in February, 1863, in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth Indiana Infantry, and participated in ten engagement'f'. He 
reached home Sept. 25, 1865, having done valiant service for his 
country. His health was impaired and he has never been as robust 
as before his enlistment. Mr. Frost in politics is a Republican. 
He has always been a strong temperance man never even using to- 
bacco, and has been a member of the Washingtonian Society over 
fifty years. 

William S. Gilbert, one of the enterprising, practical citizens 
of York Township, resides on section 31. His home farm con- 
tains 155 acres and he also owns sixty -four acres on section 1, 
Otsego Township. He was born in Portage County, Ohio, Sept. 
22, 1836, and was fifteen years of age when his parents, John and 
Mary Gilbert, came to this county. He was married Sept. 27, 
1862, to Harriet Case, a native of this county, born Oct. 19, 1842, 
daughter of Firman and Permelia Case. They have given 
special attention to the education of their three children — Clar- 
ence, Dora and Hugh, the two eldest of whom are teachers and 
the youngest now in training for the same profession. In politics 
Mr. Gilbert is a Republican. He is a prominent member of the 
Masonic fraternity — Angola Lodge, No. 236; Angola Chapter, No. 
5S; Angola Council, No. 27; and K. T, Commandery, No. 19, of 
Kendallville. Mrs. Gilbert and her daughter are members of the 
Disciples church. 

Larry Oundrum was born in Berks County, Pa., May 26, 1825. 
When he was six years of age his parents, John and Charlotte 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 611 

Gnndrum, moved to Crawford Count}', Ohio, where they passed the 
remainder of their days. When sixteen years of age he left home 
and from that time depended on himself for a livelihood. He was 
married in Dauphin County, Pa., May 26, 1847, to Lovina Beam, 
a native of tliat county, born Feb. 29, 1828. A year after their 
marriage they moved to Crawford County, Ohio, and there he 
worked at the shoemaker's trade, which he had learned in his youth. 
In August, 1852, they moved to Steuben County and settled on 
section 18, York Township, on 100 acres purchased the year be- 
fore. This farm Mr. Gundrum has improved and it is now one of 
the most valuable in the township. In addition to this he owns 
seventy acres a half a mile from his residence. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gundrum have had a family of six children, five sons and one 
daughter — Alonzo R., died when two years of age; William C. on 
the homestead; John H., of Williams County, Ohio; Theodore C. 
of Johnson County, Mo.; Mary Bell, wife of Cassius M. Thomas 
of this township, and Thomas Edgar, at home. Mr. Gundrum is 
politically a Republican. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

Michael Gundrum was born in Dauphin County, Pa., May 22 
1827, a son of John W. and Charlotte Gundrum, and brother of 
Larry Gundrum, of this township. He came to this township with 
his brother Larry, in August, 1852, and with him bought 180 acres 
of land, each paying $50. Mr. Gundrum cleared a small tract and 
erected a log cabin in which his brother Larry lived the following 
winter. Michael Gundrum returned to Crawford County, Ohio 
about the 1st of December, and the 22d of that month married 
Margaret Ann Stine, a native of Cumberland County, Pa., born 
April 17, 1833, a daugliter of Jacob and Mary Stine. Her father 
died in Pennsylvania when she was four years of age, and her 
mother afterward married Henry Musser and came to Steuben 
County in 1853, locating in Richland Township. The sprino- after 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gundrum, with no capital 
but strong hands and a determination to succeed, coupled with 
high hopes of the future which have mainly been realized, began 
life in this township. The rude cabin has given way to one of the 
tinest residences of York Township, the eighty acres of ibrest land 
to cultivated fields, and toil to comparative ease. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gundrum have three children — Mary Charlotte, wife of Samuel 
Sailor, of Fremont Township; Sarah Ellen, wife of Jacob Bailey, 
of Fremont Township; Alonzo, of York Township. In politics 



iv 



9 



612 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Mr. Giindram is a Republican. lu relic^ious faith lie and his 
wife are Lutherans. Mr. and Mrs. Gundrum have by toil and 
frugality'made a good home where they live, enjoying the respect 
of all who know them. 

William H. Hall was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Oct. 22, 
1824, a son of William and Polly Hall, natives of Hartford County, 
Conn. They were married in Ohio, where the latter died in Dela- 
ware County. The father died in Hillsdale County, Mich., hav- 
ing settled there in 1858. Oar subject was reared on a farm in his 
native county, and in 1850 came to this township and bought a 
farm of 110 acres in section 4 where he remained some years. He 
then sold that property and purchased the home he now occupies 
in the same section. He has a fine farm of 104 acres, most of 
which is under cultivation. He was married Oct. 4, 1848, to Nancy, 
daughter of Dr. D. P. and Elizabeth Hathaway. They have one 
daughter, Elizabeth, who was born April 24, 1856, and was married 
May 10, 1877, to William W. Uhl, who was born in Holmes County, 
Ohio, Aug. 28, 1850. They reside with Mr. and Mrs. Hall, 
Mr. Uhl owning a farm of ninety-seven acres adjoining the farm of 
Mr. Hall. He and his family are members of the Methodist church, 
and are much respected by all who know them. Mr. Hall is a 
member of Fremont Lodge, No. 248, A. F. & A. M., and in poli- 
tics he is a Democrat. 

Johi Headley was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Sept. 9, 
1828, a son of Reuben and Louisa Headley, the former a native of 
New Jersey and the latter of Virginia. In 1849 the family came 
to this township and settled on section 16, where the father died in 
1860 aged sixty-six years. The mother lives with her daughter, 
Mrs. Hannah Cross, of Pleasant Lake. Twelve children came 
with them to this county, eleven of whom are living — John, Mrs. 
Cross, Mrs. Nancy Williamson, Mrs. Mary Gilbert and Wheeling 
live in this county; Joseph and Reuben, in Missouri; Mrs. Sarah 
Jane Fox, in Kansas; Mrs. Emma Myers and Mrs. Louisa Phillips, 
in St. Joseph County, Ind.; and Charles, in Williams County, 
Ohio. In 1849 John Headley bought thirty-six acres of land on 
section 16, and deeded it to his mother. In 1851 he bought for 
himself forty acres on the same section, and commenced making a 
home, at the same time helping to improve the home of his par- 
ents. He was married Nov. 9, 1853, to Susan Hubbell, who was 
born in the State of New York, July 13, 1833. To them were born 
five children, three of whom are living — Edwin E., Edgar, and 



•i^W 







HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



613 



Minard U. J. Gary J. died at the age of six years, and Mordant 
died in infancy. They also adopted a daughter — Kettie. Mrs. 
Headley died April 11, 1882. June 21, 1883, he married Harriet 
Hood, who was born in DeKalb County, Ind., March 23, 1860. 
Mr. Headley, by industry, frugality and good management, assisted 
by a most estimable wife, has accumulated a good property. He 
lias added to his first purchase till he now owns 280 acres of finely 
improved land. His present fine residence bears no resemblance 
to the home of his newly wedded life. He makes a specialty of 
stock-raising and has some of the finest animals in the township. 
In politics he is a Republican. He is one of York's best citizens 
and has held several offices of trust and responsibility; among 
others has served as Road Supervisor twenty-one years. 

Charles Herriry and his wife have lived in York Township since 
Aug. 17, 1853, locating at that time on a tract of heavily timbered 
land on section 7. This land he has cleared and now owns seventy- 
three acres of the best land in the township. He was born in 
Carroll County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1825, a son of Isaac and Delilah 
Hemry. His mother died when he was eighteen months old, and 
his father afterward married Nancy McCollough. In 1832 they 
moved to Crawford County, Ohio, and there he was reared and 
educated. His father died Aug. 11, 1868, aged eighty-four years, 
and his widow in August, 1879, aged ninety-one years. Isaac 
Hemry was a Captain of an Ohio militia company in Harrison 
County and was ordered out in the war of 1812, but never saw 
active service. Charles Hemry was married Oct. 4, 1849, to 
Rebecca Jane Handley, a native of Crawford County, Ohio, born 
March 2, 1832, daughter of William and Jane Handley. Her 
parents died on the old homestead in Sandusky Township, her 
father in 1843, and her mother Oct. 3, 1874, aged seventy-five 
years. One year after his marriage Mr. Hemry moved to Hicks- 
ville Township, Defiance Co., Ohio, and three years later to Steu- 
ben County, and settled where he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hemry have never had any children, but reared and educated 
Lydia G. Stallman, caring for her till her marriage, when in her 
eighteenth year, to George Hemry, a nephew of Mr. Hemry. In 
his earl)' life Mr. Hemry was a "Whig, but since its organization 
has affiliated with the Republican party. He and his wife are 
members of the United Brethren church. 

Royal B. Hix was born in Seneca County, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1813. 
His parents, Ephraim and Lucy Hix, moved, in 1825, to Orleans 
39 



s > 



614 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

County, and there tlie mother died within a year, aged fifty-five 
years. When she was twelve years of age she was bitten by a 
rabid dog, but no serious results were manifested till about two 
years alter the birth of Royal B., after a period of thirty-three years 
had elapsed, when she was attacked with all the symptoms of 
hydrophobia. Her life was prolonged, but in a sad condition, her 
limbs being covered with sores for ten years. The father subse- 
quently married again and died in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in 
1836, aged seventy years. Royal B. Hix remained with his father 
till manhood. June 13, 1838, he was married to Martha Braman, 
a native of Ontario County, N. Y., born March 3, 1812. The fol- 
lowing fall he moved to Steuben County and settled on section 9, 
York Township, where they have since lived. This land they have 
improved and now have 121 acres finely improved, and a commo- 
dious house and farm buildings. They have been industrious and 
frugal, and have accumulated a competence f>r their declining 
years. Their upright lives and friendl}^ dealings with their 
neighbors has won them many friends. They are members of 
the Baptist church and earnest, devoted Christians. In politics 
Mr. Hix is a Republican. They have four children — William, of 
Lenawee County, Mich.; Marvin, on the homestead; Lyman, of 
Nebraska, and Luella, wife of Prof. Abram Stevens, of Angola. 

George W. Johnson and his wife are among the few of the old 
pioneers who brought their families to the township prior to 1840. 
He was born in Franklin County, Vt,, Aug. 15, 1809. When he 
was eight years of age his parents, Timothy and Betsey (Cochrin) 
Johnson, moved to Orleans County, N. Y., where his father died 
about 1824. There he grew to manhood and married Edexey 
Woolcott, who was born in Erie County, N. Y., November, 1809. 
In 1838 they came to Steuben County, bringing with them four 
children — Mrs. Sjphia Foster; Joanna, died at the age of twenty- 
one years; Mrs. Harriet Burke and Andrew, deceased. Two chil- 
dren were born in this township — Riley, who lives on a part of 
his father's honiestead, and George, who died after the close of the 
war, having been a s-oldier in the defense of his country. Mr. 
Johnson located on section 9, which was at that time an unbroken 
forest, and now, through his industry, is one of the finest farms in 
the township. His 155 acres are all under a state of cultivation, 
and his rude log-cabin has given place to a fine residence, pleasantly 
located. 

JoJin B. Knisely was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Nov. 

ci . ^ - ■ 1 ^ 



HISTOKT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 615 

27, 1830, a son of David and Sarah Knisely. He was reared in his 
native county, and when twenty-one years of a^e left home and 
came to Steuben County and settled on 106 acres of land on section 

6, York Township, which his father entered when the land first 
came into market. He has been industrious and frugal and has 
added to his land till he now owns 360 acres. His wife owns her 
father's old homestead of eighty acres. Their residence and other 
farm buildings are large and comfortable, and they have one of the 
pleasantest homes in the county. Mr. Knisely was married May 
22, 1853, to Emma S. Johnson, who was born in Cuyahoga County, 
Ohio, May 22, 1836, daughter of Silas and Aseneth Johnson. Her 
mother died Oct. 9, 1849, in the forty-ninth year of her age. In 
the fall of 1852 she came to this township with her father and was 
his housekeeper till the following spring, when he married Mrs. 
Betsey Johnson, widow of Cutler Johnson. He located on section 

7, where he died in 1866, and his widow five years later. Mrs. 
Knisely has one sister and two half sisters living; the former is 
Mrs, Lucretia Smart, of White Pigeon, Mich., and the latter Mrs. 
Betsey Bevington, of Nebraska, and Mrs. Caroline Ward, of 
Portage County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Knisely have had five 
children, three of whom are living — Letta E., wife of George Osfall ; 
Frankie T. and Nellie C. Marion and Mary died in infancy. In 
politics Mr. Knisely is a Republican. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Knisely's father died 
in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in the fall of 1877, aged eighty- 
seven years. His widow is living in that county with a daughter, 
Mrs. Sarah Everett. 

William R. Mitchell was born in Washington County, Pa., Aug. 
27, 1816. Wlien he was a child his parents, John and Isabel 
Mitchell, moved to Jeflerson County, Ohio., and from there to 
Hagerstown, Carroll County, and thence, in 1826, to Tuscara- 
was County, where his father died in 1862 and his mother in 
1863. He was reared in the latter county, and was there married, 
Oct. 5, 1850, to Sabilla Knisely, who was born June 5, 1827. In 
the spring of 1853 they became identified with Steuben County, 
settling on their present home April 27. His farm on section 20 
contains 160 acres of land. At that time but a few acres had been 
cleared and a rude log cabin built. The present finely-improved 
farm and the large commodious residence are the evidences of in- 
dustry and frugality. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have been born 
six children — Lucetta, widow of R. W. Gordon, who died Nov. 



^^ 



4 '- 






■616 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

12, 1882; Emma Belle, first wife of R. W. Gordon, died in Octo- 
ber, 1879, leaving one child, Lulu Belle, who is cared for by her 
grandparents ; Morgia died Dec. 11, 1881, of consumption; Will- 
iam W. married Delia Chad wick, and lives in York Township; 
Edward married Mary E. Rose, and lives in Marion, Kas. ; 
Thomas O. lives in Oakland, CaL Mr. Mitchell is one of the 
thorough farmers of the township, and has done his full share in 
assisting in the development of the county. He is a member of 
Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., and makes the teachings ol 
that order the rules of his life. 

John F. Musser was born in Cumberland County, Pa., JMov. 9, 
1843, and came to Steuben County when a child with his parents, 
Henrv and Mary Musser. He remained at home till after the 
breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, and Aug. 15, 1862, en- 
listed in Company B, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. He 
participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the battles preceding 
that siege; the battles of Jackson, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, 
Atlanta campaign, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station; was with Sher- 
4nan through the Carolinas, and participated in the grand review 
at Washington, May 22, 1865. He was wounded at Mission 
Ridge. He was discharged June 28, 1865, and returned to Steu- 
ben County. He was married Sept. 28, 1868, to Harriet Snyder, a 
native of Ohio, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Snyder, who 
settled in Richland Township in 1858, where the father died and 
the mother still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Musser have three children- 
Cora E., Lee H. and Ray H. Mr. Musser is a member of Mt. 
Pleasant Lodge, No. 239, I. O. O. F.. of which he has been Re- 
cording Secretary eight years. In 1880 he was elected Justice of 
the Peace and filled the oflice acceptably four years, when he de- 
clined re-election. In politics he is a Republican. He is an 
active, enterprising citizen, giving his support to all projects of 
public benefit. 

Augustus C. Phillips was born in Athens County, Ohio, Feb. 
23, 1834, a son of Job and Louisa Ann Phillips, who moved to 
Hancock County, Ohio, in September, 1835, and subsequently to 
Hardin County, where the father died in 1879, aged seventy-two 
years, and the mother still lives. Augustus C. was reared in Han- 
cock County and there married, Nov. 11, 1858, Tabitha White, a 
native of that county, born April 7, 1843, daughter of George and 
Isabel White, both deceased, the mother dying in 1861 and the 
father in 1847. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born ten 



_0; 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 61T 

children, six of whom are living — Leander B. married Sarah 
Meeks, and lives in Hillsdale County, Mich.; Louretta, wife of 
Floyd Phillips, of the same county; AbrahJira L., Lucinda, Adol- 
phus and Flora D. Mr. Phillips has always followed agricultural 
pursuits. He lived in Ohio till the fall of 1869 and then moved 
to Steuben County and bought eighty acres of land on section 20, 
York Township. All the improvements, save the clearing of a 
few acres, have been made by him. He has a pleasant residence 
and good farm buildings, and sixty acres under cultivation. 

John W. Porter was born in Wood County, Ohio, March 8, 
1854, a son of Joseph and Huldah Porter. He came to this 
county with his parents, and after the death of his mother, in 
1868, made his home with his brother Samuel. He learned the ma- 
son's and plasterer's trades of his brother, and has worked at them 
since 1874. He was married Oct. 5, 1879, to Josephine Wood, a 
native of Franklin Township, De Kalb County, Ind., born March 
16, 1856, a daughter of John K. and Irene Wood. To them have 
been born three children — Jay, Ella May and Irene. Mr. and 
Mrs. Porter are among the most prominent young people of Metz. 
He is an industrious young man and one of the best mechanics of 
the township. 

Samuel D. Porter was born in Medina County, Ohio, April 16, 
1843, son of Joseph and Huldah Porter. When lie was about six 
years of age his parents moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and four 
years later to Wo^d County, where he was reared, and when 
fifteen years of age began to work at the mason's trade, which he 
followed till January, 1862, when he enlisted m Cjmpmy G, 
Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry. His first battle was Fort Donelson 
and the next Pittsburg Landing. After the last battle he was 
taken sick with the measles and not recovering was discharged at 
St. Louis, Mo., and returned home, his parents at that time living 
in Williams County. Early in the year 1861 he again off'ered his 
services to his country, but was rejected. May 1, 1864, he was 
accepted as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio 
National Guards, for 100 days' service, and sent to the Army ot 
the Potomac; was discharged the latter part of September. In 
1868 the family moved to Steuben County and settled in Richland 
Township, where the mother died in December, 1869, in her fifty- 
fifth year. His father is living near Metz with a second wife, Mrs. 
Amanda Bridge. Four brothers of our subject are living — t^iley, 



William H., John W. and James W. Samuel D. Porter was mar- 



"^1 



S\ 



^-V|q ^ ^ g[^ 

618 HISTORY" OF stp:uben count v. 

ried to Mary Judd Nov. 26, 1863. She was born in Monroe 
Count}', N. Y,, Oct. 6, ISil. When she was two years of age her 
parents, Elihu and Eliza Ann Judd, moved to Ashland County, 
Ohio, and later to Williams County. In September, 1873, they 
came to Steuben County, Ind., where the mother died in 1874, 
aged liftjMnne years. The father still makes his home with Mrs. 
Porter. In March, 1868, Mr. Porter moved to Steuben County 
and settled near the center of Richland Township, and in the fall 
of 1871 moved to Mctz, and in the fall of 1873 bought a farm in 
Otsego Township. In February, 1882, he sold his farm and re- 
turned to Metz and engaged in the hardware business with his 
brother James till February, 1884, when he sold his interest in the 
stock. Since the spring of 1885 he has been engaged in the man- 
ufacture of drainage tile and brick. In April, 1882, Mr. Porter 
was commissioned Postmaster at Metz. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren 
church. They have had five children — Lewis died at the age of 
fourteen years, in April, 1881* Silas, Sanford, Perry, and Olive are 
at home. 

Calvin Powers, deceased, was one of Steuben's first settlers and 
as a consequence had to endure the many privations so inseparable 
from the life of a pioneer. He was born in Farmington, Ontario 
Co., N. Y. , March, 1808, and was the youngest in a family of five 
children. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, where thev 
were married in January, 1799, and moved to Oneida, N. Y., and 
in 1805 to Ontario County, where the father died live months after 
the birth of our subject. Calvin's mother was again married Sep- 
tember, 1811, to George Jenks, by whom she had three children — 
Laura, Joanna and George, her husband dying in November, 1830- 
Here in Ontario Calvin grew to manhood, receiving a fair educa- 
tion He was married in Palmyra, N. Y., September, 1835, to 
Emeline Corey, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Corey, natives 
of New York. Mrs. Powers was born in Cazenovia, N. Y., June, 
1817. In the spring of 1836 he with his brother Clark came to 
Steuben County, Ind., and that summer entered a large tract of 
land in York Township. They returned to New York, where 
Calvin remained until the early part of 1837 when he with his 
brothers Stephen and Winn started overland with their families tor 
Steuben County. Stephen and Winn arrived at the cabin in July, 
1837, but Calvin was detained on the road in Ohio by the sickness 
of his wife and did not arrive until the latter part of the month. He 



^^J Q i^ ^ S,^ 

. ^ 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 619 I 

settled in the southwest part of the township. He remained where 
he first settled but a short, time, moving to the southeast quarter 
of section 29, where the most of his life was spent. Bj his mar- 
riage were born the following children — Alonzo, born August, 
1836; Lorenzo, born October, 1838, died December, 1839; Harriet, 
born September, 1840, is the wife of Hon. E. O. Rose, of Grand 
Rapids, Mich.; Elizabeth, born January, 1842, and George, born 
September, 1844. Mrs. Powers died September, 1848. Mr. 
Powers was again married, April, 1851, at Pleasant Lake, Ind., to 
Lucy A. Gilbert who was born in Lorain County, Ohio, July, 1829. 
To them were born two children — Emma R., July, 1852, now wife 
of Prof. H. H. Keep, of Pleasant Lake, and Frank M., April, 1860. 
In April, 1877, Mr. Powers moved to Angola where he died January, 
1878, and was buried in the Powers Cemetery. The greater 
part of his life was spent in the vicinity of his final resting place. 
He was prominently identified with the growth and development 
of Steuben County. His energy and industry, of which he pos- 
sessed a large share, contributed not only to his own prosperity but 
to the prosperity and advancement of the neighborhood in which 
he lived and to the county as well. He with his brother Winn were 
the leading spirits that gave to the township the Free Church of 
which all may justly feel proud. In politics he was a firm Demo- 
crat; was County Commissioner from 1844 till 1847, and again 
from 1856 till 1859. He was a man of large public spirit, prudent 
and frugal, yet benevolent, ever ready to help the needy and sup- 
port charitable enterprises. In society he was eminently compan- 
ionable; in conversation thoughtful and witty. Few persons at the 
close of life left a larger circle of friends than he. In religion, 
though connected with no church, he openly professed his faith in 
the justice and mercy of God. A few hours before his death he 
said, "I am just waiting for the last link to be broken and I shall 
be free from pain." Thus passed away a grand and noble man, 
amid tears of genuine sorrow and respect. He was a member of 
the Masonic fraternity and an advocate of temperance, which he 
exemplified by his life, and we can look back upon a life rich in 
qualities, fit to be remembered and imitated. 

Calvin P. Powers was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Jan. 
19, 1834, a son of Winn and Betsey Powers. He remained with 
his parents until his marriage and from that time on the old home- 
stead, on sections 29 and 30. He owns a fine farm of 320 acres, 
his residence being on section 30. He was married Jan. 1, 1860, 



1 \S^ 



I ■ 

620 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to Jane Clark, a native of Williams County, Ohio, born Sept. 23, 
1840, a daughter of H. N. and Eliza (Bailey) Clark, natives of Yer- 
mont, who settled in Williams County in December, 1836, where 
the mother died when Mrs. Powers was a child, and the father in 
October, 1859, in the sixtieth year of his age. Their children are 
all living — Mrs. Jerusha Teals, Joshua D., George J., Mrs. Sarah 
Huggett, Mrs. Julia Woodworth and Mrs. Jane Powers. Mr. and 
Mrs. Powers have four children — Lola, wife of Frank Brooks; Mora, 
Lila and Milo. Mr. Powers is one of the prominent citizens of 
York Township, a man of sterling integrity, a worthy descendant 
of a worthy name. In politics he is a Democrat He is not a be- 
liever in dogmas or creeds, but a lover of the great essentials of 
Christianity; a believer in the brotherhood of man and the father- 
hood of God. Mrs. Powers is a liberal-minded, cultured lady, and 
is loved for her pleasant home ways and kind, neighborly minis- 
trations. 

Hon. Clark Powers, deceased, was born in Oneida County. N. 
Y., December, 1808, being the third in a family of five children, 
and the son of Josiah and Hannah Powers, of Granville, Mass. 
His youth was passed in Ontario where his father died when he was 
only five years old. After his father's death Clark found a home 
in that county with a good family who gave him a fair education, 
which he improved after coming of age. July 23, 1833, Wm. L. 
Marcy, Governor of the State of N. Y., appointed him Captain in 
the Eleventh Regiment of Infantry of the Twenty-fourth Brigade 
of that State. After faithfully performing the duties of that office 
for three years, at his own request he was, on the 17th of November, 
1836, honorably discharged. In the spring of 1836 he and his 
brother Calvin came to Steuben County, Ind., and on the 18th of 
July of that year they entered a large tract of land in York Town- 
ship. They then returned to New York and in the spring of 1837 
Clark again came to Indiana. In that year he built a log cabin 
immediately north of where the maple grove now stands, in the 
southwest corner of section 29, for the occupation of his brothers 
and their families, he at that ame being a single man. After they 
arrived his brother Winn and family lived in the cabin during the 
winter of 1837-'38, Clark making his home with them. During 
these years Clark made several trips on horseback from the city of 
Detroit, Mich., to this county, carrying money in saddlebags 
with which to make payments for his land, and to the exposure to 
cold and rain in these trips through the then pathless and dense 



-f 



^ 

is 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



621 



forests may be attributed one of the causes which led to his early 

death. He lived with his brother Wiun for about three years when 

he again returned to Ontario County, N. Y., where, Nov. 4, 1840, 

he was married to Miss Hannah Ketchum, who was born in 

Rensselaer County, N. Y., August, 1813. She was the daughter 

of Stephen Ketchum who was born in New York, Sept. 2, 1768, 

and Hannah Ketchum, nee Sutherland, born in the same State, 

Nov. 24, 1774, the mother dying in Rensselaer County, N. Y., 

December, 1827, and the father, February, 1839. Mrs. Powers 

was the eleventh in a family of twelve children. Her mother died 

when she was but fourteen years of age and her father marrying 

again, she at the age of nineteen moved to Ontario County, N. Y., 

where she became acquainted with Clark Powers and remained 

until her marriage. Immediately after their marriage they came 

to Steuben County, Ind., and commenced housekeeping in the cabin 

which he had built four years before, where they remained until 

1843, when they built and occupied the house on the old homestead, 

since sold to N. Pettit, of Metz. After the death of her husband 

she managed well the affairs of the estate and of her household. 

She was a kind mother, a good neighbor and friend. The following 

children were born of this union — Hannah M., born April, 1842, 

died February, 1879; Joanna, born November, 1844, is the wife of 

Hugh D. Wood, M. D., of Angola; William E., born December, 

1845, died October, 1846; Josiah, born September, 1847, was a 

member of Company A, One Hundred and Twenty- ninth Indiana 

Infantry, and died at Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 4, 1864; Stephen 

A., born December, 1851, married, October, 1876, Dora Ferrier, 

is an attorney of Angola; and Elenora, born March, 1854, married 

Frank Cameron, M. D. Clark Powers was a member of the State 

Legislature for the years 1845-'46. He was a farmer by occupation, 

and by active industry and good management he amassed a large 

property. He was a man of actions rather than words and many 

an early settler has reason to remember him for his kindness to them 

in their times of want. He was proverbially honest, and it may 

truly be said his was a noble manhood, Christian-like and charitable. 

He did much to advance the interests of the county; was foremost 

in all public improvements till his death which took place more 

than a score of years ago, in the spring of 1859, and in March, 

1885, his aged wife departed this life, being the last of the Powers 

pioneers that came here in 1837. 

George B. Powers^ the youngest son of Winn and Betsy (Reeves) 



^^ 



622 



HI6TORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, 



Powers, was born in this township, July 27, 1842. He vvas reared 
and educated in his native place, living under the parental roof 
until he was twenty-one years of age. Sept. 3, 1864, he was mar- 
ried to Lydia Ann, daughter of Abram and Mary Hemry, who 
settled in this township in 1845, coming from Crawford County, 
Ohio. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Powers have two 
children — Henry, born May 4. 1866, and Mary Luella, born Dec. 
6, 1873. Mr. Powers has a farm of 111 acres on section 29, where 
he has resided since his marriage. In politics he affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 

J . Clark Powers^ the oldest living representative of the Powers 
family in York Township, is a son of Stephen A. and Mary Ann 
Powers. He was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1825, 
and was in the twelfth year of his age when his parents settled in 
this county and has since been identified with and a resident of 
York Township. The homestead (original) was in what is now 
Scott Township. Mr. Powers received his education in his early 
days from his father, who was an educated, cultured man, and a 
teacher forty-two winters, including the schools taught in this 
county. J. Clark Powers was also a teacher; commencing in his 
nineteenth year he taught several terms in this State, Ohio, and 
Michigan before his marriage, and afterward taught in the winter, 
attending to the cultivation of his farm in the summer. He is a 
finely educated gentleman, thanks to the teachings of his father 
and his own studious habits. He is one of York's best citizens, 
alive to all that pertains to the advancement of the interest of his 
township, socially and materially. He is a reliable man and has 
often been trusted with the settlement of estates and the guardian- 
ship of children, his honorable life and well-known integrity 
peculiarly fitting him for such trusts. After his marriage he set- 
tled on the farm where he now lives where he owns eighty acres of 
valuable land. He was married May 18, 1854, to Rozell Campbell, 
a native of Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich., daughter of George 
and Eliza Campbell, her father a native of Vermont and her mother 
of Watertown, K Y. They settled in Michigan in 1829, the 
mother dying in Hillsdale County, that State, in 1865, and the 
father in Toledo, Ohio, in 1877. Mrs. Powers is an educated lady, 
genial, and hospitable, enjoying this life and spreading sunshine 
along everybody's pathway with whom she is associated. Before 
her marriage she was a school-teacher, an occupation to which by 
nature and education she was well adapted. Mr. and Mrs. Powers 



-^■ 



fv* 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 623 

have three children — Geori^e S., of Greenwood, Kas. ; Howard, of 
Nebraska, and Mary E., of Dennison City, Texas. 

Myron Powers^ son of Winn and Betsey (lleev^es) Powers, was 
born in Allegany County, N. Y., Aug. 19, 1826, and came to 
York Township with his parents July 8, 1837. He has witnessed 
the change of Steuben County from a wild, heavily timbered tract 
of land, inhabited by Indians, to its present state of advanced cul- 
tivation, thrifty farms and prosperous villages, and has assisted 
materially in producing this change. He remained with his 
parents till manhood, helping to clear and improve the farm. He 
was married Dec. 7, 1851, to Eliza Dillingham, a native of Ontario 
County, N. Y., born May 22, 1831, daughter of Jeremiah and 
Nancy (Thayer) Dillingham, who moved to Lenawee County, 
Mich., in the fall of 1836, and in February, 1838, settled in York 
Township, Steuhen Co., Ind. Her father was born Sept. 14, 
1786, and died Aug. 8, 1858. Her mother was born Dec. 31, 
1791, and died Sept. 28, 1883. After the death of her husband 
she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Powers. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Powers have been born four children, but two of whom are 
living — Bettie, wife of John H. Dunham, and Elmo, born in 1872. 
Mr. Dunham resides on and has charge of the homestead 
of Mr, Powers. Their eldest child, Esky E., died Feb. 3, 
1854, aged ten months and eleven days; Erwin died Sept. 7, 
1859, aged three years three months and sixteen days. Mr. 
Powers commenced married life on the farm where he has since 
lived, on section 30, York Township. He owns 160 acres of val- 
uable land all well improved. His residence and farm buildings 
are large and commodious, and all in good repair. He is one of 
the solid, substantial citizens of the township, of good record and 
established reputation, honorable, energetic and perfectly reliable 
in all his business transactions. In politics he is a Democrat, in 
religion a believer in the final restoration of all mankind. He has 
been trusted with different positions of responsibility and has 
served several terms as Township Trustee. 

Stephen J.. Powers^ deceased. — Among the pioneer families of 
Steuben County few have done more toward the growth and de- 
velopment than the Powers family. They came of pure Celtic 
stock the great-grandfather of the four brothers who settled in 
this county being Arad Powers, a native of Ireland, who mar- 
ried Lydia Bruce, a native of Scotland (of the noted family of 
Bruces so well known in history) and emigrated to the United 



V 



<2_ 



^ 



624 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

States before the Revolutionary war, settling in Massachusetts. 
Oliver Powers was born in Massachusetts of this marriage, where 
he grew to manhood and married Lydia Winn, also a native of 
that State. To them were born the following children — Jacob, 
Josiah, Oliver, Lydia, Lucj, Dolly and Betsy. Oliver Powers 
served through the Revolutionary war under Washington, and 
shortly after he moved with his family to Oneida County, N. Y., 
and afterward to Ontario County, of the same State, where he and 
his wife died. Josiah was the second in the family and was born 
in Massachusetts in 1772. He married Hannah Church in 1799. 
She was the daughter of Josiah and Hannah Church, natives of 
Massachusetts, and was born in January, 1776. The year of 
their marriage they moved to Oneida County, N. Y., and in 1805 
removed to Ontario County of the same State, where Josiah died 
August, 1808, leaving his wife with five small children, as follows 
—Stephen, born January, 1800; Winn, December, 1801; Clark, 
December, 1803; Josiah, February, 1806, and Calvin, March, 1808. 
The four eldest she " put out" with friends to care for, and with her 
babe Calvin began to earn her own living. At that time Ontario 
County was almost a wilderness and the Powers family were 
among its pioneers. The boys grew to manhood in that county 
and began life with nothing but their own brave hearts and will- 
ing hands to depend on, to win the battle. Their mother was 
again married in September, 1811, to George Jenks, a native of 
Massachusetts, by whom she had three children — Laura, Joan and 
George. Her husband died November, 1820, and about 1847 she 
moved with her son, George Jenks, to SteubenCounty,Ind., where 
she died December, 1857, in her eighty -second year. Stephen A. 
was the eldest in the family and was born in Oneida County, N. 
Y,, Jan. 2, 1800, and, as has been already stated, he "went out" to 
live after the death of his father, but his master dying before 
Stephen was grown he was thrown on his own resources, and by 
his individual, unaided efforts, he acquired a first-class English 
education. In his boyhood days he went to learn the blacksmith's 
trade, but his mind running in another channel he abandoned it 
and learned surveying and navigation. He was married in Alle- 
gany County, N. Y., January, 1825, to Mary Ann Campbell, 
daughter of George and Elizabeth Campbell, natives of Herkimer 
County, N. Y., of Scotch, English and German origin. Mrs. 
Powers was born in Herkimer County, K Y., July, 1808. Her 
father died one month before her birth and her mother was after- 

e j M ^ 



^ 










HI8T0KY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 625 

ward married to Eber Newton, and moved to Ontario County, N. T., 
and subsequently to Allegany County, where they both died and 
where Mrs. Powers spent her youth. By her marriage she had the fol- 
lowing children — Clark, born October, 1825; Andrew, September, 
1827 (died in the army at Vicksburg, June, 1863); Newton, February, 
1830 (died in 1837); Hannah E., March, 1833 (died 1839); Dolly 
Jane, April, 1835; Volney, March, 1838 (was a soldier in the late 
war); Ellen, Jan. 8, 1841; Oliver, February, 1843 (died in the array 
at Bowling Green, January, 1863), and Lydia Bruce, August, 1845. 
After his marriage Stephen Powers settled in Allegany County, 
N. Y., where he lived twejve years, when he started for Indiana 
with an ox team, arriving in York Township, July, 1837. His 
brothers, Clark and Calvin, had been to the county in 1836 and 
entered land, and early in 1837 Clark came and built a cabin for 
the reception of his brother and their families, and in that cabin 
Stephen and family lived with the others for about two months, 
when he moved to a cabin on section 26, Scott Township, two 
miles west of the Powers school-house, and there settled in the 
woods with Indians as their neighbors, with whom they lived har- 
moniously. It is unnecessary to speak of the many privations 
and hardships which fell to their lot. Suffice it to say they met 
and overcame all obstacles; were not made of that stuff which 
falters. When the war broke out Stephen A. Powers was in his 
sixty-second year, and his hair was white with age, but his heart 
was strong, young and patriotic. He colored his hair black so as to 
pass muster when he presented himself as a volunteer for examina- 
tion. When the examining surgeon asked him how old he was, he 
replied, " I am old enough to help put down the rebellion." Noble 
Nvords that will live while time lasts. He served eleven months when 
he was discharged for disabilities which culminated in his death. 
After returning from the army he settled in Williams Count}', 
Ohio, and in 1871 went to Antrim County, Mich., and took a 
soldier's claim. His foresight was wonderful, as he got his land 
forty acres wide and one mile long through which a railroad was 
then surveyed and afterward built which increased the value of his 
land. Here he died October, 1872, and his widow remained on 
the farm and did what not many women would have been capable 
of doing in clearing it up and carrying out the necessary regula- 
tions to retain the land. For all this she deserves just credit, 
and her energy and force of character was extraordinary. Her 
husband was buried in Michigan; five years later she had his body 



'K^ 



626 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

brought to this county and buried in the Powers Cemetery, and 
marking his last resting place, she put a line monument, showing, 
though dead, he is not forgotten. Stephen A. Powers was in many 
ways a remarkable man. He followed teaching and surveying as 
his principal occupation; was County Surveyor for many years, 
County Commissioner in 1839-'40, and was well known all over 
the county. He was a close student, a good teacher, having 
taught for forty-two winters. He had a wonderful memory; was 
a lover of knowledge and endowed with clear logical reasoning 
faculties; was a devoted Mason most of his life and a member of 
the I. O. O. F. He was a kind father and husband, courteous and 
polite toward his fellow-men, and believed that true religion con- 
sisted in following the Golden Rule. Mrs. Mary Ann Powers, 
his wife, died in 1883, in Branch County, Mich., at the residence 
of her daughter, Lydia Bruce Hamer. Her remains were interred 
ill the Powers Cemetery by the side of her husband. 

Winji Powers, deceased. — This old and respected citizen was the 
second in the family, and born at Fort Stanwix (now the city of 
Home), Oneida Co., N. Y., ^December, 1801. His youth was 
passed under the roof of a stranger, where he was placed by his 
mother after his father's death. Having received a fair education, 
as soon as he arrived at manhood he began teaching school, teach- 
ing one term of three months in each year for three years. The 
rest of the time he worked at farming, and judiciously managed to 
save enough to give him a start in life. This was in Ontario 
County, N. Y., whither his parents had moved when Winn was 
about three years old, and where his father died in 1808. He was 
married in Ontario County, N. Y., April, 1825, to Betsy Reeves, 
the daughter of John and Elizabeth Reeves, natives of New Jer- 
sey, where Mrs. Powers was born May, 1801. A few days after 
their marriage the young couple moved to Allegany County, N. 
Y., and settled on a wild farm, on which they lived twelve years, 
clearing sixty acres during that time. His wife before her mar- 
riage had by industry and economy saved enough to set up house- 
keeping in a primitive manner, and in a log cabin in Allegany 
they began to fight the battle of life, and well did they succeed 
About 1836 they concluded it was their duty to provide homes 
for their children. With this purpose in view they sold their 
little home and started overland for Indiana, where his brothers 
Clark and Calvin had come and entered land in the spring of 
1836. After a long and tedious journey he and his family, with 

a/ 
"Tlaj ^ -■ h\\ 



^•vk 



(0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



627 



his brother Stephen and family, arrived at the cabin built by 
Clark on section 30, York Townsliip, Steuben Co. , July, 1837, 
where Winn and family lived through the winter of 1837-'38. In 
January of the latter year he bought 120 acres of land on section 
29, York Township, and the following summer built a log cabin 
in the woods, and in this humble manner began his new life in the 
then distant West. By his marriage the following children were 
born to him — Myron, August, 1826; Hannah, October, 1828; Ed- 
win, February, 1831; Calvin P., January, 1834; Mowry, Decem- 
ber, 1836 (deceased); Ann E., January, 1839, and George R, July, 
1842. The purpose which brought Winn Powers and wife to 
Indiana they never deviated from. All their children now 
living are settled close to the old home. The Powers family 
believe in the universal salvation of mankind; politically, have 
always adhered to Democracy; and " Uncle Winn," as he was 
familiarly called, was a member of the Masonic Lodge about 
thiitv years. For nearly half a century Uncle Winn and wife 
walked side by side, but the dread messenger came and sum- 
moned his loving helpmate to her eternal rest on April 14, 
1873, and on June 24, 1883, after an illness of a few days, he 
joined her in the better land. Beginning life at the foot of the 
ladder he had by his energy and industry accumulated a hand- 
some property. He was always fond of the chase, and was happy 
when roaming the dense forest with no companion but his trusty 
rifle. In every public improvement the Powers family have stood 
shoulder to shoulder with the foremost, and no family of "Old 
Steuben " have done more than they to build up the county. Sev- 
eral years ago he set about soliciting subscriptions for building a 
church on land known as the Powers Cemetery, which his brother 
Clark had donated to the public many years before. He suc- 
ceeded in this laudable undertaking, as the commodious 'Free 
Church" well attests, and beneath whose shadow he is sleeping 
his last sleep. 

Minard F. Rose^ section 18, York Township, was born Dec. 9, 
1841, a son of Jacob O. and Mary A. (Comstock) Rose. Jacob O. 
Rose was burn in Rensselaer County, N. Y., May 18, 1814, and 
when twenty-one years of age left his native county and located in 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio. His parents, Elias and Eva (Over- 
rocker) Rose, were natives of New York, of Dutch descent. 
Jacob O. Rose was married to Mary A. Comstock April 12, 1837. 



-7- 



.w 



e' 



628 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

She was born July 3, 1817, a daughter of Stephen and Charlotte 
(Fitch) Comstock, natives of Connecticut, who moved to Ohio be- 
fore their marriage, wliere tlie mother died in 1829. The father 
died in York Township Jan. 12, 1858, In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. 
Rose moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in York Town- 
ship, and later moved to Big Rapids, Mich., where Mr. Rose died 
Oct 24, 1883. Mrs. Rose now makes her home with her son, 
Minard F. She owns a good farm of sixty acres on section 19. 
Their family consisted of three children — Elias O., of Grand 
Rapids, Mich.; Charlotte died in infancy, and Minard F. Minard 
F, Rose was four years of age when his parents moved to Steuben 
County, and here he was reared and educated, remaining with his 
parents till manhood. He was married Oct. 6, 1861, to Ann E. 
Powers, the second white child born in York Township, born Jan. 
2 1839, daughter of Winn Powers. They have four children — 
Mary E, wife of E. E. Mitchell, of Marion, Kas.; Jay O., Willie 
E. and Irwin F. Ida died Oct. 2, 1874, aged two years. Mr. 
Rose owns a good farm of eighty acres, where he has lived since 
1865. He is a thorough, practical farmer, and one of the repre- 
sentative agriculturists of his township. 

Daniel P. Rummel was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 
11, 1826, and came to this county in the fall of 1844 with his par- 
ents, Henry and Elizabeth Rummel. At the age of twenty years 
he was given his time by his father. Dec. 28, 1851, he married 
Clarinda Benjamin, daughter of David and Emily P. Benjamin. 
She was born April 23, 1832, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Her 
father died when she was a small child. Her mother later mar- 
ried Asa Gaskell. Mrs. Rummel died Dec. 20, 1877. Sept. 29, 
1878, he married Sarah Wanee, a native of Columbiana County, 
Ohio, born May 1, 1839. He lived in Richland Township until 
March, 1873, and then became a resident of York. His occupation 
up to 1872 was that of a farmer. In 1874 he engaged in general 
merchandising at Metz, continuing there about nine years, then 
sold his stock to Norris & Co., and since that time has been out of 
active business. Mr. Rummel has been a prominent citizen wher- 
ever he has resided, and April, 1884, was elected Trustee of York 
Township. In November, 1884, he was elected County Commis- 
sioner of the middle district. Mr. Rummel is much respected for 
his upright, honorable life and for his active interest in all that 
pertains to public good. In politics he is a Republican. He and 
his wife are members of the Disciples church. 



l£) 



\f<\( o '^ 2>N. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 629 

John Sattison was born in the State of Pennsylvania, March 6, 
1819, a son of Adam and Betsey Sattison, who moved to Niagara 
County, N. Y., when he was a small child and later to Huron 
County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married, ISTov. 17, 
1842, Maria Stotts, a native of Huron County, born March 3, 1826 
a daughter of William and Sarah Stotts. Her father was killed by 
the falling of a burning trunk of a tree in 1830, and three years 
later her mother married Harrison Smith, and in 1849 came to this 
township, and later moved to Fremont Township, where the mother 
died in 1873 aged sixty-seven years. In 1851 Mr. Sattison moved to 
Steuben County and settled in York Township, on section 7, where 
he now owns 110 acres of valuable land, and in 1873 built one of the 
finest residences in the township, it being the first brick house in 
the township. They have been among the most industrious and 
frugal citizens' and now are rewarded by having a pleasant home and 
all the comforts of life with which to enjoy their old age. Their 
children are three in number, two born in Ohio and one in Steuben 
County — William, of Scott Township; Frederick, of Franklin Town- 
ship, De Kalb County, and Adam of this township. All are mar- 
ried and have families. William enlisted in August, 1861, in Com- 
pany A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served four years. 
Although but sixteen years of age when he enlisted he was one of 
the most gallant and courageous soldiers. In politics Mr. Sattison 
is a Republican. His first vote was cast in 1840 for General Har- 
rison. 

Oeorge A. Souder was born in Columbiana County, Ohio Sent 
28, 1828, and when a small child removed with his parents Will- 
iam and Nancy (Stevens) Souder, to Crawford County, Ohio, where 
his mother died in 1841, aged forty years. His father died at the 
residence of a son-in-law, H. K. Barr, in 1876, aged seventy-seven 
years. The family consisted of four children — Amos and Mrs 
Almeda Barr, of Otsego Township; Alexander, in Iowa, and our 
subject, George A. Souder was married in Crawford County 
Ohio, July 13, 1856, to Mary Coberly, a native of that county 
born July 27, 1833. In February, 1858, they came to Steuben 
County and settled in Salem Township, buying eighty acres 
of land, upon which they lived till 1863, when they sold it and 
bought the farm of forty acres where they now live, on section 
36, York Township. To them have been born four children but 
one of whom is living — Nellie, who was born July 21, 1874. Mag- 
gie died at the age of seventeen years and Paul and Clement in 
40 



«a_ 



■k. 



630 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

infancy. Mr. Souder is a valued and respected citizen, honorable 
and upright, making and keeping his word in business transactions 
as good as his bond. 

Washington L. Weiss was born in Licking County, Ohio, Nov. 
28, 1837. His father, Jacob A. Weiss, was born in Lancaster 
County, Pa., in 1797, and was married in his native State to Lydia 
Stout. In their early married life they moved to Licking County, 
Ohio, and in October, 1852, to Steuben County, Ind., living the 
first winter in Fremont Township, and the following spring bought 
160 acres of land on section 12, York Township. He sold 100 acres to 
members of his family, retaining the rest for his homestead, where 
he died in 1861. His widow died June 13, 1854, aged forty-seven 
years. Their children numbered thirteen — William, Christian, 
Mrs. Eliza Ann Boyd, Mrs. Mary Barnes, Stephen, Mrs. Susan 
Barnes, Washington L., Joseph, Mrs. Lydia Baldwin, Mrs. Mi. 
nerva Gasser, Mrs. Ellen Carpenter, Mrs. Priscilla A. Johnson and 
Andrew. After the death of the father, Washington L. took charge 
of the farm and cared for the younger children till they were mar- 
ried and settled for themselves. He was married Jan. 25, 1866, to 
Sarah L. Folck,a native of Morrow County, Ohio, born Sept. 25, 1844^ 
daughter of John K. and Margaret Folck. Four children have 
been born to them, three of whom are living — Jessie and Jennie 
(twins), born Christmas day, 1867, and Fred, born May 14, 1871. 
Their eldest, Edna, died in her fifth year. Mr. Weiss lives on his 
father's homestead, on section 12, and has added to it till he now 
owns 160 acres. He is one of the most thorough and thrifty farm- 
ers of the township and is an esteemed and popular citizen. In 
politics he is a Greenbacker. In religious faith he is liberal. 

William Wicoff was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 25, 
1830. In 1844 his parents, John and Margaret Wicoff, moved to 
Willaims County, Ohio, and from there to Berrien, Mich., in 1864, 
where his mother died Nov. 21, 1865, aged sixty years. His fa- 
ther is an active man eighty years of age and is a member of his 
family. In 1854 William Wicoff came to Steuben County, Ind., 
and worked as a farm hand for Martin Eldridge till January, 1856^ 
when he was married to his employer's daughter, Armelia, who was 
born in New York State, Sept. 30, 1S38, and was brought to Steu- 
ben County by her parents when three years of age. Mr. Eldridge 
entered 160 acres of land from the Government in 1838 and after 
locating on it improved it rapidly. After his marriage Mr. Wicoff 
worked the farm on shares and finally bought it, and to the 160 acres 



-7- 



A^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 631 

has added till he now owns 293 acres, the most of it under cultiva- 
tion. In September, 1864, Mr. Eldridge moved to Angola, where 
he died in August, 1870, aged fifty-seven years. His widow sur- 
vives and lives with her daughter, Mrs. Anna Fitch, of Angola. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Wicoffhave been born three children — Willis M.^ 
Peter B. and Lovina. Willis died Feb. 11, 1885, aged nearly twen- 
ty-eight years. He was married in 1880 to Sonora Frost. In pol- 
itics Mr. Wicoff is an uncompromising Republican. Although not 
an office seeker, he has been elected to several positions of trust in 
both county and township. In October, 1874, he was elected 
Sheriff, and re-elected in 1876. He has served three terras as 
Trustee of York Township. Sept. 30, 1869, he fell into a horse- 
power attachment of a threshing machine and lost his right leg. 
He has always been a promineut citizen of the county and has been 
identified with all its interests. 








1 



CHAPTER XVII. 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



Formation. — Boundaries. — Description. — First Land Entries. — 
First Settlers. — First Marriage and Birth. — Oldest In- 
habitant, WiLLARD DeWITT. FiRST MiLL, ScHOOL, TeACHER AND 

School-House. — Population. — Agricultural Statistics. — 
Property and Taxation. — Politics. — Vote for President since 
1850. — Yote in 1884. — Lists of Township Officials. — Bio- 
graphical. 

Scott Township was a part of York until March, 1849. For a 
few years after 1838 a strip two miles wide off the west side was 
attached to Pleasant Township; and in 1850 one mile from the 
east side was attached to York. The township as now constituted 
includes nearly thirty sections, or between 18,000 and 19,000 
acres. It is bounded on the north by Fremont, on the east by 
York, on the south by Otsego, and on the west by Pleasant. 
Pio-eon Creek flows from north to south midway through the town- 
ship. The only lakes are Pigeon and Little, on section 29. Section 
2 is crossed by the railroad diagonally from southwest to north- 
east. Owing to the very heavy growth of timber which originally 
covered the township, it was not as rapidly settled as some others, 
the pioneers preferring land which could with less difficulty be 
made ready for civilization. In time, however, the township be- 
came settled with an industrious, prosperous community. 

The first entry of land within the present limits of Scott was 
tnade April 27, 1836, on sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, by John Yan 
Horn. The second entry was made on the 17th of May, in the 
same year, by David Phenicie, it being the southwest fractional 
quarter of section 18. 

The first settlers in the township were Elder Silas Headley and 
Daniel Hill, who came in 1836, the last named building the first 
house in Scott Township. Soon after came John Wheland, Nathan 
Beckwith, L. Warden, Peter Wolf, Daniel Headley, Peter Magers, 

(632) 



*^1=^ — ^1^' 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



633 



David Phenicie, Justin Wait, Orlando Pattee, Chester Wright, 
Philip B. Lobdell, Oliver Arnold, D. H. Sutton, Francis Ewing, 
Koswell Sutton, David Sutton and A. W. Woodworth. 

The first marriage was Roswell Sutton to Nancy McMinn, about 
1842. A son of Silas Headley was the first white child born in 
the township. For many years this township owned the distinc- 
tion of having the oldest person in the county, and one of the 
oldest in the State. Willard Dewitt lived to be nearly 105 years 
old, and died in January, 1881. 

The first and only mill built in the township was the one erected 
on Pigeon Creek. It was used until about 1870, when it was 
closed; and since that time it has been idle. The first teacher was 
Mrs. Mahala Lobdell, who kept a school in her own house. The 
first school-house was built in 1844, in what is known as District 
No. 4, in which Mrs. Loranie Pierce taught the first school. 
Wellington Cook built the first frame house, in 1850. Peter 
Wolf was the first blacksmith. 

Michael Cline, deceased, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, 
March 1, 1829. He removed to Richland County in 1838, was 
married in August, 1850, and removed to Steuben County, this 
State, in November, 1853, settling upon a farm four and a half miles 
northeast of Angola, where he resided in the pursuit of agriculture 
until the last four years of his life, when he made his home at An- 
gola. He was the eldest son of eleven children, nine sons and two 
daughters. He was for six years a County Commissioner, and 
held the oftice of Township Trustee at the time of his death, Feb. 
28, 1878. He united with the Christian church when a young 
man, and was for the last few years of his life an elder in the 
church at Angola. He was the father of nine children — three sons 
and six daughters, eight of whom, with the bereaved wife, survived 
hira. 

Ziba Jones, deceased, was an early settler of Scott Township, 
and well-known to nearly all who have ever lived in this vicinity. 
He was born in New Hampshire in 1793, and was one of the first 
settlers in Licking County, Ohio. He settled in this county in 
1848. He died at his residence in Scott Township, Nov. 13, 1880, 
aged eighty-seven. He was the father of J. W. Jones, Mrs. A. 
McClue, Mrs. Nelson Hutchins, Mrs. Matilda Jeggers and Mrs. 
Adam Metzger. Years ago Mr. Jones was the proprietor of a 
nursery, and many of the orchards of Steuben County are the prod- 
ucts of the Jones nursery. He was a member of the Methodist 






-TSPV^ 



^2: 



' A 



634 



HISTORY OF STECTBEN COUNTY. 



Episcopal church before and after coming to this county, and was 
considered an exceptionally clever man and good citizen. 

The population of the township in 1870 was 1,024; and in 1880, 
1,154; an increase of 130. This is a density of thirty-nine to the 
square mile. 

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year, 
1880 : Acres of wheat sown, 2,580 ; average yield per acre, 18 
bushels; total crop, 48,440 bushels; acres of corn, 1,897; average 
yield per acre, 30 ; total crop, 66,910 bushels; acres of oats, 626 ; 
average yield per acre, 28 bushels; total crop, 17,528 bushels; acres 
of meadow, 749; average yield per acre, 2 tons; total crop of hay, 
1,498 tons; acres of potatoes, 106; average yield, 12 bushels per 
acre ; total crop, 1,272 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres assessed was 18,419.49; value of 
same, $225,640; valueof improvements, $48,960 ; value of personal 
property, $39,980; total valuation, $314,580; numberof polls, 186; 
number of dogs, 100 ; total taxes levied, $7,102.06. As property 
is assessed on a basis of one-third, the total wealth of the town- 
ship may be estimated at $943,740. 

In political complexion Scott has given a never failing Repub- 
lican majority, and before 1856 it was Whig. Following is the 
vote at each presidential election : 



1852— Winfield Scott 46 9 

Franklin Pierce 37 

John P. Hale 7 

1856— John C. Fremont 100 71 

James Buchanan 29 

1860— Abraham Lincoln 120 95 

Stephen A. Douglas 25 

John Bell.... 9 

1864— Abraham Lincoln 145 129 

Geo. B. McClellan J 6 

1868— Ulysses S. Grant 189 153 

Horatio Seymour 36 



1872— Ulysses S. Grant 171 157 

Horace Greely 14 

1876— Rutherford B.Hayes.... 148 71 

Peter Cooper 77 

Sam'l J. Tilden 28 

1880-Jas. A. Garfield 191 109 

Winfield S. Hancock .... 82 

Jas. B. Weaver 19 

1884— Jas. G. Blaine 153 63 

Grover Cleveland 90 

Benj.F. Butler 28 

Jno.P. St.John 3 



The largest plurality ever given in the township was in 1872, 
157 for Grant. The smallest was in 1852, nine for Scott. For the 
last ten years the National, or Greenback, party has had a very 
numerous following in this township. The detailed vote in 1884 
was as follows: 



Governor. 

Wm. H. Calkins 153 63 

Isaac P. Gray 90 

Hiram Z. Leonard 28 

Rob't S. Dwiggins 3 



Congressman. 

Theron P. Keator 153 63 

Rob't Lowry 90 

George F. Hartsuck 28 

Jesse M. Gale 3 



71 



V 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



635 



Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson 153 35 

Frank M. Powers 118 

Senator. 

Nicholas Ensley 153 35 

Lafayette J. Miller 118 

Representative. 

Doak R. Best 135 12 

Wm.W.Wyrick 123 

Gommissioners. 

Herman C Shutts 151 60 

Adam Failing , 91 

Thos. McClue 30 

Daniel P. Rummel 148 53 

Alvali Carpenter 95 



Commissioners (continued). 

John Dygert 29 

Jno. M. Sewell 91 91 

Sheriff. 

Allen Past 152 61 

Charles Squires 91 

Thos. R. Moffett 31 

Treasurer. 

Clay Lemmon 143 50 

Edwin Jackson 93 

Martin V. Gam 34 

Surveyor. 

Rob't G. Morley 151 29 

Moses J. Parsell 122 

Coroner. 

T. Ray Morrison 151 29 

Ed ward B. Simmons . 122 



Following are the names of those who have been elected to serve 
the township in official capacities since 1850, together with the 
years in which they were elected: 

Assessors. — 1850, Eli Burke; 1851, Daniel Jones; 1852, Samuel 
P. Scales; 1854, Samuel E. Jones; 1856, Job Gifford; 1858, same; 
1860, C.L. Heath; 1862, same; 1864, John K.Folck; 1866,Michael 
Cline; 1868, Bradford Wheaton; 1870, sam.e; 1872, James Few; 
1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, Ellis Lee; 'l880, Albert Ewing; 
1882, N. J. Letts. 

Justices of the Peace. — 1853, John N. Hardy and Philip B. 
Lobdell; 1855, Cornelius Jenkins; 1857, John N. Hardy and Ro- 
land Goddard; 1859, A. W. Woodworth; 1861, John K Hardy 
and William H. Jagger; 1863, Nathan H. Tuttle; 1865, Nelson 
Hutchins and S. E. Woodworth; 1866, Alexander Moore; 1869, 
Nelson Hutchins and Nathan H. Tuttle ; 1870, Nathan H. Tuttle; 
1872, Nelson Hutchins and Gera Goodale; 1874, James A. Segur; 
1876, Nelson Hutchins, Harvey Harmon and William S. Covell; 
1878, Harlow B. Holdridge; 1880, Lyman G. Covell and Nelson 
Hutchins; 1884, Levi D. Harmon and Nelson Hutchins. 

Constables. — 1859, John Hanselman, John McMillen and Henry 
Lamoreux; 1860, John McMillen and A. W. Russell; 1861, D. B. 
Allen and A. W. Russell; 1862, George A. Klock, J. W. Jones 
and A. W. Russell; 1863, John McMillen, George A. Klock and 
J. W.Jones; 1864, Harvey Wheaton, Daniel Hutchins and John 
McMillen; 1865, Daniel Hutchins, George A. Klock and John 
McMillen; 1866, Stephen Weiss, Richard Goodin and John 
Hutchins; 1868, John C. Badger; 1869, John McMillen; 1870, 
George Smiley ; 1872, same ; 1874, Theodore L. Woodworth and 
William Goodale; 1878, John Kissinger, Cyrenus Sutton and 



r 



=irv 



^1 




636 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

William Pannabaker; 1880, James Ryan and Curtis Cassel; 1882, 
John Kissinger and Joseph Hust; 1884, James Ryan and Curtis 

Castell. 

Trustees.— 1859, Philip B. Lobdell; 1860, same; 1861, Ziba 
Jones; 1862, same; 1863, Job GiflFord; 1864, Ziba Jones; 1865, 
John N. Hardy; 1866, Ziba Jones; 1869, Jacob Orwilder; 1870, 
David Orwilder; 1872, Rollin H. Goddard; 1874, same; 1878, 
David Orwilder; 1880, same; 1882, George W. Myers; 1884, 
William Covell. 

BIOGRAPHICAL, 

Robert Brown was born in Oswego County, N. Y., Nov. 25, 
1826. His parents, Jeremiah and Olive Brown, were early set- 
tlers of Ballville Township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, locating there in 
1833, and there the family lived until .1851, then became identi- 
fied with Steuben County. Here his father died Sept. 3, 1859, 
aged sixty-three years. His widow survived until February, 1878, 
aged seventy-five years. The subject of this sketch, Robert 
Brown, and Eliza Ann Redmond were united in marriage Feb. 17, 
1852, at Hillsdale, Mich. She was born in Catskill County, N. 
Y., June 3, 1832. Her parents afterward settled in Seneca County, 
Ohio, remaining there till their death. After his marriage Mr. 
Brown settled on section 4 and bought eighty acres of forest, which 
is now a well-cultivated farm. He also owns in Fremont Town- 
ship an improved tract of fifty-six and a half acres. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brown have had born to them nine children, of whom six are liv- 
ing — Mrs. Joanna McClellan, of Tifiin, Ohio; Horace, Jeanette, 
Clara, Orzella, Elroy, residing at home. Those deceased are — John 
F. died aged ten years; Norton L. died aged ten years; Michael 
J. died aged seventeen years. In politics Mr. Brown has been a 
Republican from the organization of that party, and before that a 

Whig. 

TJrial Carpenter was born in Portage County, Ohio, March 16, 
1831, af son of Samuel and Roxana Carpenter, natives of New 
York and Massachusetts, respectively. In 1842 his parents came to 
Steuben County and settled on section 13, Scott Township. His 
father died inj December, 1861, aged sixty-two years, and his 
mother in [May, 1877, aged seventy-seven years. Seven children 
accompanied their parents to Steuben County — Orson died in 
Jackson ^Township; James N., of Angola; Mrs. Harriet Coe; 
Urial; Mrs. Sarah Tyler, of Angola. Mrs. Eliza Tyler and Alex- 
ander are deceased. Urial Carpenter was reared to the life of a 






l^ 



(i. 



L^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 637 

farmer, remaining with his parents till twenty-five years of age. 
He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and now owns 230 
acres of land on section 13, where he has lived since 1867. The 
greater part of his land is improved, and his residence and farm 
buildings are large and commodious and in good repair. He is 
one of the substantial men of the township, a practical, energetic 
farmer, and a successful business man. His farm shows the care 
of a thrifty and enterprising owner. He was married March 7, 
1853, to Christeann Sowle, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., 
born Jan. 17, ] 833, daughter of .Durfee and Margaret Sowle, who 
settled in Scott Township in 1854, where they both died. They 
have three children — Elroy N., Wilber J., and Lora M. In poli- 
tics Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat. 

Lyman G. Covell was born in Vienna, Oneida Co., N. Y.,Aug. 
25, 1810. His father, William Covell, was born in Danbury, Conn., 
June 13, 1768, and was married June 3, 1791, to Jerusha Hollis, 
who was born June 1, 1775, in Lainsboro, Mass. In 1806 they set- 
tled in Oneida County, N. Y., where the mother died Aug. 19, 
1834. The father died in Macon, Lenawee Co., Mich., while there 
on a visit to his children, July 15, 1850. But two of the family of 
ten children are living — Lyman G., and Mrs. Sarah Tuttle, of 
Macon, Lenawee Co., Mich. After the death of his mother* our 
subject lived in the family of Dr. Chatfield three years, and then 
went to Albany, N. Y., and was employed in a mercantile estab- 
lishment four years. May 13, 1840, he was married in Huron 
County, Ohio, to Maria Hollis, who was born in Charlotte, Chit- 
tenden Co., Yt., Sept. 24, 1815, daughter of Lyman and Betsey 
(Palmer) Hollis, who moved to Huron County in 1835, and lived 
there until their death. Oct. 10, 1840, Mr. Covell came to Steuben 
County, Ind., and located on section 1, Pleasant Township, where 
he made a farm and|lived over eighteen years, and in February, 
1859, moved to Scott Township and settled where he now lives on 
section 15, where he owns eighty acres of choice land. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Covell have been born six children, three of whom are liv- 
ing — Mrs. Elizabeth^Otis, of Butler, DeKalb County; Jerusha E., 
widow of Charles Clark, also of Butler; and William S., on the old 
homestead. Jannette born May 19, 1841, died July 16, 1845; Aby- 
ramdiedin Angola Aug. 6, 1846, aged three years; and James L., 
Nov. 6, 1860, aged sixteen months. Mr. and Mrs. Covell are 
members of the Disciples church. They are kind and charitable 
to the needy and distressed and are always ready with both time 



^ 



^ 






638 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and money to assist anyjwho need their aid. Mr. Covell has until 
the past fourteen years led an active life. In the early years of 
the township he was a school-teacher and also worked at the car- 
penter's trade. He served as Trustee of Pleasant Township, and 
since coming to this township has been Justice of the Peace seven- 
teen years. 

Albert H. Eioing, son of Francis H. and Frances Ewing, was 
born in Niagara County, N. Y., Feb. 5, 1837, and was eighteen 
months old when his parents settled in Steuben County. He was 
reared and educated in this county, remaining at home till after the 
breaking out of the Rebellion. August. 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the 
battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth. He was discharged at 
Battle Creek with a Second Lieutenant's commission in the new 
• regiment, but never joined the new organization. He was married 
Nov. 26, 1865, to Mary Showalter, a native of Wayne County, 
Ohio, born April 20, 1845, daughter of Michael and Mary Sho- 
walter. They have had seven children — James, Alice, Clara (de- 
ceased), Frank, Charles, Mary and Albert. Mr. Ewing owns and 
occupies the old homestead of his father, and to the original 160 
acres has added forty-six, having now a fine farm of 206 acres. 
Politically Mr. Ew^ingis a Republican. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Evangelical church. 

Francis H. Ewing, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Steu- 
ben County, coming in June, 1838, and settling on section 7, Scott 
Township, the following November. He was born in Maryland, 
Dec. 16, 1805. When he was sixteen years of age his parents 
moved to Ontario County, N. Y., and later to Niagara County 
where they died. Mr. Ewing was married in Niagara County in 
1835 to Mrs. Frances Hastings, a widow with one child — Sophia, 
now the widow of Robert L. Douglass, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. 
Ewing was born in Ireland, Aug. 1, 1810. Four sons were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Ewing, one in New York and three in Steuben 
County; the eldest, Albert H,, is the only one living. He now owns 
and occupies the homestead. Thomas died at the age of five years. 
James enlisted in the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, Company A, 
and died, from the eff'ects of disease contracted in the army, at the 
ageof twenty years. Edward A. died aged seventeen years. Mr- 
Ewing came to Steuben County a poor man but by industry and 
frugality he accumulated a comfortable property. His first house, 
a rude log cabin, was for many years one of the old landmarks of 



V' 



^ 



'.^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



G39 



the pioneer days, but in 18Y5 he built one of the finest residences 
in the township which is now the home of his son Albert. May 
8, 1879, he was stricken, when apparently in good health, with 
paralysis and died instantly. His widow survived till Aug. 23, 
1884, spending her last days with her daughter in Cleveland, Ohio. 
Joh?i K. Folch is a native of Pennsylvania, born April 30, 1823. 
When he was four years of age his parents, Abram and Hannah 
Folck, moved to Knox County, Ohio, and thence to Morrow 
County, where he was reared. In 1841 he came to Steuben County, 
with a view of making it his place of residence. He made the 
iourney alone and on foot, but returned to Ohio and in 1845 came 
again to the county and selected a tract of land and girdled the 
trees for future clearing. In 1847 he moved to the county and set- 
tled on the land where he now lives on section XI, Scott Township. 
His farm contains 160 acres of valuable land. Tlie brick school- 
house of District No. 1 is located on the southwest corner of his 
land. Mr. Folck was married in 1843 in Morrow County, Ohio, to 
Margaret Yalentine, who was born in Seneca County, Ohio. She 
died in 1859, aged thirty-six years, leaving five daughters, all now 
married— Mrs. Sarah L. Weiss, Mrs. Hattie E. Myers, Mrs. Ann E. 
Dygert, Mrs. Mary A. Henny, Mrs. Rosa T. Fulmer. In 1860 Mr. 
Folck married Mrs. Martha Rathbun, daughter of Samuel Nichols. 
One son was born to them— Fremont. Mrs. Folck died in 1863, 
ao-ed thirty-five years. In 1870 he was married to Mrs Louisa 
Headley, widow of Daniel Headley, an early settler of Steuben 
County. Mr. Folck has always been a prominent citizen of Scott 
Township, active in promoting its material interests. He has 
served as Assessor twice and once as Appraiser under the old sys- 
tem. He cleared the farm with his own hands, and has made it 
one of the best farms in Scott Township. In politics he was an 
old Abolitionist and now is a Republican. In religion he is liberal, 
believing in all good work, and has never used either whisky or 

tobacco. 

Benedict Oasser was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, Aug. 9, 
1817. In 1833 his parents, John and Anna Gasser, with their fam- 
ily of nine children came to the United States and settled in San- 
dusky County, Ohio, where the mother died the same year and the 
father the following year. The children were then scattered and 
were cared for by different parties. Of the five now living, Anna 
is the wife of Jacob Vanetten, of Sandusky County; Benedict, is 
our subject; Christian, of Jamestown, this county; Joseph, of To- 



-^ 



J'v*- 






"7 



640 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ledo, Ohio; and Mrs. Martha Stephens, of Wisconsin. Mr. Gasser 
was married in Sandusky County, in 1840, to Caroline Albert, a 
native of Hesse, Germany, born Nov. 18, 1819. Two years after 
his marriage he came to Steuben County and settled on section 20, 
Scott Township, on the farm he now owns and occupies. His first 
purchase was forty acres of wild land. This he has cleared and 
improved and has added to it eighty acres, having one of the finest 
farms in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Gasser have a family of nine 
children — Sanford, of Michigan; Mrs. Margaret Wise, of this town- 
ship; John, at home; Mrs. Mary Vinecore, of Nebraska; Frederick, 
of this township; Josephine, of Nebraska; Mrs. Addie Crone, of \ ork 
Township; Eva and Ida at home. In politics Mr. Gasser is a 
Democrat. 

Ananiah Oifford was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., Jan. 
20, 1810. When he was seventeen years of age his parents, Joshua 
and Mercy Gifibrd, moved to Niagara County, N. Y., and in 1834 
to Huron County, Ohio. He lived in Huron County till 1848 
when he came to Steuben County and located on section 35, Scott 
Township, where he now lives. His parents accompanied him to 
this township and died at his house, his mother Jan. 11, 1864, in the 
eighty-third year of her age, and his father Feb. 22, 1869, in his 
ninety-first year. He was an only son and it was to him that the 
duty and pleasure of caring for his parents in their old age fell and 
most faithfully and lovingly did he fulfill the trust. When Mr. Gif- 
ford came to Steuben County he bought 200 acres of land which he 
cleared and improved. He has given forty acres to each of his 
sons, has sold forty acres, and retains eighty acres where he resides. 
He was married in Huron County, Ohio, June 18, 1843, to Jane 
Beard. To them have been born five children, four of whom are 
living — Mrs. Henrietta Cole, of Angola; Joshua, Lewis Charles 
and Ella May at home. Their fourth child, Margaret, died at the 
age of five years. In his early life Mr. Gifford was a Whig, but 
since its organization has affiliated with the Republican party. 

Rollin H. Goddard was born in Portage County, Ohio, Jan. 20, 
1826. His parents, Joab and Martha Goddard, were natives of 
Connecticut, and moved to Portage County in 1824, where his father 
died in 1855 and his mother in 1861. He was reared and educated 
in his native county and in 1855 went to Allegan County, Mich., 
and in 1856 came to Steuben County, locating in the fall of the 
same year on the farm where he now lives, on section 8, Scott 
Township. His farm contains 225 acres of choice land, the greater 



\^ 



-^ 



■^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 641 

part under cultivation . He is one of the substantial farmers of the 
township and is prominently identified with all its interests. He 
has served two terms as Trustee and one term as Justice of the 
Peace, performing all his duties in an efficient and painstaking 
manner. He was married Aug. 11, 1851, to Aramantha A. Merry, 
who was born March 24, 1831. They have two sons — "Warren C. 
lives on and cultivates a part of his father's farm, and Arthur H. 
is a farmer of Adams County, Neb. In politics Mr. Goddard is a 
Republican. 

Jesse Greenamyer was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 
8, 1818. In 1826 his parents, Daniel and Betsey E. Greenamyer, 
moved to Trumbull County, and here a year later his father was 
accidentally killed at the raising of a log house. His mother, with 
the family, returned to Columbiana County, and there Jesse Green- 
amyer lived till he was fifteen years of age, when he started in life 
for himself. His mother died in that county. Mr. Greenamyer 
was married in Portage County, Ohio, March 1, 1840, to Mary 
Paul, who was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 25, 1818. They 
have six children — Mrs. Sarah Beckwith, residing in California; 
Mrs. Mary E. Bunker, living in Fremont; Mrs. Eliza G. Reppert, 
of Branch County, Mich.; Mrs. Harriet M. Green, of Kan- 
sas; George W. and Solomon L., of Steuben County. October, 
1854, our subject came to this county and located on the farm he 
now owns and occupies in section 6, this township. This farm 
contains 115 acres. Both Mr. and Mrs. Greenamyer are consistent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church of forty-four years 
standing. Solomon is a member of the Evangelical church. Mr. 
Greenamyer has been a Republican ever since the organization ot 
the party and before that a Whig. He is industrious and frugal, 
honest and upright in all his intercourse with others, a good citizen 
and loyal to all good work. 

Levi D. Harmon^ son of Samuel and Elizabeth Harmon, was 
born in Putnam County, Ohio, July 12, 1840. His father died in 
that county in 1862, aged fifty-seven years, and his mother, with 
two sons and a daughter, John, Levi D., our subject, and Sarepta, 
now wife of William Tingler, came to this county in 1865. They 
located in Otsego Township where his mother bought a farm which 
she yet owns and occupies. Her children are all living at present 
in this county. Besides those before mentioned there are William; 
Chloe, wife of William Timbers, and Emeline, wife of Josiah Tee- 
garden. Levi D. Harmon enlisted in Company D, One Hundred 



*7 



4^ .^ 



■S<jQ — — «>j ^ 9 x^ 

642 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, Aug. 9, 1862. He was in the At- 
lanta campaign and participated in all the engagements of the reg- 
iment, including the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Lost Mountain, 
Kenesaw Mountain and the battle near Atlanta. He afterward 
served under General Thomas in the battles of Franklin and Nash- 
ville, and was honorably discharged at Salisbury, N. C, after 
which he returned home, and was married in December, 1864, to 
Esther Ann Hayden, by whom he had one child who died in in- 
fancy. She died about fourteen months after her marriage, and 
Aug. 8, 1869, Mr. Harmon married for his second wife Amanda 
Zabst, born in Crawford County, Ohio, April 3, 1846, a daughter 
of John and Catharine Zabst, of Pleasant Township. They have 
three children — Edith Z., Catharine H. and Franklin F. Their 
home is on section 28, where Mr. Harmon owns eighty acres of 
land. He also owns twenty acres in another part of the county. 
In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Cross Waite 
Post, No. 150, G. A. R.,and he and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

I^elson Hutchins was born in Oswego County, N. Y., April 16, 
1818. In 1834 his parents, Ezra and Mahala Hutchins, moved to 
Sandusky County, Ohio, and about eight years later, in 1842, came 
to Scott Township and lived with their son a short time; then 
went to housekeeping; but after the death of the mother the 
father returned to his son's house and made it his home till his 
death. Nelson Hutchins came to Steuben County, Ind.,inl841 
and settled on section 5, Scott Township, buying forty acres of 
heavily timbered land. He has cleared and improved his land 
and now has one of the pleasantest homes in the township. He 
has taken an interest in all public affairs and has made many 
friends. For twenty years he has served as Justice of the Peace, and 
is in every sense of the word a peacemaker, influencing parties 
to settle without litigation when possible. He has also served as 
Treasurer of his township. In politics he is a Republican, but in 
politics, as in religion, he is liberal. He is a member of no 
church, but recognizes the good in all and, as far as his means will 
allow, is liberal to all. He was married in August, 1839, to Maria 
Adams, who died in 1844, leaving three children — Mrs. Francis 
Richardson, Emily (died aged four years), and Admid N. Dee. 
1, 1851, he married Phoebe Jones, who was born in Licking 
County, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1827. They have four children— Mrs. Alice 
Gridley, Ella, William H. and Carrie. 



^ 



• 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 643 

John Wesley Jo?ies, son of Ziba and Flora A. (Everetfi Jones, 
was born in Licking Countv, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1840, and was in the 
ninth year of his age when his parents moved to Scott Township. 
He remained with his parents till his marriage, March 9, 1862, to 
Mary J. Lamoreux. She was born in Yates County, JS". Y., Aug. 
20, 1839, a daughter of Kobert and Elizabeth Lamoreux. In 1844 
her parents settled on section 9, Scott Township, where her father 
died Dec. 25, 1855, aged forty-six years. He left a family of 
seven children — Henry, now of Battle Creek, Mich. ; Mrs. Han- 
nah Ehodes died in 1865, aged twenty-eight years; Mrs. Eliza Metz- 
ger died in 1878, aged thirty-four years; Isaac, of Allegan County, 
Mich.; Mrs. Frances Zabst, of Pleasant Township, and Mrs. Elva 
Bodley, of Angola. The mother is living with her youngest 
daughter, Mrs. Bodley. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had three chil- 
dren — Harvey, Lillie (died in 1873, aged two years), and Flora 
L. Their home on section 9 contains ninety acres of valuable land 
all well cultivated. They have been members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church twenty-three years.. 

Ziha Jones was born in the State of New Hampshire in 1793. 
When a young man he left his native State and became one of the 
first settlers of Licking County, Ohio, and was there married to 
Flora A. Everett, a native of Connecticut, born May 9, 1796, and 
in 1808 moved with her parents to Licking County, In 1848 
they moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on sections, 
Scott Township. He had lost considerable money in Ohio, in the 
culture of silk-worms, and was in limited circumstances when he 
came to Steuben County. He bought seventy acres of land, which 
he cleared of the timber and made a comfortable home, which he 
lived to enjoy. His children all settled near him and his last days 
were his best days. He died Nov. 13, 1880. He was for over 
seventy years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and 
lived a life filled with usefulness and charitable deeds. His wife 
preceded him to the better life, her death occurring March 15, 1872. 
She had been a member of the Methodist church from her 
childhood. Their family of eight children were all born in 
Licking County — Mrs. Sarah Metzger, of Angola; Samuel E. died 
Feb. 11, 1871, aged forty-seven years; Mrs. Phoebe Hutchins; 
Mrs. Matilda Jeggers; Mrs. Selma McClue; Mrs. Flora Green, all 
of Steuben County; Mrs. Martha Lamoreux, of Battle Creek 
Mich.; John Wesley, of this township, and Antha, died in 
infancy. 

qI — ' — 

-^ , — — — ^TkT 



^w 



644: HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



John Sharitt, son of Joseph L. and Rebecca Sharitt, was born 
Sept. 21, 1833, in Coshocton County, Ohio. In 1838 his parents 
separated, his father going to Louisiana where he became a planter 
and slave-holder. He died in that State in 1869. In 1844 the 
mother and her five children moved to Richland County, Ohio. 
There her children grew to manhood, but three subsequently met 
with accidental deaths, viz. . William was killed on the railroad 
at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1851; James A. was drowned in the 
Coshocton River in 1858; and Joseph L. was killed in Louisiana in 
1869, while building a house. Those living are our subject, and 
George D., now in San Francisco, Cal. In 1858 the mother ac- 
companied her son John to Steuben County and died at his house 
in Scott Township, Jan. 19, 1 873, aged seventy-two years. John 
Sharitt lived in Richland County, Ohio, from 1844 till 1858 
and then came to this township and located on the land which is 
now his fine farm of 160 acres, on section 21. At that time it was 
covered with a dense forest and it took many years of toil and 
hardship to bring it to its present state of cultivation. In addi- 
tion to this farm Mr. Sharritt owns acres of land a short dis- 
tance from his home. He was married Aug. 2, 1853, to Margaret 
Kline, who was born in Crawford County, Ohio, April 15, 1833. 
To them have been born ten children, eight of whom are living — 
Mrs. Delilah Mann, of Richland County, Ohio; John C. and Joseph 
L. of Jefferson County, Neb.; Charles O. was killed on the rail- 
road in September, 1883 ; Libbie died June, 1875, in the fourteenth 
year of her age; U. S. Grant is at home; Mrs. Calista Ridnour, 
of Wyandot County, Ohio; Frank O., Armintha and Jay A., are 
at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sharitt and all save one of their children 
are members of the Disciple's church. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. 

Charles A. tSegur was born in Scott Township, this county, 
Jan. 13, 1850, a son of James and (Jlara (Hill) Segur. He was 
reared to a farmer's life, and his education was received in the dis- 
tricts of Scott and Otsego townships — up to the age of seventeen 
years. He then attended the High School at Angola five terms. 
At the age of eighteen years he taught one term in District 2, 
Otsego Township, and several terms following in this and York 
townships, attending in the meantime, the spring and fall terms 
of 1870-'71 and ^72; Hillsdale College, the winters of '72- '3; and 
'73-'74 he taught in Vermillion County, 111. He was employed 
the eight years following in the saw-mill and handle factory, at 



•S< <=- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



645 



Scott Center, and in Decatur, Adams County, this State. In the 
fall of 1882 he was emploved at Pleasant railroad station as agent 
and operator. In the fall of 1883 he was employed at Pleasant 
Lake as teacher and Assistant Superintendent, and in the spring of 
1884 had charge of the Fremont schools, and later was at Hudson 
three months. In the fall of 1884 he took charge of the Hamilton 
schools, which position he now holds. He was married April 23, 
1877, to Stella Rummel, a daughter of George and Cynthia Rum-, 
mel, of this township. She was born April 30, 1857. Mr. Segur, 
when a lad of ten years, met with an accident, a cut on his right 
knee, which has practically exempted him from hard manual labor. 
This changed naturally his life, causing him to become a student, 
and fit himself for a professional life. He is a Republican and 
member of the Christian church as is also his wife. Mr. Segur is 
a gentleman of culture, and well qualified for the responsible posi- 
tion he holds; is as a citizen much respected by all. 

Thomas Tasker was born in Liverpool, England, in 1814, a son 
of John and Elizabeth Tasker. He was married Aug. 8, 1836, to 
Elizabeth Vose, also a native of England. Mr. Tasker became 
early in life much interested in the United States, Being a great 
reader every source of information obtainable was studied, and in 
1850 he left his family in their native country and, accompanied by 
his brother William, came to this country. They came as far west 
as Angola when they were obliged to stop on account of scarcity 
of money, having but 50 cents left. Mr. Tasker found employ- 
ment and went to work and at the end of two years he had enouoh 
to pay for thirty acres of land and send for his iamily, who joined 
him in his new home that year. Mr. Tasker resides on section 8, 
Scott Township. His finely improved farm contains eighty-three 
acres and his residence is commodious and comfortable. He is now 
in the enjoyment of well earned prosperity. While he has a love 
for his native land he thinks that no other country affords the same 
opportunities as America for a poor man to gain a home and afflu- 
ence. He is one of the best informed men in the county on 
statistical history, not only of this country but of the civilized 
world, being a great reader of works (;t a standard character. His 
wife and helpmeet died March 6, 1875; his brother William died 
in this township, March 18, 1876. Their children were — Mary 
Ann, died Oct. 12, 1847; Richard, who was killed in Virginia 
while a soldier in the war for the Union; William, of this township, 
also a soldier in the civil war; Elizabeth, widow of James Pew; 
41 



9 



-sK 



\ 

-•■-> 



«- 



6i6 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



■^ 



Sarah, Thomas, Rosetta and Charley, in this township; James 
died at the age of eighteen months, soon after the family came to 
this country. Mr. Tasker has great respect for honesty and 
morality, but none for creeds and dogmas. He hates the very 
sight of a scoundrel, especially one that is always prating about 
another world. He thinks that if the churches were made into 
school-houses and the preachers into teachers, with one-half the 
expenses that it takes to run the churches we could have a paradise 
in this world that was never dreamed of in another. He thinks we 
neglect this world for the sake of another, and that other a very 
doubtful one; or, in other words, he believes one world at a time is 
all we can attend to. 




-^ 



w> 



\' 



-*v 



-4*. 



CHAPTEK XYIII. 

PLEASANT TO Win SHIP. 



Geography. — Description. — First Land Entries and First Set- 
tlers. — Cutting a Koad to Fremont. — Other Early Settlers. 
— First Religious Services and Schools. — First Marriage and 
Birth. — List of Living Pioneers. — Population. — Property 
AND Valuation. — Agricultural Statistics. — Politics. — Presi- 
dential Vote since 1840. — Detailed Yote in 1884. — List of 
Township Officals since 1850. — Angola. — Survey. — Becomes 
THE County Seat. — First Houses. — Postoffice. — First Law- 
yers AND Physicians. — Banks. — Angola Incorporated. — Ad- 
ditions to Town Plat. — Business Revival of 1870. — Present 
Business Directory. — Banks. — Town Officials. — Professional 
Men. — Churches . — Societies.— Biographical. 

The township of Pleasant, most appropriately named, is the cen- 
tral one of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north 
by Jamestown, on the east by Scott, on the south by Steuben, and 
on the west by Jackson. It is numbered congressional township 
37 north, range 13 east. It is six miles north and south bv nearly 
that distance east and west. It contains therefore thirty-five square 
miles, or 22,000 acres, of which 3,000 are covered by water. In 
the northern part, covering parts of sections 4 and 10, and most of 
section 3, lies a portion of Lake James, the largest body of water 
in the county. Crooked Lake, another large one, lies on sections 
9, 17, 8, 16, 7 and 6. Silver Lake lies on parts of sections 29, 30, 
31 and 32. Fox Lake, near Angola, is on 27, 33 and 34; Cheese- 
boro Lake is on 19, on the township line; Loon Lake is on 20 
touching 21; Center Lake on 22; and there are several other small 
lakes. The township is crossed in the eastern part by the Fort 
Wayne & Jackson branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Railroad, 
having but one station within the township — Angola. 

John Stealy, a Free-Will Baptist minister, made the first entry 
of land in the township in August, 1835, it being the southwest 
quarter of section 34, township 37, range 18- On the 17th of Feb- 
-^^.^ (MI) , I lo 



^ 



■vt ^ ^ ^t ^ 

64.8 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ruarv, 1836, himself and family arrived in the township, having 
come from Marion County, Ohio. Samuel Pierson and family 
were the next settlers, they coming in May of the same year, from 
Ypfeilanti, Mich. In April, 1836, Thomas Gale and Cornelius 
Gilmore came and entered the land upon which Angola is now 

, built. In August, 1836, Daniel and David Phenicie arrived, and 
settled about three miles northeast of Angola. They opened the 
road from a point about one mile south of Fremont to section 12 of 
this township. There, by a previous arrangement, they were met 
bv Cornelius Gilmore and John Whelan, who had cut the road to 
that point. On the following day Daniel Phenicie drove the first 
team into Angola from the direction of what was then Brock ville, 
now Fremont. 

Previous to 1840 the following named persons entered land and 
settled in the township, in addition to those already mentioned : 
Reuben B. Phelps, Fremont Case, Francis Sowle, Abel Sowle, 
Andrew Torkey, Joseph Sowle, Amos Carpenter, Alexander Ward, 
Thomas Mugg, J. Pierce, James Smith, Stephen Cary, William 
M. Cary, Michael Alcott, Daniel Higbee, Isaac Miller, Alonzo 
Strong, Daniel Gale, James H. Johnson, William B. Sherwood, A. 
S. Sherwood, Mr. Yanwormer, King Ireland, Peter Bowman, 
Robert L. Douglass, Dr. M. F. Morse, Joel Weber, William Chay- 
ter, Julius Spencer, Jesse M. Gale, Adolphus Gale, Lyman G. 
Coveli, Dr. James McConnell, George W. McConnell, John Gale, 
William McConnell, George W. Balding, G. Mugg, George C. 
Latson, Mr. Howell, E. Sleer, D. E. Palmer, E. Grain and James 
Lock wood. 

The first religious meeting held in the township was at the resi- 
dence of Elder Stealy, in 1837. The first school was kept in one ot 
the rooms of Mr. Stealy's house in 1838, Hortense Miner being 
the teacher. A select school was taught at Angola in 1839, in the 
hotel erected by Darius Orton, and another schojl was taught fur- 
ther west, on Maumee street. Tiie first school-house was erected 
in 184:0, near where the Methodist church now is. 

Elder Stealy performed the first marriage ceremony in the town- 
ship, William Cummings and Elmira Clark being the parties uni- 
ted. The first white child born in the township was Lydia Stealy, 
afterward the wife of Chester Adams. Her birth occurred on the 
6th of April, 1836. 

Among the first settlers of Pleasant Township who are still liv- 
ino- are: Mrs. Perraelia Case, widow of Freeman Case, A. W. 



-^. 



\ 







HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



649 



Hendrj and wife, Francis Sowle, L. G. Covell, Daniel Gale, Dr. M. 
F. Morse, Jesse M. Gale, George W. McConnell, George W. Bald- 
ing, Gilbert Mngg, D. E. Palmer, Lewis and Jacob Stealy (sons of 
John Stealy). 

James Barr (deceased) was born near Bellefonte, Center Co., Pa., 
Nov. 1, 1793. A few years later his parents moved to Fairfield 
County, Ohio, where in 1824 he married Miss Elizabeth Thompson. 
In 1830 they removed to Richland County, Ohio, whither his par- 
euts and brother had preceded him some twelve years, settling in 
Troy Township, about nine miles southwest of Mansfield. Having 
concluded to move farther west he pulled up stakes in the Buck- 
eye State in 1846, and on the 14th day of October arrived in An- 
gola, putting up for a short time with the family of George W. 
Balding, near the village, until the log school-house in that vicinity 
could be finished. This school-house they occupied until they could 
build for themselves a log-cabin and finish it off. George W. Po- 
land, who subsequently married Mr. Barr's eldest daughter, came 
here with them from Ohio, and cut and hewed the logs for their 
first house. He also got out the flooring with his broad-ax. 
Puncheon floors were not unusual in those days in this new coun- 
try. The house was built on the farm where Urial Carpenter now 
lives. In 1865, having sold his farm, Mr. Barr removed to An- 
gola, near the grist-mill. Here his wife died May 9, 1866, aged 
sixty-nine years seven months and twenty-seven days. Oct. 20, 
1869, he was married again, to Mrs. Frederica Freygang, widow ot 
C. J. Freygang. This wife survived his death. Mr. Barr had two 
brothers and two sisters, all uf whom preceded him across the 
dark river, the last one having died about 1868. He was the father 
of eight children — five sons and three daughters. Five of the 
eight, all that were living, were present at his funeral. His death 
occurred at Angola, April 16, 1881, at the age of eighty-seven years 
five months and fifteen days. He had been a member of the Asso- 
ciated Reformed church from early in life until his removal to this 
county, in 1846, after which time he remained disconnected with 
any church. 

Emanuel Bigler (deceased) was born at Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 
7, 1805, at which place he lived until he reached the age of four- 
teen, when he emigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, with his uncle, 
Richard Murray. In the year 1828 he was married to Anna Ew- 
ing, of Wayne County, Ohio, who died in February, 1882. In 
September, 1848, Mr. Bigler and family came to this State and 






^5 



l_ 



€50 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



county, settling in Pleasant Township on the farm now owned by 
his son, Levi Bigler. The country was then quite new and they 
suffered the many privations incident to pioneer life. Mr. Bigler 
died at Angola, June 3, 1882, at the age of seventy-six years, five 
months and twenty-six days, being survived by eight of his ten 
children. All were present at his funeral except James Bigler, of 
Oakland, Cal.; David Bigler, of Catson City, Nev., and Mrs. Maria 
Gary, of San Jose, Cal. Mr. Bigler united with the Lutheran church 
when about thirty years old, was a constant member the remainder 
of his life, and died hoping to be crowned with immortality. 

John Conklin Bodley (deceased) was born in Plymouth, Rich- 
land Co., Ohio, in 1821, and was the oldest of thirteen cliildren. 
When he was about eighteen years of age he united with the Pres- 
byterian church at that place, and his after life was always consist- 
ent with the professions he then made. He was married Dec. 25, 
1844, in Richland County, to Nancy O. Conger. Seven children 
blessed their union, onl}' three of whom survived their father. In 
1846 Mr. Bodley and wife removed from Ohio to Indiana, settling 
in Salem Township, this county, where they lived until 1869, when 
they came to Angola. Here Mr. Bodley resided the remainder of 
his life, engaged in buying wheat, and as a dealer in agricultural 
implements. He died Monday, Aug, 25, 1879, in consequence of 
injuries received in being thrown from a buggy a week previous. 
He was a man who was well known throughout rhis and adjoining 
counties, and was universally respected. He was a kind-hearted 
neighbor and always stood in readiness to do for those in need, 
visiting the widows and the fatherless and comforting those in 
affliction. Anything that added to the prosperity of his town or 
county in general always received his hearty aid and support, and 
the place he left vacant was one not easily filled. 

Peter Bowman (deceased), long an exemplary citizen of Angola, 
came to this county from Ohio about 1839, and was always counted 
as one of the pioneers, although he was hardly more than a boy at 
the time. He was a house carpenter and joiner by trade, and was 
a very steady, quiet and industrious man and an excellent citizen. 
He was elected Sheriff of the county in 1857, and filled that respon- 
sible position acceptably for four years. He was married in Feb- 
ruary, 1858. For a number of years he was a victim of the dread 
disease, consumption, to which he finally yielded. His demise 
occurred Dec. 23, 1877. He left four sons and three daughters 
besides his widow. 



. q — 



~s 



W 



4^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



651 



Ezekiel Grain (deceased) was born in Orano^e County, Yt. , and 
in 1824 was married to Rebecca, his life companion, who was 
born in Lower Canada, May 4, 1804. They emigrated to Wash- 
tenaw County, Mich., in 1835, and came to Steuben County in 1838, 
settling on the farm where they both died, Mr. Crain dying in 
1863, and his wife surviving until Feb. 25, 1879. Eight children 
were born to them, one of whom died at birth, the others, six sons 
and one daughter, surviving both their parents. In an early day 
Mr. and Mrs. C. united with the Free-Will Baptist church, and 
they remained faithful members of the same until the church or- 
ganization here was broken up, after which time they did not unite 
with any other church. 

Thomas Gale (deceased) was one of the founders of the town of 
Angola and one of its most prominent citizens for thirty years. 
Thomas Gale and Sarah Goldsmith were united in marriage in 
Orange County, N. Y. , Sept. 12,1820. From this union came 
three children, all girls. Elizabeth, the eldest, married Dr. M. F. 
Morse; Eugenia L., married Thomas Moore, and the youngest, 
Louisa, married A. W. Hendry. Mrs. Gale died Feb. 15, 1830. 
Being mindful of the fact that it is not good to be alone, Mr. Gale, 
on Nov. 16 of the same year, was married at Bucyrus, Ohio, to 
Martha Cary, who was for more than a third of a century there- 
after his faithful companion, sharing his toils and enjoying with 
him the fruits of his achievements. Miss Cary was born in Morris 
County, N. J., May 24, 1793, and emigrated to Ohio in 1826. 
Closely following her marriage to Judge Gale they turned their 
faces toward the setting sun, when, arriving in Indiana, they set- 
tled on Mangoguinoug Frairie, Lagrange Co. Judge Gale has the 
credit of being one of the founders of the county seat of Steuben 
County, for he and Cornelius Gilmore laid out the original plat of 
Angola; and through the indefatigable eflforts of the Judge, the 
county seat was here located soon after the organization of the 
county, which occurred in June, 1837. Judge Gale died Jan. 23, 
1865, but his widow lived to see Angola in its present prosperity. 
She died Jan. 11, 1881, aged eighty-seven years seven months and 
seventeen days. During the latter part of her life she made her 
home with her son-in-law, A. W. Hendr3\ She was reared under 
Quaker influences, but joined the Presbyterian church soon after 
her arrival in this State. Thence they removed three years later 
to Lima, the county seat of Lagrange County, which then also 
comprised what are now De Kalb and Steuben counties. During 



■© 



652 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

their residence in Laejrange County the memorable Black Hawk 
war occurred, during which the Indians killed the unfortunate in- 
mates and burned the house of a near neighbor of Mr. and Mrs. 
Gale. Great excitement prevailed throughout all the country, 
this section being then and for many years thereafter peopled ex- 
tensively by the Pottawatomie Indians. In the fall of 1836 
Judge Gale and wife removed to where Angola now is, but which 
was then a wilderness. Mr. Gale served in the Legislature of In- 
diana in the years 1836 and 1837. Following this he was elected 
Associate Judge in 1838, serving one term. 

Walter Ingersoll (deceased) came from Ohio to this county in 
1837, and settled on a farm in Pleasant Township, in what was 
called the Sowle settlement. While in Ohio he was married to 
Rachel Sowle. She was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., 
April 25, 1816, moved with her parents to Oneida County in 1825, 
and from there to Ohio in 1833. Mr. Ingersoll died in April, 1856. 
and in the same year she was married again to Alexander Britton, 
who died in 1864. In 1876 Mrs. Britton broke up housekeeping 
and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. J. A. Myrtle, until 
within two weeks of her death. She died at the residence of her 
son, O. F. Ingersoll, April 18, 1883. She left two other children 
by her first husband, Mrs. Joseph Pifer and Abel S. Ingersoll. 

John H. Kahnkamp (deceased) was born in Germany, Dec. 23, 
1796, and emigrated thence in May, 1844, soon finding himself 
without means at Wooster, Ohio. Going industriously at work he 
soon saved a nucleus, and in September of the following year 
came to Steuben County and purchased forty-four acres of land 
north of Angola, making a small payment thereon. Here he com 
menced life anew with a large family, and by industry and fru- 
gality succeeded in opening and improving one of the good farms 
of the county, and placing his family in comfortable circumstances. 
He was the father of seventeen children by one wife, and eight of 
them survived his death, which occurred Aug. 25, 1880, when he 
was at the ripe age of eighty-three. 

Adam Metzger (deceased) was born in Lewisburg, Pa., April 26, 
1806, and died Aug. 31, 1881, at the age of seventy-five years, 
four months and five days. In 1840 he came to this county and 
settled on a farm near Hamilton, where he resided two years, but 
finding himself not adapted to farming removed to Angola, where 
he resided up to the time of his death. Here he worked at his 
trade, that of a mason and house plasterer, until the last summer 






^^ 



(0^ 



HISTOKT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



653 



of his life, when he was stricken with paralysis. He was the 
father of fonr children, two sons and two daughters — Jacob and 
John, Mrs. Ambrose Snyder and Mrs. Jesse M. Gale. Mr. Metz- 
ger's first wife, the mother of his children, died about 1862, after 
which he married Mrs. Sarah Jagger. 

James Lockwood (deceased) was born in Niagara County, N.Y., 
in December, 1803, and was married in the same county July 6, 
1828, to Miss Ann Berry. He moved from there to Steuben 
County in the spring of 1837, and settled on the farm now owned 
by Charles McClue. He went further West, to Cass County, Ohio, 
in 1855, where he lost his wife by death Oct. 21, 1876. Returning 
to this county he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. M. L. 
Freligh, until his death, April 24, 1881, at the a^-e of seventy- 
seven years and four months. He was the father of five children, 
four daughters and one son, of whom two daughters Survived him, 
Mrs. Freligh, and Mrs. Robert Kirk, of Omaha, Neb. Mr. Lock- 
wood united with the M. E. church when quite young, and was a 
consistent member through life. 

Almeron Sylvester Sherwood (deceased) was born in Yates 
County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1829, and came to this State and county in 
1838, when but nine years old, being therefore one of the early 
settlers and pioneers of this county. In 1850 he was married to 
Miss Mary Hasting, by whom he had five children, three of whom 
preceded Mr. Sherwood to the future world. Mr. Sherwood's 
father settled upon the farm which afterward became Almeron's 
home, and where the latter lived up to the day of his death, with 
the exception of a few years passed upon another farm a few miles 

west. 

In the fall of 1880, while he*was walking across the public 
square in Angola, a man driving at a careless and rapid rate ran 
against him, knocking him down and inflicting such severe injuries 
in his side and head that he had to be carried from the place. 
However, after a few days of confinement, he recovered sufiiciently 
to be able to be up and around again, yet never being free from the 
effects of the accident; and he very frequently complained of hav- 
ing distressing pain in his head, which, however, no one thought 
serious. He appeared as well as usual on Sunday, Nov. 18, 
walking over the farm with his sun William, who had just re- 
turned from an extended visit in the West. He seemed to be 
quite cheerful and talkative. The family retired about ten o'clock. 
His wife soon heard him making a strange noise, and tried to 






^5 



€) 



654 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



arouse liim, but could not. She became alarmed and called up the 
rest of the family, but all efforts to arouse him were in vain. They 
summoned their nearest neighbors, but before any could get there 
he was dead, Nov. 19, 1882. 

Mr. Sherwood was a man who possessed a character and reputa- 
tion which won for him the honor and esteem of all who knew 
him. He was especially esteemed as a generous and obliging 
neighbor; and it is safe to say that no one who was in need ever 
applied to him for a favor that was not cheerfully granted. 

Abel Sowle (deceased) was born Nov. 14, 1810, in Montgomery 
County, N. Y. ; moved with his parents to Oneida County, N. Y., 
when about twelve years old. He was married in 1832 to Lovana 
Miles. In 1835 he moved to Ohio, and two years later he came to 
this State and county. His first wife dying, he was married in 
1850 to Jane "Warner. He was the father of thirteen children, 
ten by his first wife and three by his second. He died Sept. 9, 
1882, of heart disease, leaving eight children, five by his first wife 
and three by his second. He had been in poor health for some 
time, and his death was not entirely unexpected. 

Simon Spangle (deceased) was born in Hopewell, Ontario Co., 
N. Y., April 2, 1818, and removed with his parents to Seneca 
County, Ohio, when but nine years old. In that county, in 1839, 
he was married to Harriet Bennett, and in 1850 he came with his 
family to Steuben County. He died at his residence, three miles 
north of Angola, Dec. 30, 1881, aged sixty-three years, eight months 
and twenty-eight days. He was the father of ten children, four 
sons and six daughters, five of whom survived his death. His 
funeral took place at the Sand Hill school-house. 

Christian Stealy (deceased), tHe eldest of the twelve children of 
Rev. John Stealy, was born at Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, Dec. 
13, 1818. When he was two years old his parents removed to 
Marion County, Ohio, where they remained until he was eighteen 
years of age. As the country was new, he experienced there the 
hardships and privations of pioneer life. Not being satisfied with 
their location, his father came to Steuben County in September, 
1835, entered his land, now the property of Lewis Stealy, returned, 
and in February, 1836, removed with his family to the farm stated. 
He being the first settler of Pleasant Township, underwent many 
experiences which were shared by Christian. 

The redskins were then the only other inhabitants of this contin- 
uous forest, but they were removed west in 1839. At the age of 






*7- 



.i- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 655 

twenty-five Christian learned the tanner's trade, serving as an ap- 
prentice under Henry B. Darragh, of Angola. In November, 
1848, he was married to Miss Catharine Wrighter, of Angola, by 
whom he had two daughters. In August, 1861, he and his youngest 
brother, John H. Stealy, enlisted in Company A, Forty-fourth Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry, in which they performed their duties as 
lifers. In February, 1862, his brother died of typhoid fever, and 
in the following June he himself was discharged from the service. 
He returned home and remained a resident of the county until 
his death. 

From 1860 to 1867 he was a member of the Angola Cornet Band, 
and he was also a member of Freygang's orchestra. He was a fine 
musician, and many pieces bear his name as composer. He died 
May 21, 1883, aged sixty-four years, five months and eight days, 
his disease being cancer of the stomach. His younger daughter 
died Aug. 7, 1869, and his remaining daughter, Sarah Stealy, was 
married to Silas R. Williams April 2, 1868. 

George W. Wickwise (deceased) was born in Ontario County, N. 
Y., Sept. 20, 1816. He was married to Loretta Lemmon Jan. 1, 1841, 
by whom he had three children — G. R,., Loretta and Laura, all of 
whom are living. His first wife died May 15, 1851, and Jan. 13, 
1852, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Hanna. By her he 
had seven children — Nancy, Thomas, Josephine, Charles, Garry, 
Nellie and Wilma. Dec. 16, 1857, his second wife died. When 
quite young Mr. Wickwise removed to Ohio. In 1835 he came 
to Indiana, and for a year or more he carried the mail on the old 
route between Goshen and Sturgis. He then returned to Ohio, 
where he remained until 1847. In that year he removed to An- 
gola, where he resided until his death, O^t. 5, 1883. He was one 
of the proprietors of the Angola Bank from the time it was estab- 
lished until his death. Mr. Wickwise was a prominent member of 
the Masonic fraternity. 

Loton Wells (deceased) was bora in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., 
July 6, 1810, and removed to Ohio when quite young. In Lorain 
County, that State, in 1834, he was united in marriage to Miss Anu 
Sowle. In the spring of 1838 he left Lorain County with his 
young wife and two children, came to Indiana and chose Steuben 
County for a home. He settled two and a half miles north of An- 
gola. Indians were then more numerous than whites, and the 
country presented a much less attractive appearance than now. 
Twenty years later he removed to Jackson Township. His wife 



i 



\ 



(0 



656 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



died in March, 1879, and he followed her Aug. 6, 1882, at the age 
vf seventy-two years. He was the father of nine children, six sons 
and three daughters, seven of whom survived his death. He was 
a member of the Christian church for more than twenty -live years. 
Politically he was a stanch Democrat. 

Edward Yager (deceased) was born in Hudson, Columbiaim Co., 
N. Y., Feb. 23, 1817. He was married Sept. 26, 1838, to Miss 
Mary Ann Hubbard, who preceded him to the better world March 
16, 1870. His own death occurred the morning of Jan. 1, 1880, 
and he accordingly passed New Year's day in a reunion with his 
wife, in the laud of eternal rest. He left three sons and two daugh- 
ters, and one son and one daughter died in childhood. 

Mr. Yager came to Indiana in the autumn of 1855 and settled 
on a farm in Pleasant Township, where he resided until 1877. He 
then moved to Angola, soon after making his last change of resi- 
dence to the place where he died. In his early life he united with 
the Baptist church, of which he remained a consistent member as 
long as he lived. As long as Baptist services were held at the 
Lake Gage school-house he was always a faithful attendant; and 
he ever assisted the cause of religion by his means and inHuence. 
The disease to which he succumbed was consumption, from which 
he suffered for live years. His long illness was borne with great 
patience. All who knew him speak of him in words of praise, as 
honorable in all his dealings, as an upright and religious man. He 
was industrious and kind, and never known to have any difficulties 
with his neighbors. 

The population of the township, outside of Angola, was in 1870, 
999, and in 1880, 1,203; an increase of 204. The density of popu- 
lation is accordingly nearly sixty per square mile. 

In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed, including Angola, 
was 18,903.40; value of same, |309,205; value of improvements, 
$227,370; value of personal property, $176,045; total valuation, 
$732,520; number of polls, 380; number of dogs, 114; total taxes 
levied, $12,423.74. 

The following statistics of leading crops are for the last census 
year — 1880: Acres of wheat sown,3,412; average yield per acre, 17 
bushels ; total crop, 58,004 bushels; acres of corn, 1,963; average 
yield per acre of upland, 32 bushels; per acre of bottom, 30 bushels; 
total crop, 62,256 bushels; acres of oats, 672; average yield per 
acre, 29 bushels; total crop, 19,488 bushels; acres in meadow, 594; 
average yieldof hay per acre, 1^ tons; total crop, 891 tons; acres 



*7- 



i \ 



-s- U- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



657 



in potatoes, 55; average yield per acre, 58 bushels; total crop, 3,190 

bushels. 

In politics Pleasant Township has given unitbrra Republican 

majorities since the organization of that party; before 1856 it was 

carried by the Whigs every presidential year except one — 1848, 

when the Democrats won a victory by the defection of the Free- 

Soilers from the Whig ranks. The smallest plurality ever ^iven 

for President was in 1852, 13 for Scott; and the largest, in 1876, 

204 for Hayes. The total vote of the township has increased from 

83 in 1840 to 700 in 1884. Following is the vote for President 

each presidential year since 1840: 

1864— Abraham Lincolo 222 136 

George B. McClellan. .86 

1868— Ulysses S. Grant 241 123 

Horatio Seymour 118 

1873— Ulysses S. Grant 231 157 

Horace Greeley 174 

Charles O'Conor 1 

1876— Rutherford B. Hayes. .413 204 
Samuel J. Tilden ....209 
Peter Cooper 28 

1880— James A. Garfield 396 122 

Winfield S. Hancock . .274 
James B. Weavt-r 14 

1884— James G. Blaine 376 87 

Grover Cleveland 291 

B -njamiu F. Butler . . .26 
John P. St. Jo'^n 7 



.1840— William H. Harrison.. .53 23 
Martin Van Buren 30 

1844— Hen rv Clay 65 23 

James K.Polk 42 

Henry G. Birney 4 

1848— Lewis Cass 73 21 

Zachary Taylor 52 

Martin Van Buren 34 

1853— Winfleld Scott 70 13 

Franklin Pierce 57 

John P. Hale 2 

1856— John C. Fremont 124 19 

James Buchanan 105 

Millard Fillmore 4 

1860 -Abraham Lincoln 178 116 

Stephen A. D mglas 63 

John Bell 36 



John C. Breckinridge. . .6 
The detailed vote on State, district and county tickets in 1884 
was as follows: 



Gonernor. 

William H. Calkins 373 83 

Isaac P.Gray 290 

Hiram Z. Leonard 14 

Robert S. Dwi/gins . 13 

Congressman. 

Theron P. Keator 377 85 

Robeil Lowry 292 

Jes>e M. Gale 12 

George F. Hartsuck 9 

Prosecutor. 

H. nry C. Peterson 360 45 

Frank M. Powers 315 

Senator. 

Nicholas Ensl«y 376 73 

Lafayette J. Miller 303 

Representative. 

DoakR. Best 354 34 

William W. Wyrick 320 



Commissioners. 

Herman C Shutts 377 88 

Adam Failing 289 

Thomas McClue 23 

Daniel P. Rumraell 364 59 

Alvah Car I enter 305 

John D jgert 21 

John M. Sewell 147 147 

Sheriff. 

Allen Fast 379 94 

Charles Squires 285 

Thomas R. Moffett 25 

Treasurer. 

Clay Lemmon 377 135 

Edwin Jackson 242 

Martin V. Gam 17 

Surveyor. 

Robert G. Morley 374 62 

Moses J. Parsell 312 

Coroner. 

T. Ray Morrison 368 48 

Edward B. Simmons 320 



^! 



10 



658 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

FollowiDg is a list of those who have held office in the township 
since 1860, with the years in which they were elected: 

J.ss^5«or5.— 1850, Thomas Mugg; 1851, same; 1852, same; 1854, 
Daniel Parsons; 1856, G. C. Latson; 1858, Daniel S. Divelbess; 
1860, H. A. Wakefield; 1861, John Patterson; 1862, Oliver A. 
Crockett; 1864, same; 1866, same; 1868, same; 1870, Samuel 
Gates; 1872, Jacob Stealey; 1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, W. H. 
Twichell; 1880, Oliver A. Crockett; 1882, same. 

Justices of the Peace.— 1S55, Peter Snyder, George W. Wick- 
wise and Christian Fast; 1856, William C. Weicht; 1859, Chris- 
tian Fast and William Carkhuff ; 1860, William C. Weicht and E. 
O. Rose; 1861, Jesse Squier; 1862, B. F. Dawson and Asa M. 
Tinker; 1864, Harvey H. Fanning and Lewis E. Carver; 1865, 
Israel Kemery; 1868, Leland H. Stocker and William W. Squier; 
1869, Daniel E. Palmer; 1870, William W. Squier and Leland Jl. 
Stocker; 1872, Daniel E. Palmer; 1874, William W. Squier and 
Benjamin F. Dawson; 1876, Peter Bowman; 1878, Edson J. 
Fitch; 1880, Benjamin F. Dawson, William W. Squier and John 
K. Morrow; 1884, William W. Squier, A. Judson Corbin and John 

K. Morrow. 

Oonstahles. —1S58, Israel Kemery, W. W. Griswold and L. 

Wells; 1859, Edward Schneider, Israel Kemery and C. L. Gillett; 

1860, Charles L. Gillett, Alfred Osborn and Eobert Sowle; 1861, 
Leopold Weicht, N. W. Griswold and James B. Evven; 1862, N. 
W. Griswold, Leopold Weicht and Lewis Snyder; 1863, Nathan 
W. Griswold, Thomas Shuray and Lewis Snyder; 1864, L. L. 
Black, Nahum Cobb and William Palfreyman; 1865, C. A. Morse; 
1866, W. Palfreyman, L. L. Black and N. Cobb; 1868, L. L. 
Black, Robert Legg and John Richardson; 1869, L. L. Black, 
Robert Legg and T. E. Legg; 1870, Absalom Kemery, L. L. Black 
and Philip Sommer; 1872, Samuel Truesdell, Absalom Kemery 
and L. L. Black; 1874, Alvah Carpenter and Silas Yager; 1878, 
Alvah Carpenter, John Carson and John Peters; 1880, John Pe- 
ters, David Scovell and John Carson; 1882, John Carson, James 
Wood and John Peters; 1884, John Carson, Daniel Scoville and 

Evan Mathews. 

Trustees. — 1859, Asa M. Tinker; 1860, W. Irving Howard; 

1861, same; 1862, same; 1863, Alanson W. Hendry; 1864, same; 
1865, same; 1866, same; 1867, same; 1868, W. Irving Howard; 
1869, same; 1870, same; 1872, David Eberleg; 1874, same; 1878, 
Charles Bachelor; 1880, same: 1882, Joseph Butler; 1884, Orville 
Carver. 



I 




HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 659 



ANGOLA, 



-71 



the county feat of Steuben, is beautifully situated on rolling 
ground, on sections 26, 27 and 35. It was surveyed April 5, 1838, 
by Erastus Farnham and Aaron B. Goodwin, the plat being re- 
corded in June of that year. The year previous the strife for the 
location of the county seat took place between the owners of An- 
gola and those of Steubenville, which was situated a few miles 
south. The former came off victorious, Messrs. Gale and Gilmore 
agreeing to erect the necessary county buildings, in addition to 
donating the site for the same and a public square. The conrt- 
house was completed in 1841. 

The lirst house was erected in Angola in the fall of 1836 by 
Cornelius Gilmore, but he had built a rude shanty a few months 
Vtefo re that time. The house was used for the accommodation oi 
travelers for a short time, but soon after Darius Orton erected the 
first frame building in the place, which is still standing on the 
corner of Maumee and Elizabeth streets, and this was the first bona- 
ilde hotel. The first session of the Steuben County Circuit Court 
met at the residence of Cornelius Gilmore, but adjourned to that 
of Thomas Gale, 

The postoffice was established at Angola in 1838, Dr. James Mc- 
Connell being the first Postmaster. Thomas Gale kept the first 
store in town, occupying a tamarack log-house on the east side of 
the public square. 

The first lawyers in Angola were Robert L. Douglas, Daniel E. 
Palmer and E. R. May, all of whom came in 1838. Dr. James 
McConnell was the first physician, as well as the first County 
Recorder. 

The first bank in the town of Angola, as well as in Steuben 
County, was the Steuben County Bank, which whs organized in 
1854, and continued in operation but a year or two. The town was 
without a bank until 1870, when C. F. Kinney and others organ- 
ized the banking house of Kinney & Co. In 1873 Robert Pow 
started a bank which was in 1876 reconstructed as the present 
Angola Bank. 

Angola was incorporated as a town Oct. 1, 1866. Since the 
original survey the following persons have laid out additions to it: 
Cornelius Gilmore, James Jackson, Wickwire, Jackson & Moore, 
Tliomas B. Morse, Abel Cary, Justin Darling, A. W. Hendry, 
Joseph A. Woodhull, Franklin Cary, E. B. Glasgow, O. W. 



L- 



V 



660 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Parish, John J. Metzo^er, E. L. Morse, George W. McConnell, 
Battersons and Henrj F. Leavitt. 

In 1870 the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Kailroad was com- 
pleted through the county, since which time a new era of pros- 
perity has dawned upon Angola. There are already many fine 
business houses and residences, and the people are enjoying a 
steadily growing prosperity. The only town of any size in the 
county, with no rivals within a day's wagon ride, Angola certainly 
has a bright future before it. During the revival year, 1870, im- 
provements were made in Angola to the value of $96,475. Among 
the buildings erected that year were the James Jackson brick 
block, $14,000; and the brick block of Willis and others, $8,000. 

BUSINESS FIRMS. 

» 

Following is a list of the present business firms of Angola : H. 
B. Annis, Morse House; A. J. Barjarow, ax-helve factory; Misses 
Beaver & Weicht, dressmaking; Charles Bew, feed stable; Bodley 
& Co., meat market; G. N. Bodley, grocery and bakery; J. R. 
Boone, creamery; F. E. Burt, jewelry and books; J. N. Carpenter 
& Son, saloon; O. Carver, drugs; O. Carver & Bro., hardware; 
W. S. Cary, blacksmith; W. H. Cole, brick and tile; Crockett & 
Reeves, jewelers; L. A. Dickerson, groceries; J. S. Draper, drugs; 
Eberly & Longabaugh, dry goods; Ewers Bros., brick; Ferrier, 
Rakestraw & Co., Bepuhlican; W. D. French, agricultural imple- 
ments; Jason Gillis, groceries; L. A. Hendry & Co., dry -goods; 
W. W. Hilldrith, foundry and machine shop; John B. Hoff", photog- 
rapher ; W. H. Jackson, pumps ; W. H. Jarrard, saloon ; Allen 
Jarvis, harness; Jordan & Spangle, meat market; Israel Kemery, 
Russell House; F. Killinger, saloon; H. Killinger, wagons and 
carriages; Kinney & Co., bank; S. R. Latson, dry-goods; O. H. 
Leas, livery ; T. E. Legg, livery ; Robert Lutz, sewing machines; 
J. C. McCrary, furniture ; J. McKillen, barber ; Mentzenberger, 
grocery and restaurant ; G. W. Miller, grist-mill ; Miss Moffett, 
dressmaker; P. G. Mofiett, wagon shop; H. Morrow, shoe shop; 
John H. Moss, agricultural implements; S. A. Moss & Sons, dry- 
goods; Gilbert Mugg, saloon; R. Myrtle, restaurant; John Nyce, 
painter; Miss L.J. Orton, millinery; A. Osborn, Cashier Angola 
Bank; A. Osborn, express agent; O.W. Parish, foundry; Freeborn 
Patterson, carpenter; Alfred Potter, livery; William Potter, 
cooper; John Richardson, blacksmith; Shank & Wells, groceries 
and lumber; J. H. Slade, groceries; A. J. Snyder, blacksmith; 



-^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 661 

John W. Snyder, hardware; S. C. Snyder, wagons and carriages; 
A. W. A. Sowle, furniture; J. A. J. Sowle, saloon; Henry Squier, 
saloon; Miss Mary Squier, fancy dry-goods ; George Stealy, paint 
shop; Jacob Stealy, marble works; J. Stiefel & Son, dry-goods; 
Uhl & Hathaway, clothing; John Walker, boots and shoes; W. J. 
H. Watson, harness; Weicht & Sou, planing mill; L. G. Weiss, 
tailor; Rawson Welch, woolen factory; Robert Welch, barrels and 
staves ; William Wells, harness ; W, S. Wells, restaurant; I. 
Williamson, hardware ; W. M. Wolford, tin shop ; Byron Work, 
drugs; Joseph Zipfel, boots and shoes. 

BANKS. 

The Angola Bank was established in March, 1877, by E. B. 
Glasgow, Jesse M. Gale, William Wickwire, George W. Wick- 
wire and Alfred Osborn. Mr. Glasgow withdrew from the firm in 
1878, and William Wickwire died in October, 1883. The others 
named retain their interest in the concern. Mr. Osborn acts as 
Cashier. The banking house of Kinney §c Co. was established Feb. 
6, 1871, by C. F. Kinney, P. W. Russell and J. A. Woodhull. 
W. G. Croxton was admitted to membership in February, 1874. 
Mr. Kinney is Cashier, and Lawrence Gates, Assistant Cashier. 
Both these institutions have ample capital and are prosperous. 

ANGOLA OFFICIALS. 

Francis Macartney is Postmaster; Emmett A. Bratton, Clerk and 
Treasurer; Eugene A. Carver, President; John Walker, LeanderM. 
Sowle, Charles Bew and T. B. Williams, Trustees; B. F. Dawson, 
W. B. McConuell and Samuel Miller, School Trustees. 

PROFESSIONAL. 

The members of the legal profession residing at Angola are: 
Joseph A. Woodhull, William M. Brown, Daak R. Best, Emmett 
A. Bratton, John K. Morrow, Stephen A. Powers, George B. 
Adams, Frank M. Powers, Cyrus Cline, Benjamin F. Dawson and 
William B. McConnell. The resident physicians are: Hugh D. 
Wood, Thomas B. Williams, W. H. Waller, Sol. A. Wood, M. F. 
Shaw, E. R. Leas and William C. Weicht, the last two beino- 
homeopathists. There are two dentists, E. H. Creditor and J. E. 
Waugh. 

CHURCHES. 

The Congregational church was organized May 19, 1869, and 

became legally incorporated soon after. The first Trustees were 
42 



5^ 



^^ 



662 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Harvey H. Goldsmith, J. Austin Fox and Henry Linder. Albert 
R. Crandall, the lirst Deacon, was elected as such Aug. 15, 1871. 
The church and congregation met for worship in the public-school 
building until Dec. 3, 1S71, when the present church edifice, having 
been so far completed that it could be used, was formally dedicated 
by Rev. E. B. Fairfield. This pleasant and commodious building 
was erected at an expense of about $6,000. Since organization, 
the church has had as pastors, in the order named: Revs. R. D. 
Macartha, Ebenezer Haliday, E. Andrus, John V. Hickmott and 
J. A. Dobson. No services are held at present writing. The 
Sunday-school connected with this church was organized June 30, 
1872. Oscar B. Dunning, W. H. H. Day, Germ Brown, David 
Eberly, W. W. Ferrier and John W. Cowen have been Superin- 
tendents. The attendance averages perhaps sixty. 

The congregation of Disciples at Angola was organized in the 
vear 1865, under J. C. Goodrich. A protracted meeting in which 
he was principal speaker resulted in eighteen conversions and the 
perfection of an organization numbering thirty-eisjht. About this 
time N. N. Bartlett, R. Faurot and James Hadsel were employed 
in succession to minister to them. Three years later N. J. Ayls- 
worth conducted successful protracted meetings, resulting in about 
twenty accessions to the church. In the fall of 1869 he accepted 
a call to become its pastor and in this capacity he remained for two 
and a half years, when he removed to Fort Wayne to take charge 
of mission work in that city. During the period of his labors the 
present substantial and commodious building was erected and the 
church considerably increased in number& and influence. Six 
months after his resignation he was succeeded by his brother, Rev. 
W. P. Aylsworth, who preached here between seven and eight 
years. He left in 1880, and after a short interim he was followed 
in the pulpit by A. S. Hale, from Michigan. He remained two 
vears, and was succeeded by Rev. H. A. Pallister, from Warsaw, 
Ind. The organization is the largest in Angola, and owns, free of 
debt, a church property, well situated, worth about $7,000. The 
Sunday-school has been from the beginning under the superin- 
tendency of Prof. R. Y. Carlin. Its average attendance is about 

125. 

The Methodists have a cluirch, erected in 1854:, which was dedi- 
cated by Rev. J. Colclazer. This same church, removed to its 
present location and remodeled, is the building still in use. This 
county was set off" as Steuben Circuit in 1841. Since then the 



— J '; 



\ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTr. 663 

appointees who have visited Angola have been as follows: E. S. 
Blue, John Hard, J. P. Jones, W. J. Forbes, C. W. Miller, Mr. 
Kickets, S. Smith, J. J. Cooper, j . G. Osborne, A. C. Barnhart, J. 
Foster, J. H. Hutchinson, J. Clock, J. Schaffer, J. Ayers, F. S. 
Simpson, £. Hall, S. Hover, T. Sells, J. W. Smith, J. J, Cooper, J. 
R. Oden, O. P. Boyden, O. D. Watkins, J. W. Miller, A. C. 
Gerard, A. Y. Gorrell, A. Cone, A. W. Lamport, W. E. McCarty, 
W. R. Kistler, G. B. Work, C. G. Hudson, P. Carland and I. M. 
Wolverton. The church has about eighty members. The Sunday- 
school, under W. W. Hildreth, has about seventy-five attendants. 

SOCIETIES. 

The following secret societies are well maintained: 

Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., was organized Sept. 15, 
1857, with nine members. The first officers were: Jesse Squier, 
W. M.; S. C. Aldrich, S. W.; Christian Fast, J. W. The present 
officers are: S. A. Wood, W. M.; Thomas S. Gillis, S. W. ; 
Charles Jordon, J. W.; Benjamin F. Dawson, Sec. ; Charles Bach- 
elder, Treas. 

Angola Chapter, No. 58, R. A. M., dates its organization from 
Sept. 1, 1865, the first officers being: J. A. Woodliull, H. P.; 
Frank Macartney, K. ; S. S. Fitch, S. The present officers are: E. 
H. Crawford, H. P.; H. B. Jordon, K. ; D. K. Swift, Scribe; 
Charles Bachelder, Treasurer; Benjamin F. Dawson, Secretary; 
Otto Scholtz, C. of H.; O. W. Parish, P. S.; J. H. Carpenter, R. 
A. C; Thomas L. Gillis, Charles Bew and Charles Jordon, 
G. M. of Y. 

Angola Council, No. 27, R. & S. M., was organized Dec. 2, 1867, 
with nine members, the first officers being: W. A. Wood, I. G. 
M.; J. A. Woodhull, D. G. M.; S. S. Fitch, P. C. W.; Frank 
Macartney, Recorder. The present officers are: J. H. Carpenter, 
111. M.; O. W. Parish, Dep. 111. M.; Otto Scholtz, P. C. W.; 
Benjamin F. Dawson, C. G. ; Charles Bachelder, Treas. ; Thomas L. 
Gillis, Rec. • " " 

Angola Lodge, No. 180, I. O. O. F., was instituted Jan. 12, 1857, 
the charter members being Robert McKinstry, Jesse J. Mugg, 
Simeon C. Aldrich, Josiah Weaver and George Bolles. Jesse 
Squier, Henry Linder, Peter Bowman and L. A. Thompson were 
initiated at the first meeting. The first officers were: Robert Mc- 
Kinstry, N. G.; Jesse J. Mugg, Y. G.; George Bolles, Sec; 
Josiah Weaver, Treas.; George A. Milnes, Warden; Simeon C. 



to 



•V 






664 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Aldrich, Con.; Augustus Lines, I. G. The present officers are: 
E. A. Carver, N. G.; J. Biel, V. G. ; W. W. Sqnier, R. S. ; Law- 
rence Gates, Treas. 

Heaton Encampment, No. 60, L O. O. F., was instituted June 
22, 1859, at Angola. The first officers were: George A. Mihies, C. 
P. ; B. F. Dawson, H. P.; H. A. Wakefield, S. W. ; Charles White, 
J. W. ; Henry Linder, Scribe; Robert Patterson, Treas.; Alfred 
Osborn, Sent. The present incumbents of the various offices are as 
follows: E. A. Carver, C. P.; T. R. Moftett, H. P.; S. A. 
Powers, S. W.; W. C. Weicht, J. W.; Lawrence Gates, Scribe; 
H. Linder, Treas. 

Angola Lodge, No. 1484, K. of H., was organized March 20, 
1879 witii twenty-three charter members. Lawrence Gates was 
Director and Samuel Beight, Reporter. At present E. H. Cred- 
itor is Dictator; Lawrence Gates, Treasurer; and A. F. Day, 
Reporter. 

B. J. Crosswaite Post, No. 150, G. A. R., was mustered March 
29 1883, with charter members and first officers: B, F. Dawson, 
Com.; Lawrence Gates, S. Y. C. ; Lafayette Buiket, J. Y. C; 
George B. Flemming, Adj.; Wm. H. Cole, Chap. ; Andrew J. 
Snyder, Sur.; D. M. Webb, O. G.; Orville Carver, Q. M.; Thomas 
Legt', S. M.; Isaac Biel, Jesse H. Carpenter, Levi Clay pool, 
Albert Arnold, John Carson, John P. Cole, Henry P. Beard, 
James H. Yan Auken, William J. S. Bullard, Samuel Tinsley, 
Emanuel Kratzer, John G. Casebeer, ana Lewis Griffith. The 
officers for 1885 are: A. J. Snyder, Com. ; Robert Lutz, S. Y. C; 
Joseph Hust, J. Y. C; Wm. M. Carr, Adj.; John Carson, Q. M.; 
Jacob Burlingham, Chap. ; Isaac Biel, O. D. ; Frank W. Swani- 

l^^i^gli^ ; Jesse H. Carpenter, S. M.; William Mass, Q. M. S. ; 

Andrew Sommerlott, O. G. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The Angola Fire Department was organized in 1873 by the cor- 
poration trustees, with the assistance of W. C. McGonigal, who 
acted as first Foreman and instructor of the company, consisting 
of twenty-three members. H. E. Burnham was Foreman from 
1874 to 1880. Since then the position has been filled successively 
by O. H. Leas, Allen Jarvis and Charles Jordan. The Chief En- 
gineers since 1882 have been David Scoville, O. H. Leas, and G. 
W. Poland. There is now under consideration the building of an ad- 
dition to the engine-house, which has become too small for the in- 



-Ti; 



^"^ — ^ - _^ ^ — ^v^ 

&\ I fi • 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 665 

creasing needs of the department. The membership is now about 
forty. During the twelve years of its existence the department 
has made a most creditable record, having thrice extinguished 
fires in the Morse House, twice in the court-house (one a serious 
blaze), and once in a store, besides many minor conflagrations. 

At a tournament held at Angola June 17, 1880, the Babcock 
Hook and Ladder Company took the first prize of $100 and a 
silver trumpet. In September following, at Elkhart, the company 
again won $100 and a silver trumpet. In September, 1882, at 
South Bend, the Angola company took the second prize, $75. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Samuel Anspaugh^ Superintendent of the Steuben County 
Poor Farm, was born in Florence, Williams Co., Ohio, July 16, 
1852, a son of John and Sarah (Cain) Anspaugh. His parents 
were married in Williams County in 1846. They moved to Steu- 
ben County, Ind., in 1878 and located on the farm where they 
now live. They have had a family of seven children — Jacob A. J., 
Samuel, Hester Ann (wife of Charles Bowles), Benjamin F, (de- 
ceased), John L., Amanda J., and Henry G. Mr. Anspaugh was 
originall}' a Jackson Democrat, but being opposed to slavery he 
joined the Whig party, and since its organization has affiliated 
with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the 
United Brethren church. Samuel Anspaugh received a liberal 
education in his native county. He was reared on a farm and 
since reaching manhood has followed agricultural pursuits. In 
1878 he was appointed Superintendent of the County Poor Farm, 
and has filled the position eflficiently and satisfactorily. He is a 
member of Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., an organization 
in which he takes a deep interest. He was married Jan. 1, 1876, 
to Maggie Cameron, daughter of John and Mary Cameron, early 
settlers of Steuben County. 

Charles Bachelder^ one of the early settlers of Steuben County, 
was born in Geauga County, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1821, a son of Solo- 
mon and Anna (Perry) Baclielder, natives of New York, who 
went to Ohio in an early day and were there married. There was 
a family of three children — Charles; Marancy, deceased, wife of 
James Rogers; Henrietta, widow of Martin Arnold. The father 
died Dec. 15, 1832. The mother afterward married Wyman 
Parker, and about 1850 they moved to Steuben County, Ind., 
where they died in 1864, on the same day, and were buried in the 



^1 



QQQ HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

same grave. Charles Bachelder was reared in Ohio, but in 1840 
came to Steuben County and settled in Mill Grove Township, sub- 
sequently moving to Jackson Township. He has accumulated a 
comfortable property by his own industry and economy assisted 
by a noble and self-sacrificing wife . He was married in 1844 to 
Eliza Miller, a native of Massachusetts, daughter of Heber and 
Khoda (Moon) Miller, natives of Rhode Island, who settled in 
Steuben County in 1836. Mrs. Bachelder died Dec. 20, 1883, 
after a married life of nearly forty years. She was an earnest 
Christian, an affectionate wife and mother, a kind neighbor and 
a true friend. She left one son — Ciiarles A.^ a resident of Steu- 
ben County. Mr. Bachelder has been a resident of Steuben 
County nearly forty j'ears, and has been cognizant of all the 
various changes that have transformed a wilderness to a state of 
advanced civilization, populous towns and a prosperous farming 
community. He has held several local offices of trust and has 
always performed his duties in a satisfactorj^ manner. In politics 
he is an independent, giving his suffrage to the man he considers 
the most worthy. He is a member of Angola Lodge, No. 236, 
F. & A. M., and Angola Chapter, No. 58, R. A. M., and Angola 
Council, No. 27, R. & S. M. He has held the office of High 
Priest in the council and has represented his chapter and council 
in the grand lodge of the State. 

A. J. Barjarow, carpenter and joiner, Angola, Ind., was born 
in Reading, Hillsdale Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1845, a son of Rev. 
Timothy and Anna M. (Hayes) Ba^jarow, who settled in Ann Ar- 
bor, Mich., in 1835, and later in Hillsdale County. In 1854 they 
moved to Branch County, and in 1867 to Allegan County, where 
he still resides, a minister of the Free-Will Baptist church. Mrs. 
Bariarow died in April, 1852. She was a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal church. A. J. Barjarow was reared and educated 
in his native State. When but sixteen years of age, in 1861, he 
enlisted in the Eleventh Michigan Infantr}-, and was mustered in 
at White Pigeon, Aug. 24. He participated in the engagements 
at Fort Negle and Shiloh. Nov. 26, 1862, he was mustered out of 
the Eleventh Regiment and immediately enlisted in the Fourth 
United States Cavalry. He was subsequently at the engagements 
of Stone River, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, and the fol- 
lowing winter was stationed at Paint Rock. Then participated in 
the engagements at Buzzard's Roost, Big Shanty, Peach Tree 
Creek, siege of Atlanta and Nashville. He was on the Forrest raid 



-^ 



\ 



$- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 667 

and at his defeat at Selma. At the close of the war was at Macon, 
Ga., then went to San Antonio, Tex., where they were discharged 
Nov. 26, 1865. He then returned to Michigan, and in 1868 moved 
to Angola, where he has since resided. He was married in 1876 
to Mary Waller. They have one child — Gertie M. Mr. Barjarow 
is a member of Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., and of the 
Grand Army of the Kepublic. 

William H. Beard was born in Huron County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 
1840, a son of Elijah and Lucy (Horn) Beard. When he was ten 
years old his parents moved to Steuben County, Ind., and here he 
was reared and educated. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in 
Company D, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He participated in 
the engagements at Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Shiloh, Corinth, 
Battle Creek, Buell's march to Nashville, Louisville, Perryville, 
Cedar Springs, Ringgold, Stone River, Murfreesboro,'Chickamauga, 
Mission Ridge and many others. While at Chattanooga his time 
expired; but he immediately re-enlisted in the same company and 
served till the close of the war. He was discharged at Nashville 
and mustered out at Indianapolis. He was wounded twice at 
Shiloh, in the neck and in the shoulder. After his return from the 
war he settled in Angola, where he has since resided. He was 
married in 1866 to Almeda Chandler. They have one child. Mr. 
Beard is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organi- 
zation he takes much interest in. 

Levi Bigler^ one of the enterprising farmers of Pleasant Town- 
ship, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 18, 1829, a son of 
Emanuel and Anna (Ewing) Bigler, natives of Pennsylvania, the 
father born Oct. 7, 1805, and the mother Sept. 7, 1809. His par- 
ents were married in Ohio in 1827. In 1832 they moved to Rich- 
land County, Ohio, and in 1848 to Steuben County, Ind., and 
settled on section 33, Pleasant Township, buying a tract of land, 
only twenty-five acres of which was cleared. The mother died 
Feb. 6, 1882, and the father the 4th of the following June. 
They were for many years members of the Lutheran church. Levi 
Bigler was three years of age when his parents moved to Richland 
County, where he was reared and educated, and in 1848 came with 
them to Steuben County, where he has since lived. Imbued by 
nature with ambition he has overcome all obstacles, and has made 
a success of his ventures. He now has a good farm of 102 acres, 
seventy-four acres being under cultivation and valued at $75 an 
acre. In 1878 he built a fine residence, costing over $2,100. Mr. 



-t 



— I '^ 



^ 



Q »^ 



668 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Bigler was married Oct. 15, 1854, to Catharine Staley, a native of 
Marion County, Ohio, born Aug. 5, 1830, daughter of John Staley. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bigler have a family of seven children — Frank, Viola, 
Scott, Augusta, Vivian (wife of A. W. Lewis), Bartt B. and Nina 
Maude. In politics Mr. Bigler follows in the footsteps of his father 
and is a supporter of Democratic principles. 

John Cameron, deceased, was born in Scotland, Dec. 21, 1814, 
and died at his home in Richland Township, Steuben Co., Ind. , 
April 4, 1878. He came to the United States in 1833, and located 
near Toledo, Ohio, where he was married in February, 1841, to 
Mary Carlin, and the following June they came to Steuben County, 
Ind. He bougnt three quarter-sections of land in Richland Town- 
ship, where he lived till his death. His wicjow still lives on the 
old homestead. For thirty-seven years they shared each others 
joys and sorrows, hardships and pleasures, each doing the work 
allotted and together made a home for their children. Mr. Cam- 
eron was for many years a member of the United Brethren church 
at Metz. He was held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens, and was 
three times elected Trustee of the township. He served as Justice 
of the Peace twelve or fifteen years. He was elected County Com- 
missioner in 1874 and re-elected in 1876. Upright and perfectly 
reliable in all his business transactions, he was honored and es- 
teemed by all who knew him. His family consisted of nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom are living. 

R. V. 6'a?'^^n, Superintendent of the schools of Steuben County, 
was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1834, a son of Robert 
and Sarah (Perkey) Carlin, his father born in 1806 and his mother 
in 1811. They were early settlers of Ohio, and in 1840 moved to 
Indiana and located in Richland Township, Steuben County, 
thus becoming pioneers of two States. The mother died in 
1865 and the father in 1868. They had a family of thirteen chil- 
dren, twelve of whom are livinec. R. V. Carlin was reared and 
educated in Steuben County. His father was in limited circum- 
stances with a large family to support, and aside from his early at- 
tendance at the district schools his education was obtained by his 
own efibrts. When eighteen years old he attended Mount Union 
College, Stark Co., Ohio, and afterward Hillsdale College, Mich., 
from which he graduated in 1866. After his graduation he was 
employed four years as Principal of the Angola High School. In 
1870 he was elected County Recorder, and served eight years. He 
then again engaged in teaching till June, 1883, when he was elected 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 669 

to his present position. Mr. Carlin was married March 31, 1868, 
to Miss Maria Kinnj, who was born Nov. 18, 1831, a daughter of 
Joseph J. and Emily (Hitchcock) Kinny, natives of Vermont, who 
moved to Ohio in 1830, and to Steuben County, Ind., in 1851, 
where the father died in 1853, and the mother in 1879. Mr. and 
Mrs. Carlin have one son — Clyde C, born July 28, 1870. They 
have an adopted daughter, Cora, a daughter of Mr. Carlin's brother. 
Mr. Carlin is a member of the Odd Fellow's order, lodge and en- 
campment, and in 1874 represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge 
of the State. He and his wife are members of the Christian church- 
In politics he is a Republican. 

Jesse H. Carpenter is a native of Erie County, Ohio, born July 
12, 1838, a son of Harlow J. and Fanny (Merry) Carpenter, his fa- 
ther a native of Yerraont and his mother of Connecticut. In 1849 
his parents settled in Otsego Township, Steuben Co., Ind., but he 
remained in Ohio for some time, on account of the better educa- 
tional advantages. After coming to the county he taught school 
a few terms, and when nineteen years of age was appointed a rail- 
road station agent at Lawrence, Ohio, a position he held three 
years. In 1861 he volunteered in defense of the Union; was mus- 
tered into the United States Marine Artillery service with Burn- 
side's expedition, and served a year and a half. Immediately after 
his discharge at Newbern, N. C, he enlisted in the engineer 
corps, and was appointed a Lieutenant in the same. On his 
return to Steuben County he engaged in farming with his father. 
He was a Trustee of Otsego Township five years, and in the fall of 
1874 was elected County Auditor, and moved to Angola. A Na- 
tional in politics, he was elected to his office on the independent 
ticket. He made an efficient officer and performed his duties in an 
honest, upright manner, and by so doing, has won the'respect and 
confidence of all, both supporters and opponents. He has made 
two political canvasses since as the candidate of the National or 
people's party, endorsed by the Democrats, one as State Senator ' 
of his District, and one g,s State Representative of his county, and 
in both cases his support was so flattering that his election seemed 
probable. Mr. Carpenter was married Sept. 29, 1870, to Frances 
Brown, a native of Ohio, daughter of "William H. L. and Phoebe A. 
(Wilcox) Brown. They have one son — Robert H. 

James N . Carjpenter^ one of the early settlers of Steuben County^ 
Ind., was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., July 24, 1824, a son 
of Samuel and Roxana (Lowden) Carpenter, his father a native of 






^': 



670 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

New York and his mother of Connecticut, both born in 1797. 
Thev were married in New York in 1820 and in 1826 moved to 
Delaware County, Pa., and thence in January, 1829, to Portage 
County, Ohio. In February, 1843, they came to Steuben County, 
Ind., making the journey with teams, and coming by the way of 
Michigan. There were no roads nor bridges, and the way was 
rough. They settled in Scott Township on a tract of timber land, 
moving into a rude log cabin that was found there. There was 
two feet of snow on the ground and nearly as much on the upper 
floor of their cabin. They lived in this rude cabin till one could be 
built on section 19. There was no tame hay in the county, and as 
their stock would not eat marsh hay, they were obliged to cut bass- 
wood for it to browse on till spring. They then began to clear 
the land and prepare to raise a crop of corn. Mr. Carpenter be- 
came widely known in the county, and was one of the most promi- 
nent and influential citizens. In religion he was liberal in his 
views, but was an upright moral man. He died in 1859. The 
mother died in 1880. They had a family of eight children, but 
four of whom are living — James N., Harriet, Uriah, and Sarah; 
Orrison C, Eliza, Alexander and Almond are deceased. James 
N. Carpenter was reared in the wilderness of Steuben County, and 
educated in the pioneer schools. He was married May 18, 1847, 
to Polly E. Brown, a daughter of Erastus Brown, a Methodist 
preacher of Berkshire County, Mass. To them were born four 
children; two sons are living — Heman F. and Royal E.; two 
daughters are deceased — Poxana M. and Viola I. Mr. Carpenter 
lived on a farm till 1856, and then moved to Angola, and embarked 
in the grocery business, which he continued till 1862. He then 
sold out his grocery and formed a partnership with Mr. Merriman 
in the dry-goods business. Mr. Merriman soon sold his interest, 
and Mr. Carpenter conducted the business alone two years. He 
then retired from the mercantile business and looked after the in. 
terests of his farm fjr several years. In October, 1871, he formed 
a partnership with Mr. Burlingame in the wholesale and retail 
liquor trade. Fifteen months later he bought Mr. Burlingame's 
interest and is now carrying on the business alone. 

William M. Carr was born in Stark County, Ohio, Aug. 24, 
1839, a son of James and Mary (McKinley) Carr. His father 
died in 1851. His mother is living in Ohio. Mr. Carr learned 
the machinist's trade in his youth, serving an apprenticeship, and 
worked at it till after the breaking out of the Rebellion. In Au- 



& 



" -^ (5 "^ ~^' a ""v 



•^ 



\o •, "^ ^ 



(0 



V' 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 671 

(T\ist, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry, 
and served till Nov. 28, 1865. He participated in the battles of 
Mill Springs, Shiloh, Corinth, on Bragg's raid, Stone River. Chica- 
nuinga, Atlanta, and San Antonio, Tex. He was promoted to As- 
sistant Quartermaster on General Stanley's staff, and held the 
position at the time he was mustered out. He was wounded in 
the fort at the battle of Atlanta. In 1865 Mr. Carr came to 
Indiana and settled in Angola, where he has since resided. He 
was married in 1864 to Catherine Ingold. She died in 1877 in 
Massillon, Ohio, leaving one son— Frank P. March 9, 1880, Mr. 
Carr married Jennie C. Fetterhoff. They have three children- 
Mary C, Joseph McKinley, and James F. Mr. Carr is a member 
of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is Adjutant of his post. 
Harrison Carter was born in Deerfield Township, Portage 
Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1823, a son of James and Elizabeth (McClarity) 
Carter. His parents were married in Maryland, and were among 
the early settlers of Deerfield Township, making the entire jour- 
ney from Maryland to Ohio on horseback. Forty five miles of the 
way they carried a table. They were the parents of thirteen 
children; six sons and six daughters lived till maturity. They 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were active 
workers in the early days of the church in Ohio. Harrison Carter 
remained on the farm with his parents till fifteen years of age and 
then began to learn the carpenter's trade, serving an apprentice- 
ship of four years, receiving $4 a month and his board. He was 
married in his native county to Rhoda Ann Case, a native of New 
York. In 1847 he came to Steuben County and settled on the 
farm where lie now lives, at that time a tract of wild land. There 
were but three or four acres of land cleared between his claim and 
Angola. Game was plenty, and as Mr. Carter was an expert 
hunter they never were in need of meat. Jamestown was their 
nearest milling point. Although in limited circumstances when 
he came to Steuben County, Mr. Carter has, by his energy and 
industry, gained a comfortable home. He owns forty-eight acres 
of valuable land, upon which he has erected a pleasant and con- 
venient residence and good farm buildings. In the thirty-seven 
years that he has been a resident of the county he has witnessed 
many changes. What was then a dense forest has been cleared, 
and thriving villages and productive farms are now in its stead. 
Mr. Carter has followed his trade at intervals since coming to the 
county, working at it when not engaged on his farm. 



^irr^ 



J^ 



<a_ 



:^ 



672 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Orville Carver, druggist, Angola, Ind., was born in Hebron, 
Tolland Co., Conn., Aug. 20, 1843, a son of Dr. Lewis E. and 
Frances A. (Porter) Carver. In 1845 his parents moved to Steu- 
ben County, Ind., and settled on a farm in Jackson Township, and 
in 1850 moved to Angola, where they have since resided. In 
1850 Dr. Carver was elected County Treasurer and served three 
years, and was soon after elected Recorder. He was a strong 
anti-slavery man, his house being one of the depots for the under- 
ground railroad. He has affiliated with the Republican party 
since its organization. Five of his eight children are living. 
Orville Carver was reared in Angola, receiving his education in its 
public schools. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fourth Michigan 
Infantry and participated in the first battle at Bull Run, the pen- 
insular campaign, the second battle at Bull Run, Antietam, Shep- 
ardsville, Gettysburg, and Fredericksburg. He was mustered out 
at Detroit in July, 1864, and the following April enlisted in Han- 
cock's Veteran Corps, and served till a year after the close of the 
war. He then returned to Angola. In 1869 he was appointed 
Postmaster, and served fourteen years. At present he is Trustee 
of Pleasant Township. In June, 1884, he was a delegate to the 
National Convention at Chicago which nominated Jas. G. Blaine 
for President, and is Chairman of the Republican Committee of 
this county. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge and en- 
campment, also the Grand Army of the Republic, and in the 
spring of 1885 represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the 
State. He was married in 1867 in Union City, Mich., to Miss 
Fronia Thayer, daughter of E. Thayer, formerly of New York 
State. 

Captain W. H. Cole was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, Sept. 
30, 1841, a son of Jacob Y. and Sarah (Geer) Cole, his father a 
native of New Jersey and his mother of Connecticut. Of a 
family of fourteen children, twelve are living. Five were soldiers 
in the war of the Rebellion — four beside our subject. Samuel 
was a member of the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and was 
killed at Lovejoy Station. Nelson also enlisted in the Seventy- 
fourth Indiana. John enlisted as a private in the One Hundred 
and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and was promoted to Captain. 
Charles was a member of Company K, One Hundred and Fifty- 
second Indiana Infantry. Jacob Y. Cole was by trade a stone- 
mason, but after coming to Steuben County, in September, 1856, 
bought a large tract of land in Scott and Pleasant Townshij-s, 



\ 



^ 



10 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



673 



and has since followed farming, being still a resident of Scott 
Township, W. H. Cole received a good education in his native 
county, and after coming to Indiana assisted his father on the 
farm. He enlisted Aug. 16, 1861, in Company A, Twenty-ninth 
Indiana Infantry. They were sent in pursuit of Morgan, and at 
Muldraugli Hill participated in their first engagement. Then 
camped at Warsaw till the following spring. Subsequently en- 
gaged in the battles of Munfordville, Bowling Green, Nashville, 
and Shiloh, where he was wounded in the foot. He was taken 
from the battle-field to a rebel hospital, and for forty-eight hours 
had nothing to eat. He was taken sick with typhoid fever, in ad- 
dition to his wound, and the surgeons all agreed that in order to 
save his life his foot would have to be amputated. This he would 
not consent to. He was afterward given a furlough and sent home, 
being fourteen days in making the journey, and in that time did 
not have his foot dressed. In February, 1863, he was discharged, 
but after his recovery, the following August, raised a company, 
which was assigned to the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Reo-i- 
ment as Company A, and was commissioned its Captain by Gov- 
ernor Morton, In the fall of 1863 his regiment left Louisville 
and marched to Chattanooga, where they joined General Sher- 
man's command, and participated in the battles of Buzzard Roost, 
Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach 
Tree Creek, Lovejoy Station, and all the engagements till the fall 
of Atlanta, and then at Huntsville, Rome, the raid up the Chatta- 
hoochie, Franklin, and Nashville. They followed Hood's army to 
the Tennessee River, and were at the battles of Ft. Fisher and 
Kingston, N. C, where they had their last engagement. They 
were mustered out at Charlotte, N. C, Aug. 29, 1865 Captain 
Cole was married in November, 1867, to Nettie Gifford, dauc^hter 
of Amaniah and Jane (Beard) Gifford, early settlers of Steuben 
County. They have had two children — a daughter, Carrie D., and 
a son who died in infancy. Captain Cole was one of the organ- 
izers of the Grand Army post in Angola, and has been one of its 
most enthusiastic supporters. He is a member of Angola Lodo-e, 
No. 236, F. & A. M. In politics he is a Democrat. 

A. D. Crain was born in Upper Canada, June 4, 1825, a son of 
Ezekiel W. and Rebecca (Demary) Crain. His parents were mar- 
ried in 1823, and in 1834 moved to Washtenaw County, Mich., 
making the journey from Canada with ox teams. In the sprino- 
of 1836 his father came to Steuben County, Ind., and bought land, 



-rw 



h- 



■s, <=. 



674 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



and in Aui^ust bnilt a log cabin. The following December be 
moved his family to his new home. He died in Steuben County 
in 1863, and his wife in March, 1880. They had a family of seven 
children, five born in Canada, one in Michigan, and one in Steuben 
County; all are living — A. D., Orange, Nicholas, Richard, Eliza- 
beth (now Mrs. William Carpenter), Benjamin and Chester. A. D. 
Crain has been a resident of Steuben County siucehis twelfth year, 
and has assisted materially in the growth and development of the 
country. Being the eldest son he was early obliged to assist his 
father, and thus learned lessons of industry and application in his 
youth which have been of lasting benefit in his later life. He was 
married Jan. 21, 1848, to Miss Harriet C. Ferry, a native of Con- 
necticut, born Nov. 19, 1825, a daughter of Chester and Anna 
(Pearsons) Perry, who moved to Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 
1826, and thence in 1831 to Washtenaw County, Mich., and in 
1839 to Steuben County, Ind., settling in Pleasant Township, where 
Mr. Perry died in 1841, and Mrs. Perry Sept. 23, 1873. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Crain have been born ten children — Marcus F., a physi- 
cian of Fargo, Dak,; Martha, widow of A. T. Jordan, of Steuben 
County, a dentist, died in Lead vi lie, Col. ; Mary E., wife of James 
McConnell, died March 23, 1883; Chester M., married Villa Kluik; 
Francis M., a physician of Spink County, Dak.; Hiram M., mar- 
ried Mary Parcel; Lillie M., wife of Hiram Ritter, of Steuben 
County; Z. A.; Ida M., wife of Wm. M. Brown, and Martin L. 
Alonzo Dunham, one of the pioneers of Steuben County, Ind., 
w^as born in Herkimer County, N. Y., Aug. 16, 1812, a son of John 
and Elizabeth (Hungerford) Dunham. His father was a native of 
Connecticut, and his mother of New York. They were married 
in New York, and in 1818 moved to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where 
the father died in 1847. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and 
a man of sound judgment, firm principles and upright integrity. 
The mother died in 1881. They had a family of twelve children, 
seven sons and five daughters, nine of whom are living. Alonzo 
Duidiam was reared in the pioneer days of Ohio, attending school 
in the log-cabin school-houses. He was married Jan. 31, 1835, to 
Julia Brainard, a native of Rush, Monroe Co., N. Y., born May 5, 
1817, a daughter of John and Lucinda (Gotf) Brainard. Mr. Brain- 
ard was drafted into the war of 1812, subsequently moved to New 
York, and about 1831 to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. In 1844 Mr. 
Dunham moved to Steuben County, Ind., and located on section 
24, York Township, on a tract of heavily timbered land. He came 



-7t 



<r 






■^ ^^ — - ^ — ^k^ 

HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 675 

to the county in 1842 and entered his land, and the next fall com- 
menced his clearing, and in the fall of 1844 moved his family to 
their new home, making the journey with teams, through an un- 
broken forest, and across unbridged streams. Deer and game were 
plenty, and wild hogs roamed the country at will. When they 
came to the county their financial resources were limited, but they 
were possessed of strong constitutions, energy and a determination 
to override all obstacles, and their efforts have succeeded and they 
are now the owners of a good property and can spend their declin- 
ing years in peace and prosperity. They have a family of three 
children — Priscilla, wife of Henry Austin; Lovina, wife of Na- 
thaniel Bennett, and Lucinda, wife of William Moss. In politics 
Mr. Dunham was originally an old-line Whig but now affiliates 
with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the 
Disciples church. 

Allen Fast^ Sheriff of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Ash- 
land County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1845, a son of Christian and Henrietta 
(Sowle) Fast, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother 
of New York. They went to Ohio in early life and were there 
married. In 1852 they moved to Steuben County and purchased 
land in Pleasant Township. The mother died in 1859. Thev had 
a family of eight children, six born in Ohio and two in Steuben 
County — Joseph, Rosanna, Allen, Eli, Mary, Rachel, John (de- 
ceased) and Henrietta. The father afterward married Rhoda 
Wells, and to them were born three children — Ira, Orlaand Laura. 
Allen Fast has been a resident of Steuben County since seven years 
of age. He was educated in this county, attending school in the 
winter and working on the farm in the summer. He has always 
taken an interest in the welfare of the county, and in 1878 was 
elected to the office of Township Trustee and served four vears. In 
1882 he was elected Sheriff of the county and in 1884 was re-elected. 
He is a man of superior business ability and transacts the duties of 
his office on sound business principles. He is a member of the 
Odd Fellows' order, Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 239, and has served 
as Noble Grand several times. He has represented his lodo-e in 
the Grand Lodge of Indiana four times. Mr. Fast was married in 
1864 to Julia A. Sowle, who died in 1866, leaving one son, Curtiss. 
She was a woman of rare intellect, a daughter of Isaac and Ann 
Marietta Sowle. In 1869 Mr. Fast married Emma, daughter of 
Asa and Emily Gaskell. They have four children— Stanlev, Fred- 
erick, Ethie and May. 



^ 



676 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Christian Fast is a native of Fayette County, Pa., born Feb. 12, 
1814, a son of Martin and Catherine (Blosser) Fast. In 1816 his 
parents moved to Wayne, now Ashland, County, Ohio, and settled 
in Jackson Township. At that time there were but nine families 
in the township, and for three months his mother did not see the 
face of a white woman. They settled in the heavy timber, and there 
Christian was reared and educated, attending the old-fashioned log- 
cabin schools. He was married April 14, 1839, to Henrietta 
Sowle, a native of New York State, born Nov. 10, 1820. They 
had a family of eight children — Joseph J.; Rosanna, wifeof Alonzo 
Burlingame; Francis A., Sherifi' of Steuben County; Eli, a farmer; 
Mary E., wife of Orville Goodale, Clerk of Steuben County; 
Rachel, wife of Melville McGrew; John A., deceased; Henrietta. 
Mrs. Fast died Dec. 8, 1859, and Mr. Fast subsequently married 
Rhoda M. Wells, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, born Dec. 12, 
1835. They have two children — Ira and Orla. Mr. Fast came 
to Steuben County in 1852 and settled on section 15, Pleasant 
Township, on a tract of wild land. He has been an industrious, 
economical man, and has accumulated a good property. He owns 
160 acres of land under a high state of cultivation, valued at $75 
an acre. His buildings are substantial and were among the best 
in the county at the time they were built, and every improvement 
has been placed on the land by his own hands. Mr. and Mrs. Fast 
are members of the Christian church, and among the most influen- 
tial citizens of the township. 

Williaiii jFerrier. — Steuben County is highly favored in her nat- 
ural attractions, fertility of soil and beautiful scenery, but these 
have been largely enhanced by the zeal and energy of her pioneers. 
Pioneer life naturally develops the latent powers, and the early 
settlers of Steuben proved themselves possessed in a superlative 
degree of that force of character which overcomes all difficulties, 
and creates towns and villages out of uncultivated tracts. Promi- 
nent among those who assisted in the development and improve- 
ment of the county stands the name of William Ferrier. His 
grandfather, Andrew Ferrier, was born in Scotland in 1769, and in 
his youth came to America with his parents and settled in Penn- 
sylvania. He married Catherine Willoughby, and to them were 
born twelve children, David, the father of William, being one of 
the number. The family moved from Pennsylvania to Harri- 
son County, Ohio, where David was married to Susan Hendricks, 
a native of Maryland. To them were born the following children 



^ 



<Sl. 



•^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



677 



— William, George, Mary, John, Andrew, David, Jacob and Mar- 
tha. Andrew and Catherine Ferrier settled in York Township, 
Steuben Co., Ind., in 1844, where the former soon after died. The 
latter removed to Williams County, Ohio, where she resided till 
her death. William Ferrier was born in Harrison County, Ohio, 
May 24, 1823, and when eight years of age moved with his parents 
to Seneca County and settled near the present site of the town of 
Fostoria. This region was then the far frontier, the only house in 
the place being the humble abode of Charles Foster, father of 
Ohio's ex-Governor. After a residence of eight years in that vicinity 
they moved to Williams County, and thence in 1849 to Steuben 
County, Ind., and settled on a farm a half mile east of the present 
town of Metz. His father opened a small store and he was em- 
ployed as clerk four years. He then bought the stock and com- 
menced life for himself as a merchant. In 1868 he retired from 
business, but in 1869 formed a partnership with his brother Jacob 
and opened a store in Metz, but soon after bought his brother's in- 
terest and continued in business alone till 1872, when he retired 
from active business life. In 1875 he moved to Angola and has 
since been identified with her interests. He is a man of enterprise 
and public spirit; generous and benevolent; a liberal supporter of 
all religious and charitable institutions. In 1861 he was instru- 
mental in the building of the United Brethren church in Metz, 
giving largely for the purpose. Of this denomination the entire 
family are members. As a business man Mr. Ferrier was always 
known as straightforward and honorable, resorting to no trickery to 
accomplish desired ends. Though having but limited educational 
advantages, attending the log-cabin schools but eighteen months, he 
has increased his knowledge by observation and reading, and is 
one of the well-informed business men of the county. Realizing 
the disadvantages incident to a meager education he has exerted 
his influence to the utmost to advance the educational interests of 
the county. Mr. Ferrier was married March 14, 1850, to Olive M. 
Thompson, daughter of Robert and Miriam Thompson, of Williams 
County, Ohio. She was born in Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio 
March 20. 1831. In her girlhood a school-teacher, she had an in- 
nate thirst for knowledge, which her new surroundings could not 
satisfy, and her life has been devoted to surrounding her family 
with all that would develop and cultivate their mental powers 
and elevate their moral tendencies. To Mr. and Mrs. Ferrier 
have been born three children — Amanda, wife of W. H. Waller 
43 



-^ 






<i\ 



678 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



M. D. ; William W., editor of the Angola Republican, and Dora, 
wife of Stephen A. Powers, an attorney of Angola. 

Herman Freygang^ harness-maker, Angola, Ind., was born in 
Union town. Stark Co., Ohio, March 4, 1840, a son of Charles J. 
and Fredericka (Weicht) Freygang. In 1836 Charles Freygang 
came to the United States from Saxony, Germany. At the time 
of his landing in New York the Presidential campaign of Clay and 
Jackson was at white heat. He informed himself on the questions 
and formed his political opinions, remaining ever after true to the 
Democratic party. He remained in New York a short time, then 
went to Bridgeport, Cunn., and later to Ohio, where he met and 
married Fredericka Weicht, a native of Baden, Germany. In 184o 
he moved to Steuben County, Ind., and located in Angola, where 
he opened the first harness shop in the place. He died in August, 
1868. His family consisted of six children — Herman; Elizabeth, 
wife of George E. Young; Edward; Amelia, wife of Henry P. 
Hathaway; Julius, and Tillie, the wife of Major Joseph Bnrch. 
Herman Freygang received a liberal education and when a young 
man learned the trade of his father. He has been identified with 
the interests of the county forty years. At the time his parents 
settled in Angola there was but one general store in the place. Since 
his remembrance the county seat of Steuben County has grown to 
be one of the most prosperous towns in Northeastern Indiana, log 
cabins giving place to large and substantial residences, and a thinly 
settled settlement to a thriving business town. In 1859 Mr. Frey- 
gang was married in Branch County, Mich., to Irene Wakefield, 
daughter of H. A. Wakefield. To them have been born four chil- 
dren; three are living — Leon, Edward and Charles. Mr. Freygang 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Angola Lodge, No. 236; 
Angola Chapter, No. 57, and Angola Council, No. 27. 

Orville Goodale, Clerk of Steuben County, Ind., was born in 
this county, March 11, 1S46, a son of Burdette and Mary Ann 
(Macartney) Goodale, his father a native of Connecticut and his 
mother of New York City. Burdette Goodale came to Steuben 
County in 1837 or 1838, but did not settle permanently till 1842, 
when he located in York Township, where he died in June, 1855, 
leaving a wife and four children. Our subject received his early 
education in his native county. When seventeen years old he at- 
tenled Hillsdale, Mich., College two terms, and subsequently at- 
tended Angola High School three terms, and Fliram College, Ohio, 
three terms, thereby acquiring a good English education. He 



^ 



\ 



^k^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 679 

then comiueuced teaching, following the vocation in Indiana, Ohio 
and Illinois, devoting his summers to farming. In the fall of 1878 
he was elected, on the Republican ticket, Clerk of Steuben County, 
and was re-elected in 1882. He is an efficient, careful officer, and 
tills his position in a manner satisfactory to his constituents. He 
is a strict temperance man in every sense of the word, using neither 
intoxicants nor tobacco in any form. He was married Nov. 3, 
1867, to Mary Fast, a native of Ohio, born Feb. 13, 1850, a daughter 
of Christian and Henrietta Fast. They have three children — Win- 
ifred, Albert and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Goodale are members of 
the Christian church. 

George Green, one of the pioneers of Steuben County, was born 
in Monroe County, N. Y., April 2, 1832, a son of John and Louisa 
(Culver) Green. His mother died June 27, 1835, leaving two 
children — George and Marvin, and his father afterwards married 
Diautha Olin. To them were born seven children — Francis was 
a soldier in the war of the Kebellion and died at Murfreesboro; 
Henry, Amos, Martha, Eliza, Emery and Allen. In 1836 the 
father came to Steuben County, Ind., and entered land in James- 
town Township, on section 36, and in September, 1837, moved his 
family to the county. He died on the^old homestead Feb. 7, 1865. 
He was a member of the Baptist church many years. In early life 
he was a Whig, but later affiliated with the Republican party. 
George Green came with his father to Steuben County when but 
five years of age, and has been identified with her interests since 
his earliest recollections. He was reared on a pioneer farm, re- 
ceiving only such advantages for an education as were aftbrded by 
the subscription schools. He has lived to see the county change 
from a wilderness to an advanced state of civilization. He is an 
energetic farmer and owns fifty acres of valuable land, on whicli 
is a pleasant residence and good farm buildings. 

Henry P. Hathaway^ one of the early settlers of Steuben County, 
Ind., was born in Washington County, Pa., Nov. 25, 1822, a son 
of Dr. David P. and Elizabeth (Bennett) Hathaway, the former 
born in 1792 and the latter in 1791. His parents were married in 
Washington County in 1810. In 1836 they moved to Newark, Lick- 
ing Co., Ohio, and in 1849 to Steuben County, Ind., and settled 
on the present site of Hathaway's Corners, the place deriving its 
name from the Hathaway family. The Doctor died in 1850, and 
Mrs. Hathaway in 1878. Both were members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. They had a family of tea children, nine of wIkmu 



(9^ 



iw 



6S0 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

attained adult life and seven of whom are living. Henry P. Hath- 
away came to Steuben County, Ind., in the fall of 1847 and entered 
eighty acres of land, and in the fall of 1848 moved his family to 
the county, and first lived in a log house built for a school-house. 
He improved his land, clearing it of timber, and made a good farm. 
In 1875 he moved to Angola and for eight years served as Deputy 
Sheriff, July 10, 1884, the partnership of Ulil & Hathaway was 
formed. They keep a complete stock of boots and shoes, clothing 
and gents' furnishing goods. Mr. Hathaway in politics is a Re- 
publican. He has held several local offices of trust, among others 
that of Assessor and Justice of the Peace. He has ahyays taken an 
active ii teiest in all public enterprises, being one of the most public- 
spirited and influential men of the county. Mr. Hathaway was 
married in 1845 to Frances C. Jagger, a native of New Jersey. 
They have six children — Joseph M.; Esther E,,, wife of Amos C. 
Johnson; Sarah E,, wife of Dwight Sowle; Emma L., wife of John 
Gillii^; Dfivid P. and William H. Joseph was in the service of 
the United States in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in 1863, in 
the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. Mrs. Hathaway died Dec. 16, 
1880, and May 22, 1882, Mr. Hathaway married Amelia Freygang. 
Mr. Hathaway tells many interesting reminiscences of early life in 
Steuben County, his experiences being a mixture of hardships and 
pleasures, the former being borne with the same cheerfulness as 
the latter. 

Peter Hinwood was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1827, of 
German parentage. His father died in 1829 and in 1840 he came 
with his mother to Steuben County, where he grew to manhood. 
He was early inured to the hardships of pioneer life, with no 
means but a pair of strong: arms and a natural energy and deter- 
mination to make a successful issue of life. From a heavily tim- 
bered tract of land he improved and made one of the best farms in 
the ccunty. Where log cabins once stood lie has lived to see 
erected beautiful residences, and from a few log houses tlie growth 
of the county seat of Steuben County. Mr. Hinwood was married 
Nov. 15, 1851, to Elizabeth Kellogg. To them were born three 
children — George, a druggist in Washington Territory; Sylvester, 
deceased; nnd Bell, wife of Charles Buckland, in the Government 
printing office at Washington, D. C. Mrs. Hinwood died Nov. 2, 
1859. Mr. Hinwood afterward married Mary Kamkamp, a native 
of Germany, born May 4, 1838, a daughter of John and Margaret 

1(Hu8sman) Kamkamp, who came to America in 1845, and located 
, —^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 681 

in Steuben County. They have had five children — Atta, wife of 
E.. E. Carpenter; Frank (deceased), Lena, Lola (deceased), and 
Ernest. Mr. and Mrs. Hinwood are members of the Christian 
church. In politico he is a strong Republican. He has served 
several years on the Angola City Board . 

J. B. Hoff^ photographer, Angola, Ind,, was born at Lagrange, 
lud., Aug. 18, 1856, a son of George and Mary (Berk) Hofi". 
He received a good education, attending the schools of his native 
town till twenty-one years old. His father was a harness-maker 
by trade, and when fourteen years of age J. B. began working 
with him, continuing, when not in school, six years. He then 
learned the art of photography and in 1878 located at Angola, 
where he has since conducted a successful business. He was mar- 
ried in 1880 to Delia Bowrie, a native of Ligonier, Ind., daugh- 
ter of D. F. andTheressa (Driver) Bowrie. To them were born 
two children, a son and daughter — Tressa and Earl. Tressa is 
deceased. 

Robert H. Johnson^ Auditor of Steuben County, Ind., was born 
in DeKalb County, Ind., March 10, 1838, a son ot Amariah and 
Jane (Wyatt) Johnson, his father a native of Ohio, born in 1809, 
and his mother of Pennsylvania, but an early settler of Ohio, 
where they were married and in the falJ of 1837 moved to De Kalb 
County and settled in Jackson Township. The first school-house 
built in his district and church in his township, were built on the 
farm ot Mr. Johnson. He and his wife were members of the Meth- 
odist Protestant church,and strict conformists to its principles. They 
had a family of twelve children, eight of whom are living — Robert 
H., Isaac, Nathan, William, Amariah, Zeruah, wife ofM. Y. Hettin- 
ger, of Michigan; Rebecca, wife of Henry Beams, of Allen County, 
Ind. ; and Libbie, wife of L. B. Shilling, of Auburn, The mother 
died in 1868, and the father in 1877. Robert H. Johnson was 
reared and educated in his native county, completing his education 
at the Newville Academy. He was one of the first to enlist when 
the Government called for troops in 1861, but as there was an ex- 
cess of men he was discharged. The following August he enlisted 
in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. He participated in 
tlie engagements at Corinth, Lawrenceburg, Ky., Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Atlanta, besides numerous other 
engagements. After the battle of Mission Ridge he veteranized 
in the same regiment and was appointed Corporal. He was soon 
afterward promoted to Hospital Steward, and in Feburary, 1865, 



» 






— p 

682 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to First Lieutenant and Adjutant, and served as Adjutant till the 
close of the war. After the siege of Atlanta the regiment was 
among the number who took part in the engagement at Jonesboro, 
and thence in pursuit of. Hood. Their last engagement was at 
Nashville. Thej then went to Texas, where their services ended. 
After his discharge from the service he returned to De Kalb County, 
and for a time engaged in mercantile pursuits, but not being suc- 
cessful, in 1868 he came to Steuben County and settled on a farm 
in Clear Lake Township. In 1878 he was elected Auditor of Steu- 
ben County, and moved his family to Angola. In 1882 he was re- 
elected. He has been an efficient, reliable officer and has gained 
the confidence of all fair-minded citizens. In politics he is a 
stanch Republican, and is also a strong supporter of the temper- 
ance cause. Mr. Johnson was married in May, 1866, to Emily A. 
Platter, daughter of John and Eraeline Platter, early settlers of 
Dii Kalb County. They have three children — Edassa, Carl P., 
and Ira E. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Christian 
church. 

Israel Kemery, proprietor of the Russell House, Angola, Ind., 
was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. April 5, 1830, a son of Jacob 
and Mary (Loubert) Keraery, his father a native of Pennsylvania 
and his mother of Germany. There was a family of six sons; two 
died in infancy, one was killed at the battle of Jonesboro, Tenn., 
in the war of the Rebellion, and three are living. The father 
died in 1838. Israel remained on the farm with his mother till 
sixteen years of age, and then began to learn the saddle and 
harness-maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. 
After completing his apprenticeship he engaged in business for 
himself in Ohio till 1856, when he came to Indiana and es- 
tablished the second harness shop in Angola. When he first 
visited Angola with the intention of locating the outlook was 
rather discouraging. The public square was lined with ox teams, 
there being only one horse on the square. Nothing daunted, how- 
ever, he completed his arrangements and soon the scene changed; 
horses gave place to oxen and his business became a lucrative one. 
In 1876 he was thrown from his buggy, receiving injuries which 
caused him to abandon his trade. For five years he was employed 
as a traveling salesman in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, and May 
3, 1883, rented the Russell House in Angola, where he has built 
up a good business. He is a genial, attentive landlord, and his 
table is always supplied with the best the market afibrds. While 



■^' 



~s 



^4<^ — ^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



683 



engaged in the harness business he was elected and served as 
Constable two years, Justice of the Peace eight years, and Deputy 
Sheriff and Deputy Treasurer six years. He was also for fifteen 
years engaged in the tire and life insurance business in connection 
with working at his trade. He was married in Lancaster, Ohio, 
in 1850 to Anna M. Willhite, a native of Lancaster, born Nov. 
22, 1830, daughter of George and Mary "Willhite. To them have 
been born eight children — Mary E., wife of Allen Jarvis; George 
W. married Ida Phelps; Charles I. married Katie Henning, of 
Stryker, Ohio, and is now telegraph operator at Anderson, Ind. ; 
Emma J. is at home; Nella died, aged two days; Frank T. mar- 
ried Lillie Chrisley; Effie L. and M. Nora are at home. Mr. 
Kemery has been a member of the Odd Fellows' order twenty-one 
years. He has passed all the chairs of his lodge, and has repre- 
sented it in the Grand Lodge of the State twice. He has served 
on important committees twelve years and as permanent Secretary 
eight years. He was a charter member of the Angola Lodge, K. 
of H., and was its first presiding oflicer and its first representative 
to the Grand Lodge. It is mainly through his influence that the 
lodge has attained its present prosperous condition. Mrs. Kem. 
ery's mother died when she was a child and her father in 1851. 
Their family consisted of four children — two sons and two daugh- 
ters. A son and daughter are deceased, and George is a resident 
of Wisconsin. 

Thomas E. Legg, proprietor of Legg's livery and feed stables, 
Angola, Ind., was born in Lagrange County, Ind., Oct. 9, 1840, a 
son of William and Mary (Down) Legg, natives of England, who 
emigrated to America in 1830, and were among the earliest settlers 
of English Prairie, Lagrange County. The father died in 1854, 
and the mother in 1860. Our subject was reared on a pioneer farm 
and experienced all the privations incident to a life in a new 
Country. At the time his parents settled in Indiana the Indians 
were numerous and troublesome as it was just prior to the breaking 
out of the Black Hawk war. In August, 1862, Mr. Legg enlisted 
in Company C, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and participated 
in all the engagements of his regiment; among the more important 
were Mission Ridge, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, the march to the 
sea with Sherman, and the surrender of Johnston's army. He was 
in the line at the grand review of the army at Washington, and 
from there returned to Indianapolis, where he was discharged in 
June, 1865. In 1866 he came to Angola and has since been en- 



) > 



684 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

gaged in the livery and feed business. Mr. Legg was married in 
Angola in 1866 to Josephine Merry, a native of Ohio. They have 
four children — Hattie G., Minnie C, Pliny Albert and Nora F. 
In polities Mr. Legg is a Republican. He is a member and one of 
the organizers of the Grand Array of the Republic post in Angola. 
He has been Deputy Sheriff of Steuben County several years. 

Albert William Long was born in Steuben Township, Steuben 
Co., Ind.j Jan. 2, 1846, a son of James and Sarah (Reynolds) Long. 
His early life was spent upon the farm during which time he ob- 
tained a good common-school education at the district school. 
"When twenty years old he began a higher course of study in the 
High School at Angola, Ind. After three years of faithful study 
he accepted the principalship of the Richland graded school, 
where he remained one year. The years 1870- '71 were devoted 
to the study of natural science at Hillsdale College, Mich., which 
institution conferred upon him the degree of " Master Science" in 
recognition of his attainments in this branch of study. In 1872 
Mr. Long was employed in the High School at Angola, where he 
taught eight years. In the spring of 1880, on account of failing 
health, he abandoned teaching and is at present living on the old 
family homestead, two miles south of Angola, which he purchased 
on retiring from the school-room. Mr. Long was married July 26, 
1874, to Susie M., daughter of W. R. Ingalls, of Otsego Township. 
They have three children — Howard, Mabel and Yerna. 

James Long, deceased, one of the pioneers of Steuben County, 
Ind., was born in Western New York in 1799. When a young 
man he removed with his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where 
he married a Miss Guthrie, who died in 1824, leaving five children 
— Benajah B., Robert E., John J., Jane, wife of Rufus Jackson, 
and Martha, who married G. T. Abbey. Benajah is the only one 
living. Mr. Long subsequently married Sarah Reynolds, a native 
of Maryland, daughter of William Reynolds, who settled in Rich- 
land County in an early day. To them were born five children — 
Caroline S., wife of T. M. Allbee; David O., of Montcalm County, 
Mich.; Albert W., Hugh D. and James H. In 1836 Mr. Long, in 
company with several neighbors, moved to Steuben County, Ind., 
and bought a claim on section 10, Steuben Township. In 1854 he 
exchanged this farm with Dr. Clark for land on sections 2 and 11, 
where he died in the fall of 1856. He was a strong anti-slavery 
man, a Whig in politics, and subsequently one of the first to 
espouse the principles of the Republican party. He was one of 



'3' 



^^L — ^ - — " k^ 

4 < I (0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



685 



the first Methodists in the county, and for naany years was a class- 
leader and exhorter. In an early day he built a lar^e building in 
which religious services were held for many years. He was an 
earnest supporter of education and all projects of public intere-t. 
Mrs, Long is living in Oakland, Cal., with her two sons, Hugh D. 
and James H. 

Francis Macartney was born near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 
Sept. 10, 1831. His father, Thomas Macartney, was of Scotch an- 
cestrv, but was born in Northern Ireland, where he lived till 
eighteen years of age. He then emigrated to America and en- 
gaged in business near the city of New York as a surveyor and 
civil engineer, for which he had been educated, and when not em- 
ployed in this way spent his time in teaching school. In 1819 he 
was married at Hampden, Winchester Co., N. Y., to Mary A. Young, 
a native of Ponghkeepsie, N. Y., of English parentage. In 1824 
the family moved to Ontario County, at that time a new part of 
the State, and in 1829 moved to Canada, where the father died. In 
1838 the mother moved with her family to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
and in 1844 to Steuben County, Ind., locating in the northern part 
of York Township, a very sparsely settled portion of the county. 
The mother died at Angola in January, 1885, in the eighty-eighth 
year of her age. Of her five children, two sons died in early man- 
hood, and two, William and Francis, live in Angola. Her daughter, 
Mrs. M. A. Goodale, resides in Metz. Francis, the youngest of 
the family, was thirteen years of age when they moved to Steuben 
County, and here he grew to manhood. His natural taste for read- 
ing and study was encouraged and strengthened by the careful and 
judicious training of an intelligent mother. His home training 
supplemented by a few terms at the common schools was his only 
means of acquiring an education. The schools of Steuben County 
forty years ago were very inferior, the teachers being rarely trained 
for the work, and often not very well qualified for the proper dis- 
charge of their duties but Mr. Macartney holds in grateful re- 
membrance as his alma mater the log school house that once 
stood near Hathaway's Corners in York Township, and ever ac- 
knowledges his indebtedness to the faithful teachers who labored 
there, often under very discouraging circumstances, to train 
the youthful minds. With the exception of about three years 
passed in the lumber regions of Northern Michigan and a few 
terms spent in teaching school. Mr. Macartney was engaged in 
farming till thirty years of age. In 1860 he was elected to 



r^ 



^ 



686 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



thu office of County Treasurer and assumed the duties in 1861, 
serving two years. In 1863 he was elected Auditoi; and in 1867 
was re-oleeted, serving till 1872. In 1874 he was again the nomi- 
nee of his party, but was defeated by Jesse H. Carpenter. In 
1S76 some unpleasant complications arose in the Treasurer's office, 
requiring a change of management. Mr. Macartney was called 
upon in this emergency, and under appointment as Deputy took 
charge of the office till September, 1877. In 1880 he was elected 
State Senator for the district composed of the counties of Steuben 
and De Kalb, which he represented in the legislative sessions of 
1881 and 1883. In March, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster at 
Angola, wliich position he now holds. In 1861 Mr. Macartney 
purchased one-half interest in the Steuhen Republican, of which 
he became manager, and in 1863 bought the interest of his part- 
ner, J. O. Reese, and became sole proprietor. He conducted the 
paper a year, and then sold it, but in 1874, in company with Germ 
Brown, purchased it again and furnished the office with a new out- 
fit of presses and materia!, enlarged the paper, increased its cir- 
culation and thereby extended its usefulness. After assisting in 
publishing the paper over a year he sold his interest to J. U. 
Miller. Mr. Macartney's official labors have been marked through- 
out with painstaking and accuracy, and he has endeavored to place 
on record an exact statement of each transaction. To his efforts 
may be traced many improvements in the methods of transacting 
the business it has been his duty to perform. In politics he has 
been a Republican since the formation of that party, and is a 
strond defender of its principles. Few public enterprites have 
been undertaken in Angola since his residence here in which he 
has not borne some part, frequently at the exjiense of his own pri- 
vate interest and convenience. Mr. Macartney is probably second 
to none in his knowledge of the history, topography, resources, 
institutions and people of Steuben County. His spare time for 
several years past has been devoted to working up an abstract of 
titles to all the land in the county. Mr. Macartney was married 
in 1855 to Minerva Gore, of Northwest Ohio. Three children 
have been born to them, but two of whom are living. 

William Palfreyman^ one of tlie enterprising farmers of Pleas- 
ant Township, was born in Yorkshire, England, July 25, 1832, a 
Son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Moorfoot) Palfreyman. In August, 
1836, his parents came to the United States and located m La- 
grange County, on land owned by his uncle, who had been killed in a 



Ll^ 



I 



■7" 



~s \ 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 687 

well, his father beiiii? the only heir. In 1839 his father died. His 
family consisted of eight children, but two of whom, "William and 
David, are living. His mother afterward married Thomas Slater. 
Their children were five in number, four of whom are living — 
Samuel, Amos, Hannah and Peter. Mrs. Slater died in 1852. 
She was a sincere Christian, a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. William Palfreyman was married in 1861 to Eliza- 
beth Elya, daughter of Abram and Rachel Elya. They have two 
children — William A. and Myrtle. Mr. Palfreyman came to Steu- 
ben County in the spring of 1863 and purchased land on section 
10, Pleasant Township, where he has since lived. He has erected 
good buildings and has one of the best farms in the township, 
valued at $65 an acre. He is a wide-awake, enterprising business 
man and has been successful in making for himself and family a 
pleasant home. In politics he is a Democrat. 

David L. Phenicie is a native of Pleasant Township, Steuben 
Co., Ind., born April 17, 1839. His father, David Phenicie, 
was born in Bedford County, Pa, Oct. 11, 1797. He married 
Rebecca Pitman who died Aug. 1, 1823. Their only child died 
in infancy. He afterward married Mary Jenkins, who was born 
Feb. 1, 1803. To them were born six children, four of whom are 
living — Susanna, wife of M3'ron C. Holcomb; Jane, wife of A. E. 
Farnham ; David L.; Mai-y E., wife of M. G. Miller. All save 
David L. live in Olathe, Johnson Co., Kas. In 1832 David 
Phenicie moved to Wood County, Ohio, and in 1836 to Steuben 
County, Ind., and settled in the southern part of Pleasant Town- 
ship. He rolled up the logs for a cabin and covered it with marsh 
hay. His brother Daniel came with him and was the first man to 
drive a wagon and team between Fremont and Angola. Their 
milling was done at Union Mills, Lagrange County, and their 
marketing at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich. In 1853 he pur- 
chased land in Fremont Township, where John W. Noyes now 
lives. He died in Kinderhook, Branch Co., Mich., Sept. 23. 1869. 
Mis, Phenicie died Sept, 18, 1876. They were members of the 
Baptist church. In politics he was an old-line Whig and anti- 
slavery man, and subsequently a Republican. In 1844 he cut his 
knee and through the mismanagement of the surgeon lost his leg, 
and he was obliged to give up farming. David L. Phenicie was 
reared in his native county, growing to manhood among the pio- 
neers. His early education was obtained in the log-cabin schools, 
but after moving to Fremont he had better privileges. In 1857- 



N 



W 



Jr^ 



^ 



«_ 



*J 



688 HISTORY OF STEUBP-N COUNTY. 

'58 he attended Hillsdale College, and in 1859 Brjant & Stratton 's 
Commercial College, Indianapolis, from which he graduated the 
following autumn. He was married Nov. 14, 1867, to Eliza A. 
Nichols, danghter of Henry and Harriet Nichols. They have had 
four children— Jesse L., born Feb. 20, 1869; Ella M., Sept. 12, 
1874; Ernest G., Aug. 30, 1876, died April 4, 1881; Irvin G., 
born May 3, 1879. In politics Mr. Phenicie is a stanch Kepubli- 
can. In 1869 he bought a farm in Kinderhook, Mich., where he 
lived till 1882 when he moved to Fremont, His farm contains 
280 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Phenicie's father was a native 
of Vermont, and when a young man left his native State and went 
to Erie County, Ohio, where he taught school. Subsequently 
went to Sandusky County, and there married Harriet Bemis. 
They had a family of six children, five of whom are living — 
Abbie, wife of Charles S. Ritchie, of Kinderhrook; Henry B., of 
Seneca, Kas. ; I. J., of Kansas; Eliza A., wife of D. L. Phenicie; 
George D., of Clyde, Ohio. Mr. Nichols died Feb. 8, 1882. Mrs. 
Nichols is living with her son George, at Clyde. He was a mem- 
ber of the society of Friends and she of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, 

George W. Poland, carpente a nd joiner, Angola, Ind., is one of 
the early settlers of Steuben County. In 1846, while living in 
Ohio, Dr. George W. McConnell advised him to come to Indiana 
and buy land, but he laughed at the idea, as he was a poor young 
man, just starting out for himself, and had nothing to pay for it 
with. However he finally took the Doctor's advice as he told him 
he might take his own time to pay for it, and that same fall came 
to this county and bought forty acres in what is now Scott Town- 
ship, He was a carpenter by trade, and worked at his trade or 
any employment he could find till his land was paid for. He walked 
to Richland County and back twice, a distance of 180 miles, taking 
four days to make the journey each way. He has been one of the 
most influential and progressive men of the county. He is a man 
of decided opinions, extensive reading and observation, which, 
added to his determined will and energy, make intelligent and 
public spirited citizens, and hence are ready to assist any project 
which promises advancement to the county. In 1860 he moved to 
Angola, and took in a partner a year after in the grocery business, 
the partner to conduct it. In twu years the business was closed 
out, Mr, Poland sustaining a heavy loss. Since then he has worked 
at his trade. He for a number of years was Secretary and Treas- 






j4 



(? ^ ■-- — g^ v, 

— =^^ p^ 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 689 

urer of the fire department, and in December, 1884, was elected 
Chief of the Department. He was a^delegate to the State Fire- 
man's Association, and at the second meeting was one of the Vice- 
Presidents, At the third meeting he was elected Treasurer, a po- 
sition he has since held. He has always taken an active interest 
in the association, and is one of its leading members. In politics 
he is a Greenbacker. He has held several local offices of trust, 
among others Trustee, Supervisor and Assessor. He is a member 
of the Odd Fellows order, and in 18Y0 represented h's lodge in the 
Grand Lodge of the State. Mr. Poland was born in Franklin 
County, Ph., Sept. 6, 1825, a son of John and Rachael (Cookston) 
Poland, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1832 his parents moved to 
Ohio, crossing the mountains and fording the streams, and bought 
a tract of heavily timbered land in Ki:;hland County, which was 
cleared by the father and his sons, our subject doing a large share 
of the W(irk. There was a family of eleven children, all of whom 
lived to adult life, never requiring the aid of a physician till after 
they reached maturity. The mother died in 1840. She was a 
member of the Lutheran church and a sincere Christian. In 1854 
the father followed our subject to Steuben County and resided 
about eighteen months; then went to Kosciusko County and lived 
with Jesse Poland, the youngest son, until his death. Mr. Poland 
was married June 13, 1848, to Sarah Barr, a native of Fairfield 
County, Ohio, born March 10, 1825, a daughter of James and Eliz- 
abeth (Thompson) Barr, who settled in Steuben County in 1846. 
Mr. and Mrs. Poland have had five children — Caroline, wife of 
Adelbert Day, foreman in the Angola Republican office; Elvira, 
wife of Henry C. Miller; Jason, married Helen Cobl); Eugenia (de- 
ceased), and George, a fireman on the jailroad. 

David Scoville was born in O ondaga County, IST. Y. , April 21, 
1832, a son of David and Sally (Sutherland) Scoville. In 1836 his 
parents moved to Seneca County, Ohio, and in 1845 returned to JS'ew 
York where they both died. They had a family of three sons and 
seven daughters. David remained with his parents till manhood 
and in 1852 came to Steuben County and spent the winter; then re- 
turned to New York and remained till the death of his father. In 
February, 1857, he was married to Alena Davis, daughter of John 
and Sally (Pii)er) Davis, natives of England, who immigrated to 
Canada in 1838, leaving Mis. Scoville, then less than two years old, 
with her grandmother. When she was eleven years old she came 
to A merica and lived with her parents three years. When four- 



Tl" 



\ 



Au. 



690 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

teen she went to iSTew York, and there became acquainted with Mr. 
Scoville. In the autumn following their marriage they came to 
Steuben County and engaged in farming till 1866 when they moved 
to Angola where they have since resided. They have an adopted 
daughter — Elsie. In politics Mr. Scoville is a stanch Kepublican- 
He has been Marshal of Angola several years. He was baggage- 
master for the Fort Wayne, Jackoontfe Saginaw Kailroad two years 
after coming to Angola. He has accumulated a good property, al- 
though in limited circumstances when he came to the county, and 
now owns eighty-eight acres of valuable land, two and one-quarter 
miles from Angola. 

James A. Segur was born in Cortland County, N. Y., April 20, 
1822, a son of James and Cynthia (Crawford) Segur. His parents 
were early settlers of Cortland County. When moving to the 
county they passed through what is now Syracuse, N. Y., and Mr. 
Segur was offered 160 acres at $1.25 an acre, in the center of the 
town, but at that time a cedar swamp. He followed blacksmith- 
ing in New York till 1837 when he moved his family to Kichland, 
now Ashland, County, Ohio, where he died in 1842. The mother 
survived him many years, and died in 1864. She was a life long 
member of the Episcopal church. There was a family of nine chil- 
dren, three sons and six daughters. James A. Segur was fifteen 
years old when his parents moved to Ohio. He received a liberal 
education in the common schools and the High School at Preble Cor- 
ners, and subsequently Ashland Academy. He taught several 
terms of school in Ohio, and after coming to Steuben County taught 
winters. He came to Steuben County in 1849 and settled in Scott 
Township, on section 36, where he hewed out a farm from a tract of 
heavily timbered land, residing there thirty -one years, when he 
sold the farm and moved to Angola where he has since lived a quiet, 
retired life. He was married in March, 1849, just prior to his re- 
moval to Steuben County, to Corinda Hill, daughter of Henry Hill, 
of Ashland County, Ohio. To them were born four children — 
Charles, Sarah, Harvey and Lell. Charles is a Professor of the 
graded school in Hamilton, Ind. Mrs. Stgur died May 8, 1882. 
She was an active and consistent member of the Christian church, 
and loved by all who knew her. Mr. Segur has experienced all the 
hardships of pioneer life, but has lived to reap the reward of his 
toil, being one of the well-to-do citizens of the county. In politics 
he is a Republican and has held many local offices of trust . 

A. W. A. Soiole is a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., bora 



-7i: 



-f 



?«!L 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN CODNTT. 691 

Jan. 20, 1806, a son of Joseph and Eachel Sowle, natives of Rhode 
Island. His parents were married in New York about 1800, and 
to them were born fourteen children, twelve of whom lived till 
maturity. The father was an old-line Jackson Democrat. He died 
in 1862, his wife preceding him ten years. When A. W". A. was 
fifteen years old his parents moved to Oneida County, N. Y., where 
he worked on a farm till twenty years of age, and then learned the 
trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1830 he married Experience 
Whaley and moved to Jefferson County, N. Y., and embarked in 
the hotel business at Evans' Mills, but two years later resumed 
work at his trade which he continued till 1850, when he came to 
Steuben County, Ind., and purchased land in Fremont Township. 
When he came to Steuben County he was in limited circumstances 
but he pursued patiently the vocation of farmincj and accumulated 
a good propert}'. He lived on his farm about twenty years and in 
1871 moved to Angola and embarked in general merchandising. 
A year later he sold out but subsequently opened a grocery store 
and in 1877 became established in his present business. He has 
been identified with the interests of Steuben County thirtv-five 
years, and has been one of its most prominent benefactors. When 
he first came to the county he raised whea t ai:d hauled it to Hills 
dale, Mich., with an ox team and sold it for 45 cents a bushel. 
He stopped at a hotel where he paid four shillings for supper, 
lodging, breakfast and two drinks. Mr. and Mrs. Sowle have had 
eleven children; but five are living — Sarah A.,. wife of J. L. Bene- 
dick; Orin, Dwight, Leander and Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Sowle 
have had a peaceful married life of fifty -five years. In 1880 they 
celebrated their golden wedding, entertaining 200 guests. They 
received many valuable presents among them a purse containing 
$50 in gold. In politics Mr. Sowle was originally a Democrat, 
casting his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He sub- 
sequently afiiliated with the Free-Soil party, and is now a worker 
in the Repu blican rtmks. He has never aspired to official honors, 
but held various local positions in his native State. He has pros- 
pered in material things since coming to Steuben County. The 
farm he paid $1,100 for he sold in 1871 for $9,000. It is now one 
of the finest farms in the county. 

Francis Sowle, one of the pioneers of Steuben County, was born 
in Montgomery County, JST. Y., Oct. 21, 1808, a son of Joseph and 
Rnchel (Allen) Sowle. He received his early education in the com- 
mon schools and when eleven years of age started out to take care of 



\ 



.-N^ 



692 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



himself and assist his father, who was a poor man. He worked a year 
for $3 a month and three years for $4 a month. When fourteen years 
of age he gave liis father a yoke of four-year-old cattle. In 1834: he 
left his native heath and immigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, and 
thence in 1836 to Steuben County, Ind., and entered land in Pleasant 
Township, in what is known as the Sowle settlement. At that time 
there was but one board shanty in what is now Angola, owned by 
a man named Gilman. He returned to Ohio and cleared land and 
raised a crop which lie harvested and sold. The spring of 1839 he 
moved his family to his land, and began making a home. He sut 
out an orchard soon after coming to the county, and subsequently 
built a good house and barn. In 1843 he moved to Angola, where 
he bought the lots on which the jail now stands. In 1852 he 
crossed the plains to California, taking four and a half months to 
make the trip, and remained about fifteen months, returning again 
to Angola where he has since resided. Mr. Sowle was married 
May 23, 1829, to Susan N. Vromon, who died Sept. 19, 1845, leav- 
ing four children — Joseph A. J., born Aug. 13, 1831; Mary Ann, 
April 1, 1834; Adam, June 24, 1837, and Helen Feb. 11, 1841. 
Nov. 30, 1846, Mr. Sowle married Henrietta Holdridge, and to 
them was born one daughter — Henrietta L., born Sept. 1, 1848. 
Mrs. Sowle died Sept. 7, 1848, and July 22, 1849, he married Bar- 
bara McMahan, daughter of John McMahan, the first settler of 
Fremont Township. They have two children— Byron L. , born 
Auu-. 28, 1850, and Josephine C, born March 4, 1852. Mr, Sowle 
in politics is a stanch Democrat, being a strong supporter of the 
party's principles. 

Arrdrew J. Snyder is a native of Canaudaigua, N. Y., born May 
11, 1840, a son of William L. and Fannie (Woodbridge) Snyder, 
his father born Aug. 12, 1802, and his mother Jan. 24, 1815. 
William L. Snvder was a carpenter by occupation. He enlisted in 
1862 in the Fiftieth New York Engineers and served several 
months, was discharged on account of disability. In 1868 he 
moved to Flint, Mich., where he died in November, 1881. His 
wife is living with her son in Angola. They had a family of three 
children — Catherine E., George W. and A. J. Andrew J. Sny- 
der was educated in the common schools of his native State. 
When seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the black- 
smith's trade and served three years. The first year he received 
$40 and his board, the second year $50, and the third year $75. 
In 1861 he came west and located at Orland, Ind. In August, 



l» 



\^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 693 

1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundreith Indiana Infantry. 
From Fort Wayne they were sent to Indianapolis, and from there 
four companies of infantry and four of cavalry were sent to the 
borders of the State to meet Morgan. In November they returned 
to Indianapolis and the regiment was organized and the latter part 
of the same month was sent to Memphis, thence overland to Vicks- 
burg and returned then down the Mississippi to the Yazoo, and up 
that stream to Haines's Bluffs; then to Jackson, Miss., where they 
were assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps, and afterward to the 
Fifteenth; participated in all its general engagements till the close 
<jf the war. After the battle of Holly Springs Mr. Snyder was 
detailed as blacksmith of the regiment, serving in that capacity till 
the close of the war. After the war he went to Flint, Mich., and 
formed a partnership with George Reighter, and three years later 
came to Angola. Mr. Snyder was married in Vienna, N. Y., to 
Martha L. Carpenter, daughter of David Carpenter. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge, chapter and council and 
has tilled all the chairs of the lodge, from Junior Deacon to Master. 
He is a member of B. J. Crosswaite Post, No. 150, G. A. R., of 
which he is Commander. In politics he is a Republican. 

Lewis Stealy, one of the pioneers of Steuben County, was born 
in Marion County, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1825, a son of Rev. John and 
Susannah (Seitze) Stealy. He came with his parents to Steuben 
County in February, 1836, and has since made it his home. The 
first school he attended in the county was in a part of his father's 
house, afterward finished for living rooms. The first teacher 
was Hortense Miner, who was paid by subscription. "When they 
settled in the county there were no mills and Mr. Stealy has many 
times grated corn into meal to make their johnny cakes. He has 
lived through all the varied scenes of pioneer life, experiencing 
both the hardships and pleasures incident to a life in a new coun- 
try. He has assisted in the development of the county, both in 
clearing the timber and cultivating the soil, and in aiding with his 
influence and money all public enterprises. His own efforts have 
been crowned with success and he is one of the most prosperous 
men of Pleasant Township. 

Francis Stevens^ a son of Peirson and Abigail (Cook) Stevens, 
was born in Piermont, Grafton Co., N. H., Jan. 30, 1820. His 
tather died in 1826 and his mother about 1834. Francis was the 
youngest of a large family of children. In settling his father's es- 
tate, complications arose which resulted in its entire loss as far as 
44 



-BfV 



JV"^ 



>!- 



1 



694 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



the children were concerned. He made his home with his brother- 
in-law, John Chandler, of Piermont, till nineteen years of age, 
when he came to Stenben County, Ind., and lived with another 
brother-in-law, Samuel Leonard, then of Richland Township, about 
two years. In 1841 he returned to New Hampshire, walking all the 
way, and remained a year. While there he worked for farmers 
and saved enough to make a payment on land he had bought of 
Abram Beecher,in Ricliland Township. He cleared twelve acres and 
built a small log-cabin. He worked by the month till 1S45 when 
he was married toMelindaF. Aldrich and went to housekeeping on 
his land. His first crop of wheat was burned, but instead of being 
discouraged he only worked the harder and ere long had his land 
paid for. In early life he united with the Congregational church 
in New Hampshire, but later transferred his membership to the 
United Brethren church. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens had a family of 
nine children — Asa, Sabina J., Abraham B., Sarah A., Hattie M., 
Bertha D., Fremont C, Francis P. !ind Leslie O. Asa and Sabina 
are deceased. Mr. Stevens died Dec. 14, 1874. He was a promi- 
nent man of the county and one of its most worthy citizens. Mrs. 
Stevens's father, Asa Aldrich, came to Steuben County in 1837. He 
died in 1855 and his wife in 1860. They were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church 

John S. Voorhees, of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Mont- 
gomery County, N. T., near Canajoharie, Dec. 21, 1827. He was 
a son of Henry and Mary (Steves) Yoorhees, natives of the same 
county. They had three sons and five daughters. John S. came 
to Steuben County in 1861 and settled on his farm of 160 acres, 
then entirely unimproved. He has since purchased eighty 
acres more, and erected a dwelling and all necessary farm build- 
ings, including a windmill. He makes a specialty of sheep-rais- 
ing, having mostly graded merinos. He has no family. 

Ancil Ward has been a resident of Steuben County, Ind., since 
June, 1836, coming here with his parents, Alexander and Rebecca 
(Gray) Ward. His father was a native of Canada and his mother of 
Pennsylvania. They were married in Ashtabula County, Ohio, where 
three children were born to them. In June, 1836, they moved to 
Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Mill Grove Township, north of 
Orland, on wiiat is now known as the Kidder place. In 1838 tliey 
bought a farm in Jackson Township,where the father died in October, 
1842. The mother died at the home of our subject May 2, 1881. 
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and among 



"7 






« Ik^ 



14* 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



695 



its most libera] supporters, Ancil Ward was born in Ashtabula 
County. Ohio, March 22, 1829. He was but thirteen years old 
when his father died, and being the eldest son, the main depend- 
ence of his mother. Without a murmur he assumed control of the 
farm, and although so young, his mother soon found that her eon 
was equal to the emergency and leaned on him in all her hours of 
despondency. He remained with his mother till his marriage, 
May 16, 1855, to Susan E. Yockey, a native of Franklin County, 
Pa., born March 15, 1837, daughter of Frederic Yockey. After 
his marriage he mQved to Pleasant Township and settled on the 
farm where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have a family of 
seven children — Charles B^ a farmer of Branch County, Mich.; 
Emma, wife of Jacob Mountz; Alice, wife of Ira A. Thomas, of 
Ohio; Frederick K., David A., Walter H. and Etta Dell. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ward and their daughter Emma and her husband are 
members of the United Brethren church. 

J. Edward Waugh, dental surgeon, Angola, Ind., was born in 
Blackford County, Ind., Nov. 30, 1858, a son of Orrin and Rox- 
anna (Brown) Waugh, early settlers of Blackford County, where 
the father died in 1861, and the mother is still living. In 1869 
our subject went to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he received a liberal 
education in the High School and in 1877 went into the office r»f Dr. 
George W. Loag and began the study of dentistry. In the winter 
of 1880-'81 he attended the Indiana Dental College at Indianapo- 
lis, graduating in March, 1881. He practiced with Dr. Loag a 
short time and then came to Angola and opened an office. He is 
meeting with good success, his work giving satisfaction at all times. 
He is a young man of good address, unimpeachable character and 
is highly respected by all who know him. He is a member of the 
State Dental Association. Dr. Waugh was married Aug. 10, 1882, 
to Rosalba Poole, a native of Wheeling, W. Ya., daughter of Ja- 
son Poole. They have one son — Bertrand Edward. Dr. AVaugli 
is a member of the Odd Fellows' order. 

Eawson Welch was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Jan. 19, 
1819, a son of Joseph and Mary (Cutler) Welch, early settlers of 
Ohio. His father died when he was a child and he was bound to 
Captain L. Lee to learn the woolen-weaver's trade, remaining with 
him till twenty-one years of age, and soon after embarked in busi. 
ness for himself at Marysville, Ohio, where he was successful and 
accumulated a property valued at $10,000, which was totally de- 
stroyed by fire in 1861 with no insurance. He then bought an 



1 (I- 






696 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

terest in a mill at Mechanicsbur^, and while eti route to the place 
learned that it was burned. He helped rebuild the mill at Me- 
chanicsburg, and continued in business there two years. He then 
returned to Marjsville and in 1868 moved to Angola, where he has 
built up a good business. Mr. Welch was married in April, 1846, 
in Berkshire, Delaware Co., Ohio, to Almira Thrall, a native of 
Berkshire, born Marcli 29, 1829. They have had ten children- 
seven of whom are living — Frances, wife of George Hamden; Sarah 
A., wife of J. C. Gale; Willis F., Stella, Arthur A., Thomas F. 
and Emma. Artemus, Howard and an infant arp deceased. Mrs. 
Welch is a member of the Disciples church. 

Endress Wiggins is a native of Steuben County, born Jan. 27, 
1848, a son of John and Lena Wiggins, early settlers of the county. 
He was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the 
district schools. Dec. 9, 1863, he enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana 
Cavalry, and participated in several raids, mostly in Alabama. 
Soon after his enlistment he was taken sick and was in the hospi- 
tal at Huntsville, Ala., several weeks. He served till the close of 
the war and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. He returned to 
the scenes of his nativity and exchanged his implements of war for 
those of agriculture. He has a good farm of eighty acres, forty- 
five of which are under cultivation, valued at $50 an acre. Mr- 
Wiggins was married in May, 1877, to Estella Tabor, daughter of 
Washington and Esther Ann Tabor, early settlers of Indiana. Mr- 
and Mrs. Wiggins have two sons — Edwin M. and Allen. 

Nathan Wiggins was born in Steuben County, Ind., Oct. 10, 
1840, a son of John and Lena Wiggins. He remained on the farm 
with his parents till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he en- 
listed in the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and served till the 
close of the war. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, 
Mission Ridge, Atlanta, the march to the sea and through the Car- 
olinas, thence to Washington, where he was in the line at the 
iirand review of the army. After his return home he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits till his death, March 3, 1875. He was mar- 
ried in Lagrange County, Ind., to Nettie Newacker, who lived but 
a short time and he then married Marietta Outkelt. He left a 
widow and two children and many friends to mourn his untimely 
deatii. He was a man of unexceptional character, a kind husband 
;.nd father and a most worthy citizen of the county. 

Lyman R. Williams^ Treasurer of Steuben County, Ind., is a 
native of Onondaga County, N. Y. ,born Aug. 1, 1834, a son of He- 

. e> L-^ = — — 

■•^<s — ^ — -- — spr 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 697 

man B, and Laura A, (Ketchum) Williams. In 1844 his parents 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and a short time later to Branch 
County, Mich. They had a family of five children. Two sons were 
in the war of the Rebellion — Harvey M. and Henry C. The former 
died at Coldwater, Mich., from the effects of disease contracted in the 
service. When eleven years of ao-e Lyman R. Williams was bound 
to John Campbell, remainingwith him till twenty -one years of a^e. 
He never attended school till sixteen years of age, and is piin- 
cipally a self-educated man. After he was twenty-one years of 
age he went to Hillsdale, Mich., and worked lor his board and tu 
ition and in that way prepared to enter college. In 1857 he en- 
tered the sophomore class of Hillsdale College, and remained till 
about to enter the junior class. He then went to Ann Arbor and 
entered the law department from which he graduated in March 
1861. When he left school he was in debt for his education and 
soon after began teaching in the Bronson graded school. In the 
Spring of 1862 he took charge of the school at Fremont, Ind. While 
teaching in Fremont he was appointed County Examiner of teach- 
ers. In 1868 he took charge of the Northwestern Institute at Or- 
land and remained there two years when his health failed and he 
returned to Hillsdale. In 1871 he came to Angola and had charge 
of the school ten years. In the fall of 1880 he was elected County 
Treasurer, entering on the discharge of his duties in 1881, and in 
1882 was re-elected. Mr. Williams has always taken an interest 
in education and has done all in his power to raise the standard of 
teachers. He held the first teachers' institute in Steuben County 
in 1864, assisted by Prof. R. Patch, of Ontario Institute. He has 
filled various local positions in the town and county and has al- 
ways discharged his duties in a satisfactory manner, and has won 
the respect of his opponents by his exemplary and efficient service. 
He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order and has passed all the 
chairs of both lodge and encampment. He is also a member of 
the Knights of Honor. Mr. Williams was married in 1863 in 
Noble, Branch Co., Mich., to Alma, daughter of John McClurg. 
To them have been born three children; but two are living — 
Ethel and Nellie. 




sfv" 



^i 



^ 9 






CHAPTER XIX. 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



Geography. — Description. — Lakes. — Oldest Settled Towisship 
IN County. — First Comers and Land Entries. — Naming of 
Township. — First Birth, Death and Marriage. — First Schools. 
— Other Early Items. — First Mills. — Pioneers from 1831 to 
1840. — Flint. — Population of Township. — Agricultural Sta- 
tistics. — Property and Taxation. — Politics. — Presidential 
Vote, 184:0-'84:. — Biographical. 

Jackson Township is congressional township 37 north, range 
12 east, and lies in the western tier of the county. It is bounded 
on the north by Mill Grove, on the east by Pleasant, on the south 
by Salem, and on the west by the county of Lagrange. The town- 
ship is six miles north and south by about six miles east and 
west, and has nearly thirty-six sections, or 23,000 acres of land, 
about 1,000 of which are covered by water. Lake Gage, on the 
northern border, covers part of section 2, and Crooked Lake 
touches section 1, the main body being in Pleasant Township; 
Grass Lake, a narrow lake nearly two miles long, extends from 
section 12, across 13, into 24. On sections 24 and 25 is Howard 
Lake, connecting with Bass Lake on 25; Hog Back Lake, the 
largest in the township, lies mostly on 36; Otter Lake is on 20 
and 29; Green Lake touches section 19, on the county line; and 
there are a dozen more smaller lakes in various parts of the town- 
ship. Pigeon Creek flows irregularly west and north through 
Jackson, expanding into a pond a mile long east of Flint. 

Jackson Township has the honor of being the oldest settled 
portion of Steuben County, Gideon Langdon having located on 
the southwest quarter of section 5 in the spring of 1831. On the 
16th of May, that year, John and Jacob Stayner, with their fami- 
lies, twelve persons in all, arrived from Ohio, and there is some 
dispute as to whether they or Gideon Langdon settled first, as 
they all came in at about the same time. Gideon Langdon made 
the first entry of land on the ITth of September, 1831, locating 

(698) 



-71 



HISTOKr OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 699 

the east half of the southwest quarter of section 5. Ten days 
later John Stayner entered the west half of the southwest quarter 
of the same section. 

Both John and Jacob Stayner served in the war of 1812, and 
the former lived upon the land entered by him until his death in 
1870. He was a great admirer of the old military chieftain, An- 
drew Jackson, and at Mr. Stayner's suggestion the township was 
christened "Jackson." Jackson Prairie, which properly includes 
about 2,000 acres, became well known throughout this region. 

The first white child born in the township, as well as the county, 
was Zephaniah Stayner, whose birth occurred April 27, 1832. He 
afterward became a resident of Fremont. The wife of Gideon 
Langdon was the first person who died in the township, her death 
occurring in 1832. She was buried in the cemetery on the prairie 
on land which has since passed into the possession of D . H. Rob- 
erts. In 1832 James Huntsman and Hannah Davis were married, 
being the first couple in Steuben County who took upon themselves 
the responsibilities of that position. 

.The first school-house was situated on the north side of Jackson 
Prairie, being constructed of tarn rack poles at a cost of $50. 
John Stayner and Adolphus Town were the builders. Hannah 
Davis, who was the first bride, was also the first teacher. Eliza 
Eaton was the second teacher, and received $2 for each pupil 
attending the school. 

The first Postmaster was Adolphus Town. The first store was 
kept by Jacob S. Yan Epps on the banks of the Beaver Dam run. 
It was built in 1833. The first blacksmith shop in the county 
was built near the tamarack school-house. Previous to that time 
the people were obliged to go to Lima to get their work done. The 
first Justice of the Peace was Israel Stoddard. His opponent at 
the election was Adolphus Town. John Stayner's door-yard was 
the polling-place, and David Sams and John Kiles were the 
Judges. The first saw-mill built in the county was at Fliut, as 
was also the first grist-mill, which latter was built in connection 
with the saw-mill. Both were owned by a man named Gillette. 
The stones of the grist-mill were home-made, and the bolting- 
cloth was run by hand. 

Owing to the favorable location of Jackson Township it was set- 
tled very rapidly. Besides those already mentioned, a large num- 
ber settled here before 1840, among whom should be mentioned 
Levi Mack, John Merrill, Justus Butler, Alonzo P. Clark, George 



r 



[ 



^r 






i^ 



700 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Hendry, Adolphus Town, Israel Stoddard, W. Huntsman, Daniel 
Bennett, Harvey Brown and wife, J. Yan Epps, J. G. Burnside, 
William Enoch, David Sams, A, Harkins, Peter Huntsman, 
Samuel Bowyer, Benjamin Twichell, W. Stoddard, James Mc- 
Dnffie, Robert Jackson, Benjamin Clark, Jonas Twichell, Daniel 
Roberts, Benjamin Eoos, Edward Griswold, William Parmalee, 
Philo Clark, David and A. Cleveland, Daniel Phelps, Jonathan 
Lee, John Cheesebrough, James Warner, O. Goodrich, Seth Par- 
malee, Fred Brown, Benjamin Cromwell, J. Caldwell, A. Murphy, 
Sterling Seeley, Asher Benedict, Madison Marsh, Lewis E. and 
William Carver, Joseph Hardy, James Hardy, Mr. Greenough, 
Sr., Samuel Greenough, E. M. Haskins, Samuel Alcott, Abner 
Davis, Henry Williams and Deacon Swift. 

The pioneers yet surviving are: Jonas Twichell, Lewis E. Carver, 
William Carver, George Hendry, Mrs. David Sams, Harvey Brown 
and wife, Mrs. Justus Butler and James M. Rodgers. 

FLINT. 

A saw-mill was built at what afterward became the village of 
Flint, in 1834, by Edward Griswold; this was the first saw-mill 
erected in Steuben County. Mr. Griswold operated this mill for 
about four years; when he sold the property to Dr. Alonzo Clark. 
Mr. Griswold removed to Iowa. Dr. Clark owned the property 
for about two years, when he sold to John Thompson, who came 
here from Canada in 1838. Mr. Thompson improved the water- 
power, built the present race, removed the old saw-mill and erected 
a grist-mill. This mill, after changing hands a number of times, 
was purchased by Spencer I. Cleveland, in the spring of 1856. 
The mill was burned in December, 1858. Mr. Cleveland, who 
still owned the mill at the time it was burned, sustained a loss of 
not less than $6,000 on mill and stock. 

In 1861 the mill was rebuilt by Wallace Clark and Philo Clark. 
Several years later the Clark's sold out to Aaron and George 
Smith, who, in 1865, sold to Murray Marklie, J. Dover, O. Cleve- 
land and George Cleveland. Wallace Clark, the present owner, 
became sole proprietor in 1878. 

The present business of Flint is represented as follows: W. J. 
Huffman, general merchant; John B. Richer, general merchant; 
John Crandall, merchant and Postmaster; George Cleveland, black- 
smith; Wallace Clark, grist-mill. Physicians, Fred Sherman and 
John Lewis. 






\ 



l^ 



HI8T0KY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



701 



A lodge of F, &. A. M. was organized by dispensation at Salem 
Center in 1862 and received the name of Farmers' Lodge, No. 285. 
This was granted a charter May 26, 1863, under the name of Co- 
rinthian Lodge, No. 285. The first officers, which included the 
most of the charter members, were: A. R. Crandall, W. M. ; E. T. 
Hammond, S. W. ; C. K. Conger, J. W.; Silas Conger, Sec; AVill- 
iara Meek, S. D. ; J. J. Johnson, J. D. ; David Yan Pelt, Tyler. The 
lodge was burned Oct. 13, 1871, and the charter destroyed; another 
was issued and the lodge was continued for awhile longer at Salem 
Center, and was then removed to Flint, better to accommodate the 
majority of the members who came from that direction. The of- 
ficers for 1885 are: Philo Ward, W. M.; Fred Munn, S. W.; 
William Miller, J. W.; James Mann, Treas. ; John W. Osterhout, 
Sec; T. F. Miller, S. D.; Stephen Horn, J. D.; J. B. Richner, 
Tyler. The regular communications of the lodge are on Tuesday 
preceding the fall moon in each month. 

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH OF JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

The first services of this denomination were held in May, 1855, 
at the residence of Levi Doudt, on section 11. Services were con- 
ducted by Rev. Fletcher Thomas, at which time a society was or- 
ganized with five members, namely: Levi Doudt and his wife, 
Ann Doudt, Levi Bolin and wife, and John Beigh. Services 
were held each Sunday at the house of Mr. Doudt, till the build- 
ing of the school-house in District No. 6, on section 13, in 1858. 

In the winter of 1873-'4 services began to beheld in the school- 
house in District No. 10, on section 15, where they were held till 
the building of the present church on section 11 in 1877. This is a 
frame church painted white; cost about $2,000. Rev. Fletcher 
Thomas, who organized the society, continued as Pastor for about 
three months and was succeeded by Rev. E. Johnson, who remained 
one year. Then came Rev. H. W. Cherry, for one year, then 
Rev. M. Morthland for one year. Other Pastors of the church 
have been: Revs. John Johnson, Richard Martin, J. K. Swiharr, 
J. K. Alwood, W. O. Dinous, James Martin, J. Brown, Sam- 
uel Redmond, Joseph S. Tedrow and A. E. Gafi", who is its pres- 
ent Pastor. There are in 1885 100 members in the society. 
They have a Sunday-school of about seventy-five members. This 
church is known a^ Pleasant View church. It was dedicated Dec. 
2, 1877, Bishop Milton Wright, of Dayton, Ohio, officiating. 



\ 



^5 



'VL 



702 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Tlie population of Jackson Township in 1870 was 1,122; and in 
1880, 1,167, an increase of 45, indicating a present density of 
population equal to 33 to the square mile. 

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year 
— 1880: Acres of wheat sown, 4,517; average yield per acre, 15 
bushels; total crop, 67,775 bushels; acres of corn, 2,361; average 
yield per acre, 40 bushels; total crop, 94,460; acres of oats, 506; 
average yield per acre, 25 bushels; total crop, 12,550 bushels; acres 
in meadow, 729; average yield per acre, a ton and a half of hay; 
total crop, 1,093 tons; acres of potatoes. 65; average yield per acre, 
100 bushels; total crop, 6,500 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres assessed was 22,134.48; value of 
same, $222,850; value of improvements, $44,800; value of personal 
property, $47,305; total valuation, $314,955; number of polls, 186; 
number of dogs, 72; total taxes levied, $6,810.19. As property is 
assessed on a basis of one-third, the valuation given above indicates 
a wealth of $944,865. 

In politics, Jackson has given Republican majorities since the 
organization of that party; before 1856, when the two parties 
before the people were the Democratic and the Whig, the town- 
ship gave its vote uniformly for the former organization. The 
smallest plurality ever given was in 1840, seventeen for Yan Buren; 
the largest was in 1872, 118 for Grant. 

The growth of the population, represented by the number of 
voters, as well as the political complexion of the township at each 
election, can be seen in the following statement of the Presidential 
vote since 1840 . 



1840— Martin Van Buren 43 17 

William H. Harrison.. . 26 

1844— James K. Polk 47 34 

Henry Clay 13 

James G. Birney 3 

1848— Lewis Cass 49 24 

Zachary Taylor 25 

Martin Van Buren 7 

1852— Franklin Pierce 59 23 

Winfield Scoit 36 

John P. Hale 2 

1856— John C. Fremont 106 59 

James Buchanan 47 

Millard Fillmore 4 

1860— Abraham Lincoln 146 100 

Stepheu A. Douglas 46 

John Ben 1 



1864— Abraham Lincoln 153 101 

George B. McCIellan... 52 

1868— Ulysses S.Grant 175 103 

Horatio Seymour 72 

1872— Ulysses S. Grant 162 118 

Horace Greeley 44 

1876— Rutherford B. Hayes. . . 182 94 

Samuel J. Tilden 88 

Peter Cooper 35 

1880— James A. Garfield 163 68 

Winfield S. Hancock ... 95 

James B. Weaver 16 

1884— James G. Blaine 157 57 

Grover Cleveland 100 

Benjamin F. Butler 16 

John P. St. John. 1 



i 



< S 1 (0 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 703 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Charles L. Alcott resides on section 6, Jackson Township, where 
his father, Michael Alcott, settled in 1839. Michael Alcott was 
born in New Jersey about 1795, and removed thence to Marion 
County, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Collins, a native of the 
State of Delaware. In 1837 they moved to Steuben County, and 
settled in Pleasant Township, about a mile west of Angjola. The 
following spring they moved to Jackson Township, where the father 
died in 1845. The mother afterward married Henry Spangle and 
died in 1873. Charles L. Alcott was an only son. He was born 
in Ohio Jan. 29, 1833. He was married Jan. 5, 1860, to Ellen 
Powers, a native of Steuben County, born in 1841, daughter of 
Stephen A. Powers. They have two children — Frank and Emma. 
Mr. Alcott is one of the prominent and successful farmers of Jack- 
son Township. 

Luke Barr resides on section 16, Jackson Township, where his 
father, Jared Barr, settled in 1845. Jared Barr was born in Mas- 
sachusetts in September, 1784, and after attaining manhood went 
to the State of New York, where he was married to Lucretia Ha- 
zen, a native of Connecticut a cousin of the father of General 
Hazen. After his marriage he settled in Dover, Ohio, and 
later moved to Elyria, where they lived till 1845, when they 
came to Steuben County and bought a tract of unimproved 
land of Lyman Clark. This land he improved and made 
his home till his death in April, 1869. The mother died in 
September, 1879. Their twelve children, four sons and eight 
daughters, were all living at the time of the father's death. Five 
are now living. Jared Barr was a man of considerable ability, a 
great reader and possessed of a remarkable memory. He was a 
member of the Disciples church and for several years was a preacher 
of that denomination. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, hold- 
ing a Captain's commission. Luke Barr was born in Elyria, Ohio, 
Sept. 22, 1830, and has been a resident of Jackson Township since 
1845. He married Mary "Williams, who was born in Onondaga 
County, N. Y., in 1840, a daughter of Carpenter Williams. Her 
parents moved to Michigan where her father died when she was 
seven years old. Her mother then returned to New York, where 
she was educated, graduating from Phipp's Union Seminary at 
Albion, in 1859. She then engaged in teaching, and in 1S63 re- 
turned to Michigan, and subsequently was employed as Principal 
of Newville Academy two years. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have live f 

' :;^l ^ — ^ - — 8> c" 



704 HISTOK^i' OF STEUBEN COUNTr. 

children — Lena, Myrtie, Lillie, Charles F. and Guy K. They are 
among the progressive residents of Steuben County. Both are 
well educated and taught school for a number of years before their 
marriage. Realizing the advantage of mental culture they endeavor 
to give their children the benefits of the best schools in the country. 

Michael Bowerman was born in Seneca County, N. Y., in Septem- 
ber, 1823, and when four years of age his parents, Jacob and Mary 
Bowerman, removed to Seneca County, Ohio, where they made 
their home till their death. He was married in Seneca County, 
Ohio, to Jane Gooding, who died in 1869. They were the parents 
of four children, of whom two only survive — Milo and Mrs. Sarah 
Doudt. He was again married and has had one child, Ira, by his 
present wife. Mr. Bowerman settled on the farm on section 14, 
■which he now occupies, in 1853. The land was unimproved when 
he bought it, but he has brought it to its present state of cultiva- 
tion. He has been successful in his agricultural pursuits and now 
owns 160 acres of land, 120 of which is improved. His first house 
was a log cabin, which he occupied till 1869, when he built his 
present residence. His house is built of cobble stone, 20 x 28 feet 
with a wing of the same dimensions. 

George Brown^ section 12, Jackson Township, was born in Mas- 
sachusetts, in 1829, a son of Harvey Brown, who was born in Mas- 
sachusetts in 1804, and in 1846 came to Steuben County, Ind., with 
his family and settled on section 1, Jackson Township, where he 
now lives. In early life George Brown worked at woolen manu- 
facturing, and later at the carpenter's and wagon maker's trades. 
In 1870 he bought the farm where he now lives of Charles Batch- 
elder and has since followed agricultural pursuits. He has one of the 
pleasantest homes in the township. He was married to Ursula 
Stockton, a native of Jamaica, Yt., born in 1834, a daughter of 
John and Betsey Stockton, who settled in Orland, Ind., in 1834, 
where the mother died May 12, 1849, and her father Sept. 21, of 
the same year. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born four chil- 
dren — Frank, Irving H., Elizabeth H. and Chester. Elizabeth is 
the wife of Don Carlos Ransburg, of Pleasant Lake. 

Morris Brown was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1838, a son 
of Charles Brown, who died about 1851. When fifteen years of 
age he began to work for his own livelihood, and when seventeen 
went to Whitesides County, 111., where he remained two years. In 
1857 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and taught two winter terms 
of school in Flint, 1857-'58 and 1859-'60. The winter of 1860-'61 

T? <$ ^ -^» a>y 



(0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 705 

he taught in District No. 8. In November, 1858, he bought sixty 
acres of land on the north part of the south half of the northeast 
quarter of section 28, Jackson Township, which was wholly un- 
improved and heavily timbered. He cleared and improved his 
land and subsequently added forty acres of the same section, and 
twenty acres on section 27, making a tine farm of 120 acres. His 
residence is on the land first purchased. April 1, 1858, he married 
Catherine Clink, daughter of Christian Clink, of Salem Township^ 
After his marriage he went to Michigan, where he lived ten months, 
and then returned to Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have three 
children — Carrie A., wife of Asher Preston, of Fremont; Jennie 
M., wife of Frank Golden, and Homer T. Politically Mr. Brown 
is a Republican, casting his fir^t vote for President Lincoln. He 
is one of the representative citizens of Jackson Township, and has 
held several positions of trust and responsibility. 

Justus Butler, one of Steuben County's pioneers, was born in 
New York State, July 2, 1802. He was reared in his native State 
and when a young man removed to Lorain County, Ohio, where he 
was married Nov. 23, 1829, to Anna Clark, a native of the State of 
Vermont, born Aug. 6, 1812, and removed to Lorain County with 
her parents when two years of age. In 1836 Mr. Butler, accom- 
panied by his father-in-law, Samuel Clark, came to Steuben County 
for the purpose of locating land. He entered 313 acres on section 
2, Jackson Township, and fifty-four acres on section 35, Mill Grove 
Township. In the spring of 1837 he moved his family to their 
new home, locating in Jackson Township, on the south side of Lake 
Gage. He built a log house and began at once to improve his land. 
He died March 1, 1853. His wife lived till Feb. 10, 1885. Their 
family consisted of nine children, three born in Ohio and six in 
Steuben County. Of those born in Ohio — Jackson W., Sarah Ann 
and Samuel E. — the former died at the age of eight years, the second 
Sept. 20, 1847, aged fifteen years, and the last named was killed by 
lightning in 1854, at the age of nineteen years. But two of the 
children born in Steuben County lived till maturity — Joseph and 
Mark Justus, the latter now in Nebraska. Joseph Butler now 
owns and occupies the old homestead. He was born July 24, 
1847, and was reared on the farm. In 1874 he was elected Clerk 
of the Courts of Steuben County and served four years. At the 
expiration of his term of service he entered the law ofiice of Wood- 
hull & Croxton, Angola, and in January, 1880, entered the law 
department of the Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloomington. 



IT 



.^1 ^ — -~ ^ ^^=^ ^ 

* __ _ ~ - ^ 1 fi 

706 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

He subsequently resumed his reading in the office of Woodhull & 
Croxton, and in November, 1881, formed a partnership in the 
practice of his profession at Angola, the firm being Butler, Walls 
& Cline. In the spring of 1882 Mr. Walls retired from the firm, 
and the firm of Butler & Cline continued till July, 1884. In 
November, 1883, Mr. Butler returned to the homestead, where he 
has since lived. He served as Trustee of Pleasant Township from 
April, 1882, till April, 1884. He was married in 1881 to Salena, 
daughter of Dr. Weicht, of Angola. They have one child — Bessie 
Nola. 

George D. Cleveland is the only living son of David Cleveland, 
one of the pioneers of Jackson Township. David Cleveland was 
born in New York State, June 1, 1816. In 1835, with his elder 
brother, Amasa Maro Cleveland, he came to Steuben County, Ind. 
He lived with bis brother till his marriage, and then lived on 
Pretty Prairie, Lagrange County, for a time. Then located on 
land he purchased when he first came to the county, on section 22, 
Jackson Township, where he lived till his death, Aug. 23, 1849. 
He was married in November, 1837, to Eliza Littlefield, a native 
of New York, born Feb. 9, 1812, daughter of Edmond and Amy 
Littlefield, who were among the earliest settlers of that section. 
Mrs. Cleveland is now living at Sturgiss, Mich. Her children were 
five in number, only two of whom are living — George D. and 
Emily, wife of Newton Clark, of Nebraska. George D. Cleveland 
enlisted in August, 1861, in the Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, 
and served three years and nine months, seventeen months of which 
he was confined in rebel prisons. He participated in the battles of 
Shiloh, Corinth, Stone Kiver and Chickamauga. He with seventeen 
others of his company was taken prisoner at the latter battle and 
taken to Richmond, and confined in Castle Pemberton about two 
moutlis. Thence to Danville, and April 1, 1864, to Andersonville, 
where they remained five and a half months, and were then taken 
to Charleston, S. C, and thence to Florence, and paroled from there 
March 1, 1865, and sent to Wilmington, N. C. His long exptri- 
ence in rebel prisons so shattered his constitution that he has never 
recovered from its effects. Mr. Cleveland married Nancy Kirk- 
land, daughter of James Kirkland, who came to Steuben County 
from Richland County, Ohio, in 1864, and died in February, 1876. 
He was married four times. His second wife was a sister of Dr. 
McConnell, of Angola. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland have five children 
— Zula M., John M., lona M., Andrew C. and Ina D. They lost 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 70.7 

one daughter — Kittie M. Mr. Cleveland is by trade a blacksmith, 
and is now engaged in that occupation in Flint. He is serving 
his first term or fourth year as Assessor of Jackson Township. An 
elder brother of Mr. Cleveland, Osmer W., was a member of the 
Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and was captured at Macon, Ga., and was 
taken to Andersonville Prison and thence to Florence, S. C. There 
he escaped but was again captured after three or four days and was 
confined at Florence till paroled, March 1, 1865. Was then trans- 
ferred to the general hospital in New York City. His sufferings 
while a prisoner were intense, and his feet were so bruised and 
lacerated in endeavoring to escape from Florence that after his ex- 
change it was found to be necessary to amputate all his toes. He 
came home in August, 1865, and died of consumption, induced by 
his exposure and suflPerings, Jan. 31, 1866, aged twenty-seven 
years. 

John Coleman was born in Pennslyvania in 1822 and removed 
when a child with his parents to Ohio. He made his uncle's house 
his home for several years and when eighteen years of age be^an 
working for farmers by the month. Subsequently was employed 
in various capacities till he had earned enough to buy foitv acres 
of land. In 1852 he moved to St. Joseph County, Ind., and bought 
100 acres of land which was partially improved. He made an ad- 
dition of twenty acres to this farm but in August, 1863, sold it and 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and bought 120 acres on the north- 
west quarter of section 15, Jackson Township, where he has since 
lived. About fifty acres had been cleared and a small frame house 
had been built. He now has 100 acres improved and in 1876 
erected a fine two-story frame house at a cost of $1,500. He was 
married in Ohio to Sarah Whiteman, who died Aug. 11, 1868, 
leaving five children — Ellen, Jane, Ida, Theadore and Evalena. 
Jan. 1, 1870, Mr. Coleman married Mrs. Euth Maritte, a native 
of Richland County, Ohio, born in 1844, a daughter of Richard 
and Harriet Shields and widow of Lutelious Maritte. To them 
have been born four children — Lettie, Eliza, Maud and Elo-a. Mrs. 
Coleman has two sons by her former marriage — Alfred and Lutel- 
ious. Her father was born in England in 1795 and was there 
reared and married. Emigrated to America with his family and 
settled in Richland County, and in 1849 came to Steuben County 
and settled in Salem Township, wliere he died in 1858. His wife 
died in May, 1884. 

David Davis, section 4, Jackson Township, owns and resides on 



-© L>- 



708 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTV, 



the farm where his father, Abner Davis, settled in 1836. Abner 
Davis was burn in New York, December, 1795. His wife, Polly 
Bardsley, was born in Fairfield, Conn., in 1798, and came to Steu- 
ben County in company with Jonas and Benjamin Twichell and 
their families. They settled on the land which is now in posses- 
sion of their children. The father died March 20, 1843, and the 
mother Feb. 28, 1881, aged eighty-three years. David Davis was 
was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in 1830, and was six years 
of age when his parents moved to Steuben County. He has made 
agriculture his life-work and has been successful, owning now one 
of the finest farms in the township. He was married Dec. 25, 
1866, to Frances Morse, a native of Geneva, N. Y., daughter of 
John and Susan Morse, who moved to Steuben County in 1862, 
and still reside in Jackson Township. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have 
three children — Horace, Lola and Susie. 

Levi Doudt \va.s horn m Lehigh County, Pa., in 1828, and when 
five years old he came with his parents, Elias and Mary (Peter) 
Doudt, to Seneca County, Ohio, where he was reared to the occu- 
pation of farming, and where his father died in 1847. His mother 
died in Branch County, Mich., in 1877, and was buried in Jackson 
Township. He was married in 1852 to Anna Metzger, a native of 
Seneca County, Ohio, born in 1835, a daugliter of Adam and Mary 
Metzger, who came to Steuben County, Ind., in 1868 and settled 
on section 11. Her mother died June 1, 1877. Her father is still 
living. To Mr. and Mrs. Doudt have been born three children — 
Miirtha, wife ot Peter Wireck, of Lagrange County, Ind.; Elias J., 
and Melissa, wife of Franklin P. Johnson, of Jackson Township. 
Mr. Doudt settled in Jackson Township, April 16, 1855, locating 
where he now lives on section 11, which he purchased from Cor- 
nelius Shank. Not much had been done to the land before our 
subject became the owner, ten acres having been partially cleared 
and a smiiU frame house built. He at first purchased eighty acres 
on section 11 to which he added, later, forty acres adjoining on the 
south, on section 14, which he bought of Elias Coleman. 

George Golden^ one of the successful farmers of Jackson Town- 
ship, resides on section 22, where he settled in November, 1864. 
He owns 302| acres of land, entered and partially improved by 
Maro Cleveland. Mr. Golden has made many improvements 
which have greatly advanced its value since he owned the farm. 
In 1876 he built his residence, which is one of the finest in the 
township, at a cost of $3,000, and in 1883 built his barn at a cost 



-t 



^ 



\ 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 709 

of $1,200. He is a son of Nathaniel Golden who was born in Nova 
Scotia about 1795, and removed with his parents to Seneca County, 
N. Y., where he married Elizabeth Arey. In 1839 he moved to 
Steuben County, Ind., and settled on a farm in Steuben Township, 
now owned by Henry Ritter, where he died in 1848; his wife's 
death preceded his. They had a family of nine children. One daugh- 
ter died in New York, and eight children accompanied their parents 
to Indiana, viz.: Amy, wife of Ever Thayer; Thomas was killed 
by the caving in of a well, when twenty-two years of age; Louisa 
married Eli Frink; Ann, wife of Zephaniah Carr; Horace, Nathan 
and George. The latter is the youngest, and the only surviving 
member of his father's family. He was born in New York in Oc- 
tober, 1835, and has lived in Steuben County, Ind., since 1839. He 
married Adelpha Cleveland, daughter of Amasa Maro Cleveland, 
who settled in Steuben County in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Golden 
have three children — Frank, Edd and Judd, all natives of Jackson 
Township. Mrs. Golden's fathe rwas one of the prominent early 
settlers of the county. He entered the farm where Mr. Golden 
now lives and lived there till his death in 1863. His wife died in 
1852. They had three daughters — Mrs. Golden, Louisa, now in 
California, and Mary, widow of Dr. John B. Blue, of Jackson 
Township. 

Thomas W. Haines^ farmer, section 32, Jackson Township, is 
one of the most enterprising citizens of Steuben County. He is a 
son of William Haines and came with him to this county in Octo- 
ber, 1853. He was born in Carroll County, Ohio, in 1840, and there 
received his education, his time after coming to Indiana being re- 
quired on the farm helping to clear the land of trees and stumps 
and prepare it for cultivation. He remained with his parents till 
the breaking out of the Rebellion, and in 1861 enlisted in the 
Twenty-third Indiana Light Artillery, and served three years and 
nine months. He was married after his return home to Nancy 
Ryan, a native of the State of New York. They have a family of 
three children — Adelbert, Addie and Robert. 

John Huffman^ deceased, was born in Armstrong County, Pa., 
in 1808, and lived in his native county till eighteen years of age 
when he was married to Mary Rifenberrick, a native of New 
Jersey, born in 1811. Soon after his marriage he removed to Colum- 
biana County, Ohio, and two years later moved to Portage County. 
In the fall of 1844 he moved to Crawford County, and the following 
spring to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on a farm on section 26, 
45 



:fr 



^A 



>t 



710 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Jackson Township, for which he had exchanged his farm in Ohio. 
The land was wholly unimproved, consisting of what is known as 
openings. His first residence was a board shanty and his second 
a hewed-log house. With the assistance of his sons he cleared ten 
acres of land the same spring and planted it to corn, from which he 
realized a fair crop. Mr. Huffman made of this land a fine farm, 
residing here till his death, March 17, 1872. His wife, Mary, died 
March 29, 1863. They had a family of thirteen children — Jane, 
Kichard W., Lucinda H., Catherine, Samuel, William J., Joseph, 
John W., Melissa, Anna, Benajah, Rachel A. and Mary. Five 
sons and two sons-in-law served in the defense of the Union in the 
war of the Rebellion. Richard was a member of the One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry. Samuel enlisted in the 
Fourth Michigan Infantrj' and later in the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry. 
William J. enlisted in Chicago in Company A, McClellan Dragoons, 
April 21, 1862, and served four months. May 16, 1863, he en- 
listed in the Ninth Michigan Cavalry, and served till July 21, 
1865. He participated in many severe engagements, serving in 
the raid after Morgan, the Atlanta campaign, and Sherman's march 
to the sea. Joseph was a member of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, 
and John W, of Company A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry. Jane 
married Franklin Alexander and died many years ago. Ri( hard 
W. is supposed to be living in Missouri. Lucinda is the wife of 
Albert Markle, of Michigan. Catherine died at the age of thir- 
teen years. Samuel is living in Idaho. Joseph is living in Flint. 
John W. died Aug. 2, 1864. Melissa, Anna, Benajah and Mary died 
in childhood. Rachel is the wife of James Miller, of Waterloo. 
William J. was born in Portage County, Ohio, April 13, 1835. 
He was married Aug. 20, 1865, to Martha J. Stiles, daughter of 
Rud Stiles. In 1866 he moved to Rome City, Noble County, but 
the following spring returned to Steuben County. He is by trade 
a blacksmith, but his health failing he ran a produce wagon ten 
years, and then worked at the shoemaker's trade. Since Decem- 
ber, 1881, he has been engaged in the mercantile business at Flint. 
Guernsey Hults (deceased) was born in the town of Halfmoon, 
Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1806, and died in Jackson Township, Steu- 
ben Co., Ind,, Feb. 6, 188-3. When eleven years of age he accompa- 
nied his parents to Huron County, Ohio, and thence to Richland 
County. In the fall of 1846 he came to Steuben County, Ind., 
and bought eighty acres of unimproved land, comprising the 
south half of the southwest quarter of section 26, Jackson Town- 



-71 



A 



k- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 711 

ship, giving as part payment his horses and wagon. After purchas- 
ing his land he returned to Ohio and remained till the following 
spring, when he came again to Steuben County. He built a log 
cabin and began to improve his land. In 1850 he went to Ohio 
and was married to Fanny Maria Darby, a native of Allegany County, 
N. Y,, born in 1829, a daughter of Samuel B. and Sepharna (Guil- 
ford) Darby, the former a native of Vermont, born in 1807, and 
the latter a native of Massachusetts. In 1838 her parents moved to 
Fulton County, Ohio, where iier father died July 15, 1884. Her 
mother is living in Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio. Immediately after 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hults removed to their new hotne, and 
together labored to surround themselves and the family with first 
the necessaries and then the comforts of life. They had a family 
of two daughters — Sepharna. T. and Sarah E. Mrs. Hults is a lady 
of culture and refinement, possessing a fund of general informa- 
tion, acquired by both reading and observation. 

Is7'aelJarvis w&s born in Canada in 1844, and when he was three 
years of age his parents moved to Yermont, and from there in the 
fall of 1859 to Steuben County, Ind., and located in Salem Town- 
ship. In the fall of 1867 his parents moved to Kansas where they 
have since lived. Israel Jarvis received the greater part of his ed- 
ucation in Yermont. He was reared on a farm and after coming 
to Indiana assisted his father in clearing and improving a pioneer 
farm. In 1875 he came to Jackson Township and bought the farm 
where he now lives, of Harvey Leeves, on section 33. It contains 
210 acres of choice land, and his residence and farm buildings 
are comfortable and commodious. He was married to Eunice 
Wiggins, a native of Pleasant Township, Steuben County, born 
in July, 1852, a daughter of John Wiggins, an early settler of 

Pleasant Township. Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis have four children Lu- 

ella, Ada, Essie E. and Judson. Mrs. Jarvis had two brothers 
Nathan and Endress, who were soldiers in the war of the Eebell- 
ion. Both lived to return, but the former was accidentally killed 
in Lagrange County, Ind., in February, 1876. The latter lives on 
the old homestead in Pleasant Township. A brother of Mr. Jarvis 
Clement, was a member of the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry 
in the war of the Rebellion. 

Hiram S. Jones (deceased) settled in Jackson Township on the 
farm now owned by his heirs, in May, 1864. It contains 160 
acres, 120 on the southwest quarter of section 10 and forty acres 
on the northwest quarter of section 15. This farm has long be. n 



e^ 






1 



712 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

noted for its fine fruit. It was formerly owned by Dr. Madison 
Marsh, who set out thirty acres of apple-trees, 300 peach-trees, 
and a variety of pear and cherry trees. It was the first fruit farm 
on so extensive a scale in Northern Indiana. The apples alone 
have yielded a revenue of $1,300 in a single year. Hiram S. 
Jones was born in Vermont in January, 1834, and when nine years 
old removed with his parents, Samuel and Jerusha Jones, to De 
Kalb County, Ind. When a young man he went to California, 
remaining there six years. He was married Oct. 21, 1860, to 
Nancy J. Clark, a native of Lockport, N. Y., born in 1836, daugh- 
ter of Isaac and Jane M. Clark, natives of New York, who moved 
to Spring Hill, near Wauseon, Fulton Co., 'Ohio, in 1857, and in 
1860 to Waterloo, De Kalb Co., Ind., and two years later to Kala- 
mazoo County, Mich., where they still live. Mr. Jones lived on 
his farm in Steuben County a number of years, and then ex- 
changed it for his father-in-law's farm in Michigan, but bought it 
a.^ain April 15, 1872. He died at Waterloo, Ind., while there 
attending the county fair, Oct. 18, 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones 
were born five children, four of whom are living — Charles O., 
Frank B., Fred A. and Lilly A. Rose L., a twin sister of Lilly, 
died at the age of nine years. May 6, 1884, Mrs. Jones 
married Almon W. Thorpe, who was born in Portage County, 
Ohio, in 1836. When twenty-seven years of age he went to Yiue- 
land, N. J., where he worked at his trade (painter) and engaged in 
fruit-oTowing. He subsequently moved to Algansee, Mich., where 
lie was Postmaster ten years. He was first married in 1 857 to 
Mrs. Elvira M. (King) Allen, and has four children — Morris N., 
Minnie M., Eli and Lavern. Mr. Thorpe has a tine collection of 
prehistoric relics, which he has accumulated by extended research 
and at great expense, many of them curiosities as examples of the 
skill and ingenuity of the early ages. He also has a number of 
Indian relics and a fine collection of geological specimens. 

Daniel Mariette, section 26, Jackson Township, settled on his 
present farm in 1874, coining to Jackson from Otsego Township, 
where he settled in 1846. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, 
in 1815. He was reared and educated in his native county, re- 
maining there till manhood. He was married in Washington 
County, Ohio, to Nancy Trowbridge, a native of Morgan County, 
born in 1820. In 1844 they came to Indiana and lived two years 
in Lagrange County; dience to Steuben County, and lived in Ot- 
seo-o Township till 1874. He has been prominently identified 



J _^ I ts 



... »> e ^ 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 713 

with all public enterprises, assisting liberally with both time and 
money. Mr. and Mrs. Mariette have had eight children, but 
three of whom are living — Elisha M., Polly and Angenora. Four 
sons and one daughter are deceased. Their eldest son, Francis, 
was a member of the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry in the war 
of the Rebellion, and died at Nashville, Tenn., in August, 1863. 

George Mundy (deceased) was born in New Jersey in 1817, and 
when a boy removed with his parents to Steuben County, N. Y. 
At the age of nineteen years he came with his parents to Seneca 
County, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Margaret Kimbel, a 
daughter of Francis and Catherine Kimbel, natives of New Jer- 
sey, who removed to Jeiferson County, Ohio, the year of Mrs. 
Mundy's birth — 1817. To Mr. and Mrs. Mundy were born four 
sons and one daughter, of whom the latter, Mrs. Martha J. Snow- 
berger, is the only one living. She and her husband reside on 
the old homestead with her mother. The sons were — David, who 
died in his sixth year; Daniel, at the age of live years; Louis, in 
his twenty-sixth year, and Francis in his fourteenth year. Mr. 
and Mrs. Mundy came to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1840, where 
they lived till 1844, when they came to this county and settled on 
the farm now owned by his family on sections 19 and 20. Mr. • 
Mundy built the first house — a log cabin — on the place, which he 
occupied till he built the present residence in 1863. Mr. Mundy's 
death occurred May 28, 1882. 

Lewis Mundy, son of David and Sarah Mundy, was born in 
1815, a native of New Jersey. When fourteen years old he removed 
with his parents to Steuben County, N. Y., and thence to Seneca 
County, Ohio. Later they came to Steuben County, but finally 
settled in Branch County, Mich., where they spent the rest of their 
lives. Lewis Mundy came to Steuben County in 1852 and settled 
on section 28 on eighty acres of land. He has since added to his 
first purchase and now possesses 120 acres, having sold forty acres. 
He has about 110 acres well improved, and has a fine residence, 
built in 1877. His barn was built in 1863. He was first married 
in Ohio in 1839 to Folly Stevenson, a native of Essex County, N. 
Y., who died in 1849, leaving two children, yet living, Jaspar and 
Alanson, both of whom served in the late war. Mr. Mundj' was 
married again in 1850 to Mrs. Mercy B. (King) Puree, whose 
death occurred in 1863. He has two children by this marriage, 
Otis and Julia, wife of Franklin Castner, of Kansas. Mr. Mun- 
dy's present wife was Mrs. Mary (Doudt) Bolin, born in Seneca 

<9 ^ ^ o fV^ 



V- 



714 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



County, Ohio, in December, 1834, and to this union .liave been 
born three children — Lewis, Hattie and Nellie. Mrs. Mundy was 
first married to Levi Bolin, who died in Jackson Township in 
March, 1863, and to them were born three children — George, 
James and Milton. Politically Mr. Mundy is a Republican, but 
in early life he was an Abolitionist. 

John N. Ousterhout was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 
1825. His father, John Ousterhout, was a native of the State of 
New York, and when a young man went to Richland County, 
Ohio, where he died in 1825. John N. lived with his maternal 
grandfather, Levi Bodley, in Plymouth, till sixteen years of age 
when his grandfather died. He then began working for farmers 
by the month. In 1843 he and an elder brother, James C, came 
to Steuben County, Ind., and bought 160 acres of land on section 
9, Salem Township, now owned by John Beigh and Abram Cheno- 
worth. They came from Ohio with an ox team which proved of 
great assistance in improving their land. In the fall of 1849 John 
N. bought 120 acres on sections 4 and 8. In the spring of 1851 
he went to Jasper County, Iowa, where he bought eighty acres of 
land and lived two years, working at his trade, carpenter, the most 
of the time. In 1853 he returned to Steuben County, and the fol- 
■ lowing year sold his land in Salem Township, and engaged in saw- 
milling on section 14. He sold his mill in 1857 and bought sixty 
acres of land on section 14, Salem Township, where he lived till 
1859. In December, 1859, he bought the farm where he now 
lives and settled on it the following June. It was then a wild 
tract of land but Mr. Ousterhout has brought it under a good 
state of cultivation and it is now one of the finest farms in the 
township, located on the southeast quarter of section 34, Jackson 
TownshiiJ. Mr. Ousterhout has been twice married. His first 
wife was Nancy Hammond, a native of Ohio, daughter of Samuel 
Hannnond. She died in 1853 having two children — Mary A., 
wife of John Slick, and Samuel E. He afterward married Sarah 
Haines, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1829, daughter of 
Thomas Haines, who came to Steuben County in 1853. They have 
six children — Yiola, wife of Adelbert R. Wood; Ralph; CoraE.; 
Sarah V., wife of George L. Delong; Lillie M. and Alta G. Po- 
litically Mr. Ousterhout is a Republican. He was elected Justice 
of the Peace of Jackson Township in 1860 and served four years; 
was elected to the same ofilce in 1878 and is now serving his third 
term. During the late war he was an active member of the Flint 



-n 



^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



715 



Legion, an organization whose object was to defend the State from 
raiders. He was First Lieutenant of tliis company. It was or- 
ganized March 31, 1863, and was not disbanded till after the close 
of the war. Mr. Ousterhout's residence is what was for many 
years known as the block church, built by the Methodists on sec- 
tion 3, and used by them and the Presbyterians many years as a 
house of worship. Mr. Ousterhout bought the building in 1860 
and removed it to its present location. This is one of the most 
interesting relics of pioneer days. 

Ahijah D. Farsell^ deceased, was born Oct. 25, 1827, in New 
Jersey. His father, Moses S. Parsell, was born Feb. 12, 1797, 
and Dec. 17, 1817, married Mary Campbell, who was born Sept. 
10, 1795. She died in August, 1824, and March 17, 1825, he mar- 
ried Hannah Crilley, who died Aug. 6, 1846. In 1838 the family 
came to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Jackson Township. 
Abijah grew to manhood on his father's farm and after his mar- 
riage, in 1851, bought the farm on section 35, where his family 
now live. For many years he devoted his entire attention to farm- 
ing, and then engaged in buying produce. In April, 1872, he 
moved to Angola and engaged in the produce business a year. 
Then returned to the farm, and in April, 1878, again rented his 
farm and moved to Angola and engaged in the grocery business 
till his death Nov. 11, 1882. He was married Dec. 4, 1851, to 
Jane T. Alcott, a native of Marion County, Ohio, born Sept. 24, 
1829, daughter of Samuel and Nancy Alcott, the former a native 
of New Jersey, born in 1802, and the latter ol Delaware. They 
moved to Marion County, Ohio, about 1837, and later to Lagrange 
County, where Mr. Alcott died April 24, 1861. The mother is 
still living with her children. Mr. and Mrs. Parcell had a family 
of seven children; but three are living — Austin M., born Nov. 1, 
1855, and married Adeline M. Weight, daughter of Frederick 
Weight, of Salem Township. They have two children — Leona E. 
and Abijah D. Ichabod S. was born March 10, 1864, and Mi- 
chael A., Jan. 18, 1870. 

John B. Richner was born in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1850. 
In the fall of 1854 his father, Andrew Richner, moved to Steuben 
County, and located on a farm in Jackson Township where he 
still lives. John B. was reared and educated in this township re- 
maining here till twenty-two years of age when he went to Michi- 
gan and engaged in farming near Cold water four years. He then 
bought a farm and remained there another four years, when he 



J .* * I^ 



6) ll 1 fO 

716 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

returned to Jackson Township. In 1881 he embarked in the 
general mercantile business at Flint but the next year sold out to 
H. B. Rickerd. In 1883 he again opened a store and is now do- 
ing a good business. He is a genial, social gentleman, and readily 
wins the esteem of his customers. July 8, 1885, he was appointed 
Postmaster at Flint and assumed the duties of his office July 25. 
He married Viola Davis, daughter of G. W. Davis, of Jackson 
Township. They have three children — Arthur, Alice and Ethel. 
Robert Ryan^ section 31, Jackson Township, was born in the 
town of Niles, now fSemphronius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in Novem- 
ber, 1814, a son of Robert and grandson of Robert Ryan, who was 
a soldier in the war of the Revolution, enlisting when thirteen 
years of age and serving six years. Our subject's father was a 
soldier in the war of 1812. He settled in Cayuga County, N. Y., 
in an early day, and lived there till his death. His widow is still 
living, aged ninety years. In 1836 Mr, Ryan came to Indiana in 
company with a family by the name of Jones, and settled in La- 
grange County. He worked by the month from November of that 
year till the following spring for Russell Brown, of Lagrange 
County, and later of Jackson Township, Steuben County. The next 
summer he worked for several of the early settlers and in the 
meantime entered 280 acres of land in De Kalb County, eighty 
acres in Fairfield and 200 acres in Sraithfield Township. In the 
fall of 1837 he returned to New York and remained five years and 
in 1842 came again to Indiana. He exchanged his eighty acres in 
Fairfield Township, for eighty acres in Jackson Township, Steuben 
County, which is a part of his present farm. He afterward ex- 
changed his 200 acres in Smithfield Township, receiving as part 
payment a horse and buggy. His interests from that time were 
entirely in Steuben County. He afterward bought 160 acres join- 
ing his first purchase on the east, and still later another eighty acres 
making 320 acres in all. He has since sold seventy acres and now 
owns one of the best farms in the township, of 250 acres, with a 
good residence and farm buildings. Mr. Ryan was married in May, 
1850, to Catherine Bebee, a daughter of David Bebee, who settled 
in Jackson Township in 1846. They have five children — Ann Eliza, 
wife of Dennis Ryan; Viola, wife of Squire Appleman; Janet, 
wife of David Haskins; Harvey, and Minerva, wife of James Bolin. 
Mrs. Ryan's father, David Bebee, was a native of Chenango County, 
N. Y., where he was reared and married Polly Mead. He moved to 
Steuben County in 1846, and lived in Jackson Township till his 






•V 



I® 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



717 



death in 1871, aged seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1868. 
A brother of Mr. Kyan came to Steuben County about 1845 and 
lived on one of the farms of his brother, but in 1850 returned to 
New York and now lives in Kelloggsville, Cayuga County. Mr. 
Ryan in politics has been a Republican since the formation of the 
party. 

David Sams, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 6, 1801, 
and removed to Richland County, Ohio, where he was married 
April 10, 1822, to Elizabeth Baker, a native of Baltimore County, 
Md., born June 20, 1800. In June, 1835, Mr. Sams with his 
brother-in-law, Andrew Welch, started for the State of Illinois, for 
the purpose of locating land. On reaching Jackson Prairie they 
were so well pleased with the country that they decided to remain 
and therefore Mr, Sams bought forty acres on section 8, and entered 
120 acres adjoining. They returned to Ohio and the following 
August brought their families to their home in the wilderness. 
They built a cabin in which three families lived till they could clear 
some land and sow some wheat. Mr. Sams then built another 
house, Mr. "Welch remaining in the first one. For a year or more 
the settlers found a market for their grain at home, the incoming 
settlers being obliged to purchase till they could raise crops of their 
own. Then for ten or twelve years their market was Fort Wayne. 
Mr. Sams lived where he first settled till his death April 16, 1874. 
He was a prominent citizen and was the first Assessor of Steuben 
County. Mrs. Sams still lives on the homestead. Their family 
consisted of eight children, but six of whom are living — Mary Jane, 
wife of Charles Trux, of Williams County, Ohio; Darius; Sarah 
Ann, widow of Alexander Carpenter; Abdella, of Salem Township; 
Amasa, of Jackson Prairie; and Henry, of Pleasant Township. 
Darius, the eldest son, was born in Richland County, Ohio, June 
1, 1829. He was married in 1853 to Mrs. Phoebe Sams, widow of 
his brother Daniel, and daughter of Nehemiah Lounsbury, who 
settled in Jackson Township in 1845. Mrs. Lounsbury died Jan. 
16, 1850, and Mr. Lounsbury, Jan.. 16, 1871. Mrs. Sams was born 
in New York in 1832. 

Nathaniel Shaffstall, son of Christian Shaffstall, was born on the 
old homestead in Salem Township, Steuben County, in 1847. He 
remained at home till his enlistment in the war of the Rebellion, 
in the spring of 1865. He served as Fife-Major of the One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry till the close of the war. 
After his return home he engaged in agricultural pursuits and now 



718 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

has a good farm on section 10, Jackson Township. He is the in- 
ventor of the Champion sulky plow attachment, which possesses 
what is known as the wonderful vibrating bail, and an improved 
mechanism for grinding the plow. It has proved a very impor- 
tant invention and is meeting with great favor wherever introduced. 
The patent was issued on the improvement, Feb. 28, 1882. Mr. 
Shaffstall married Mary C, daughter of C. C. Bodley, one of the 
early settlers of Steuben County. They have three children — Hat- 
tie E., Chauncey N. and Leruah B. 

Norman C. Shank is a son of Cornelius Shank, who settled in 
Jackson Township in 50, a native of Maryland, and removed to 
Seneca County, Ohio, with his parents and thence to Steuben 
County. Norman was born in Seneca County in 1846. He 
enlisted in 1861, when but fifteen years of age, in the Forty-fourth 
Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Fort Donel- 
son, Shiloh, Stone River, Chickaraauga, Mission Ridge, and was a 
witness of the battle of Lookout Mountain. He was injured at 
Pittsburg Landing while assisting in unloading a boat and was 
unfit for duty at the time of the battle but at his own request was 
permitted to accompany his regiment to the field and was wounded 
twice, in the left arm and in the left hip. He has recovered from his 
wounds but still sufiers from his injury and receives a pension. 
After the battle uf Mission Ridge his regiment was stationed at Chat- 
tanooga where they were on provost duty till the close of the war. 
Since the war he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His 
farm is located on section 10, Jackson Township, and contains 270 
acres. He has been twice married. His first wife was Emaline 
Bowerman, daughter of Michael Bowerman, and to them were 
born three children. His present wife was Emma Davis, daughter 
of Horace E. Davis. They have three children. 

Uenry Spangle was born in Steuben County, N. Y., in 1821, a 
son of Henrj and Mary S))angle, and when five years old accom- 
panied his parents to Seneca County, where he lived till twenty- 
three years old, when he came to Indiana and has since lived in 
this township. He bought 160 acres of William Hendrickson, 
only six acres of which at that time were cleared. He has cleared 
and now has under cultivation 120 acres, and in addition to the 
homestead bought in 1882 140 acres. He is one of the most prom- 
inent farmers of the township. He has three and a half miles of 
hedge on his original farm and a mile and a half on the addition. 
Mr. Spangle married Sarah Metzger, who was born in Seneca 



T^ 






\Q_ 



fl 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 719 

County, Ohio, in 1841 and came to Steuben County with her par- 
ents in 1868. Thev have two children — Carrie and Clyde. Mr. 
Spangle's mother died when he was a child. His father followed 
him to Steuben County and died in this township in 1862. Mrs. 
Spangle's parents, Adam and Mary Metzger, settled in Jackson 
Township, where the mother died June 1, 1877. The father makes 
his home with Mrs. Spangle. They have had a family of nine 
children, eight of whom are living — Amos, of Montgomery County, 
Kas. ; Elias, of Branch County, Mich, ; Mrs. Catherine Decker, of 
Newaygo County, Mich.; Mrs. Elizabeth Hetler, of Berrien County, 
Mich.; Mrs. Mary Downs, of St. Joseph County, Mich.; Mrs. Anna 
Doudt, Mrs. Susan Benninghoff and Mrs, Spangle, of Jackson 
Township. 

Charles S. Squiers, residing on section 2, Jackson Township, 
was born in this township in 1842. He was married to Hortense 
Morse, a native of Seneca County, N. Y,, who removed with her 
parents to Michigan and thence to Indiana, in 1859. To this union 
has been born one son — Deliner, born in Jackson Township, July 
5, 1865. Mr. Squiers has a well-cultivated farm of 123 acres with 
fine buildings upon it. His father, Charles P, Squiers, was a na- 
tive of Seneca County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood. He 
followed the tanner and currier's trade before comino- to Steuben 
County in 1838, after which he followed farming till his death, 
having entered about 400 acres in Jackson Township, He died on 
Jackson Prairie in July, 1850, leaving a wife and five children. 
His wife, who still survives him, was formerly Irene Sanders, a 
native of Huron County, now a resident of Iowa. The children are 
— Rhoda M., wife of "William Downs, and Charles S. (twins); 
Samuel M., of Iowa; Olive, wife of Dr. Jerome Holinger, living in 
Nebraska, and Narcissa, wife of John Davis, of Jasper County, 
Iowa. 

Perry Stayner was born in Hichland County, Ohio, in February, 
1829. May 16, 1831, his father, John, and his uncle, Jacob Stay- 
ner, came to Steuben County with their families. They were 
strong, hearty men. Both hal been soldiers in the war of 1812 
under General Jackson. They came to this county with ox teams 
and lived in their wagons till they had got enough ground broken 
to put in their crops. They then built their cabins, John on the 
north side of Jackson Prairie and Jacob on the south. Jacob Stay- 
ner died Jan. 7, 1843, and his three sons, imbued with the same spirit 
that induced their father to undergo the hardships of pioneer life, ( 



*i 



k^ 



720 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

subsequently settled in the West, Jacob, Jr., and William in Cali- 
fornia, and Jesse in Utah. John Stayner reared a large family, 
and lived to see theme omfortably settled around him. He died 
Sept 5, 1870, and his wife two years later. He was a Jackson 
Democrat and at one time represented his district in the Indiana 
Legislatnre. He named his township in honor of General Jackson. 
He and Adolphus Town built the first school-house in the town- 
ship, on the north side of the prairie, of tamarack poles; cost about 
$50. The first County Clerk's office was in his house and the first 
election was held in his dooryard, he being one of the Judges of 
Election. Ferry Stayner now owns and occupies the homestead. 
The house, which is one of the oldest frames in the township, and 
probably the oldest occupied by a family, was built in 1841. He 
married Jane Powers, a native of Allegany County, N. Y., 
born in 1835, daughter of Stephen Powers, who came to Steu- 
ben County in 1837, and was among the early settlers of York 
Township. Mr. and Mrs. Stayner have had six children, but two 
of whom are living — Oliver, born Oct. 29, 1862, and Lydia, born 
Aug. 28, 1866. The three eldest and the youngest are deceased 
— Mary, died aged a year and a half; Martha, aged six and a half 
years; Cordelia, aged three years and Jennette in infancy. 

Jonas Twichell, Jr., resides on the northwest quarter of section 
9, Jackson Township, where his father, Jonas Twichell, settled in 
1836. The latter was born in Oxford, Salem Co., Conn., in 1800; 
his wife, whose maiden name was Maliuda Scott, was born in Sims- 
bury, Conn., March 12, 1802. They moved when children with 
their parents to Chenango County, N. Y., and were there married. 
Mr. Twichell was reared a farmer but learned the stone-engraver 'g 
trade at which he worked a number of years. In 1833 he moved to 
Catskill, N. Y., and in 1835 came to Steuben County and located 
land and the following year moved his family to their new home- 
A log cabin had been built and a few acres were ready for the plow ; 
with this exception no improvements had been made on the land. 
In their rude log cabin Mr. and Mrs. Twichell contributed as best 
they could to the comfort of strangers who came to the county seek- 
ing anew home. Thev made the farm in Jackson Township their 
home till 1866 when they moved to Orland where they still live, 
the oldest couple living who came to the county in or prior to 1S36. 
Their family consisted of nine children, six sons and three daugh- 
ters; three were born in Steuben County, and six are still living — 
Harriet, wife of John Thompson, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Clarissa, 



^ 



\ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



721 



wife of D. H. Roberts, of Orland; Jonas, Jr.; Marcus, of Califor- 
nia; Sterling, of Orland, and Bliss, of Mill Grove Township. Jonas 
Twichell, Jr., has owned and occupied the homestead since March 
17, 1858. He married Catherine Johnson, daughter of Harvey 
Johnson. She died May .5, 1866, leaving three children — Augusta 
wife of William Craig; Eugene, in Minneapolis, Kan., and Har- 
vey, deceased. Mr. Twichell's present wife was Ann Milner, a 
native of Scotland, daughter of Ebenezer Milner. To them have 
been born four children — Victor, Bertice, Benjamin and Charles. 
Jonas Twichell, Sr., was a member of the first Board of Commis- 
sioners of Steuben County. 




"TT 



— « 



r 



^ 



CHAPTER XX. 



SALEM TOWNSHIP. 



Situation. — Geography. — Description. — First Entries of Land 
AND First Settlers. — First Church and School-House. — 
PosTOFFicES. — Salem Center. — Hudson. — Turkey Creek. — 
Churches in Township. — Population of Township. — Agricult- 
ural Statistics.— Property and Taxation. — Politics.— Pres- 
idential Vote, 1840-'84.— Detailed Yote in 1884. — List of 
Officials Since 1850.— Biographical. 

The township of Salem is situated in the southwest corner of the 
county, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Jackson, on 
the east by Steuben, on the south by the county of De Kalb, and 
on the west by the county of Las^range. It is drained by Turkey 
and Mud creeks, and contains three ^ood-sized lakes: Turkey, on 
sections 7 and 18, on the county line; Lime Kiln, on 28 and 29, 
and Little Turkey, on 35. Then there is Mud Lake, on section 17, 
and Henry Lake, on the corner of sections 17, 18, 19 and 20. Lake 
of the Woods extends from Lagrange County, on section 30, and 
McLish Lake, on section 31. The land of the township was origi- 
nally covered with a heavy forest of hard-wood timber. Salem is 
six miles north and south, and nearly six miles east and west, thus 
containing a little less than thirty-six sections, or nearly 23,000 

acres. 

The first entry of land in Salem Township was made Aug. 26, 
1835, by Caleb Hopkins, who entered the west half of the southeast 
quarter of section 3. A few months after, Kichard Knott entered 
land and remaine d, leing the first peimauent settler in the town 
ship. During the next three years a number of settlers came in, 
among whom were Edward T. Hammond, John Wilson, John 
Bodley, Benjamin Murphy, C. Lobdell, George Browi), Peter and 
Angus McKinlay, E. Griswold, B. Sherwin, G. Griswold, E. Teal, 
Isaac and P. Murphy, D. Wisel, A. Hollister, P.Bundy, C. C. 
Bodley, David Butler, Ellas Hughes, E. Crusan, Daniel Butler, 
Jesse Butler, Loren Butler, Avery Emerson, M. Henry, J. Stone^ 

(732) 



^ 



•A 



HISTORY OF STECTBEN COUNTY. 



723 



G. Stone, Israel Free, Mr. Yanclere, George Brown and Mr. Par- 
sell, Sr. 

Eli Teal entered land May 3, 1836, and brought his family into 
the wilderness on the last day of September in the same year. He 
drove the team that brought through the first load of goods from 
Fort Wayne, and he also, in the fall of 1837, built the first frame 
house in the township. Edward Teal came in at the same time as 
Eli. 

The first church was built in 1841, where the North Church is 
now situated. The building was begun on a Monday morning, and 
the work was not stopped until the house was ready for dedica- 
tion, the following Saturday. This structure was known as the 
Block Church. The first minister was Elder Stealy, though Elder 
Locke preached quite frequently. The first school-house was built 
in 1837, of a very primitive design. The first teacher was Laura 
Dryer. 

Chhrles Bodley (deceased) was born in Onondaga County, N". Y. 
June 25, 1807, and died Feb. 3, 1881, at Hillsdale, Mich., while 
on a visit. He came with his parents to Richland County, Ohio 
early in life. There he was married, and he came to this State and 
county in 1836, settling in Salem Township. He was a mechanic 
and assisted in the building of Thompson's mill and other build- 
ings of that early day. Uncle Charles, as he was generally called 
was the father often children, seven of whom survived him. 

George Brown (deceased) was born in Olford, Mass., Feb. 8 
1786. March 27, 1808, in Columbia County, K Y., he was mar- 
ried to Miss Betsy Wright, with whom he lived happily more 
than a quarter of a century, until his death, Dec. 23, 1844. He 
removed to Lagrange County, this State, in October, 1835, and 
subsequently settled in Salem Township, this county. Mr. Brown 
had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and built the first frame 
house in Angola, for a man named Thomas Gale, in 1836. Al- 
though an old man at the time of his death, his widow, nearly as 
old, survived him more than a third of a century— longer than the 
average life of man. She died in Salem Township, Oct. 28, 3880 
at the age of ninety years and four days. She was at that date 
mother of eleven children (nine of whom survived her), grand- 
mother of sixty-three, and great-grandmother of sixty-seven. She 
had been a member of the Presbyterian church for more than sev- 
enty-five years. 

Metcalf Holden (deceased) was born in Northfield Township, 




^FT" 



^ 



724 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Franklin Co., Mass., April 7, 1797. He removed with his parents 
to Bethany Township, Genesee Co., IS. Y., in 1815, and was mar- 
ried in 1820. In 1844 he removed to Michigan, and in 1845 he 
came with his family to Salem Township, this county, where he 
lived until his death, Feb. 15, 1879, aged nearly eighty-one years. 
He was not among the first settlers, but he experienced the priva- 
tions and hardships of a pioneer life in clearing up a new farm. 
Possessing a vigorous constitution and a will to do, his new home 
soon presented the appearance of belonging lo the group of pioneer 
homes. Although prosperous in gaining a competency, he was 
many times forced to drink deep of sorrow's bitter cup. One after 
another his children passed the dark river. During the gold ex- 
citement his only son went to California, which cast a deep shadow 
over the household, and while the parents' hearts were made light 
with the news that their son was coming home, tidings came that 
he was drovvned. A few years later his youngest daughter was 
stricken down. One child was left to comfort his widow. Mr. 
Holden was a good neighbor, a loyal citizen and an upright man. 

Abijah D. Parsell (deceased) was born in Essex County, N. J., 
Oct. 25, 1827, and was brought by his parents in 1836 to this State 
and county, where they settled on a farm in Salem Township. Dec. 
4, 1851, Mr. Parsell was married to Jane T. Alcott. They resided 
on a farm in Salem Township until the spring of 1878, when they 
removed to Angola. Here Mr. Parsell engaged in the grocery 
trade, which was his business when he died, Nov. 11, 1882, aged 
fifty-five years and sixteen days. He left a wife and three children, 
and manv friends. 

Abraham Shaffstall (deceased) was born Feb. 8, 1809, and came 
to Steuben County in 1854. He resided in Salem Township, this 
county, nearly a quarter of a century, and in April, 1879, removed 
to Kansas and purchased a farm. He died in Lincoln County, 
Kas., July 10, 1880, the cause of his death being concussion of the 
brain, resulting from his being thrown down by a calf he was lead- 
ing. As he fell the back of his head came in contact with the hard 
ground. He lived forty-eight hours after the accident. His age 
at death was seventy-one years, five months and two days. 

Christian Shaff'stall (deceased) was born in Dauphin County, 
Pa., Aug. 23, 1807, and was married to Christina Rowe Furney, 
Nov. 28, 1830. In the spring following his marriage he emigrated 
to Crawford County, Ohio, settling upon and opening up a new 
farm, on which he lived until 1845. He then removed to Salem 



^'^ 



=i^ 



•V 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



725 



Township, this county, and commenced work upon a tract of 160 
acres. Mr. Shaffstall died at the family residence Nov. 15, 1880, 
aged seventy-three years, two months and twenty-three days, and 
left the companion of his life, as well as eight sons and daughters 
(all married) to mourn the loss of a kind husband and loving father. 
He was a constant member of the Methodist Episcopal church for 
thirty-six years. 

John Slick (deceased), long known as the oldest inhabitant of 
Salem Township, was born in Prussia, Dec. 18, 1785, and lived in 
that country with his parents until he arrived at his twentieth 
year. He was then pressed into the military service of Napoleon 
Bonaparte, in which he remained under the immediate command 
of Marshal Ney about four years, during Napoleon's war with 
Spain. He finally deserted and went to Lisbon, where, finding an 
English ship bound tor Liverpool, he took passage for England . 
Soon after arriving in the British realm, he was again pressed into 
the naval service, at the beginning of the war of 1812. He re- 
mained with the British army three and a half years, during vvhicli 
time he was in the principal engagements between the British and 
the United States. But English service suited him no better than 
French, and being one night placed on picket near the American 
forces, he quietly left his post and crossed the river; finding our 
sentinel asleep on his post he waked him and expressed a desire 
to go into camp. This ended his service as a soldier. He soon 
after settled in the village of Rush, near Rochester, N. Y., where, 
in the year 1815 he married Mary Hempstead, who remained a 
faithful companion to him during the remainder of his long life. 
Early in the history of Steuben County he left Cattaraugus County, 
N. Y., and settled in Salem Township, this county, where he 
resided for forty years, half a mile south of Salem Center. During 
his latter years Mr. Slick's advanced age and eventful life made 
him an interesting conversationalist. It was really entertainino- 
to hear him narrate his narrow escapes from prison and death, and 
he took great delight in relating them and exhibiting his scars to 
verify the truth of his statements. He died at his home in Salem 
Township, Thursday, July 31, 1879, aged ninety-three years and 
seven months. He left a wife, aged seventy-eight, two sons, three 
daughters, thirty -six grandchildren and twenty-three great-grand- 
children. The wife has since died, at the age of eighty-five years. 

Edward Teal (deceased) was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, 
Dec. 8, 1807. In 1830 he was married to Sarah Stevenson, of 
46 



IV 



A 



«. 



726 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Fairfield County. Sept. 1, 1836, be left the Buckeye State, and emi- 
grated with his family to Indiana, settling in Steuben County. 
About 1865 he moved to Lagrange County, in which he resided 
over fifteen years. He united with the Methodist Episcopal 
church when twenty years old. Before Steuben County was or- 
ganized he started a class at Cruson's Corners, Salem Township. 
In 1854 he lost his first wife, and five months afterward he was 
married to a Mrs. Myers. He died at home June 29, 1880, being 
seventy-two years, five months and nine days old. 

John Wilson (deceased) was born in the State of Pennsylvania, 
Feb. 6, 1800, and when quite young removed with his father's 
family to the State of New York. At or about the time of his 
majority he went to Kichland County, Ohio, where he wis married 
to Miss Dinah Bodley, Jan. 18, 1821. He settled in Salem Town- 
ship, Oct. 1, 1836, on the land since known as the Loughrey farm, 
and here he and his most estimable wife commenced a new home 
in the wilderness. He was the father of nine children, six girls 
and three boys, seven of whom survived him, and six of whom 
were present at his funeral, which took place at the Presbyterian 
church in Salem, Nov. 5, 1880. His death occurred at the resi- 
dence of Samuel W. Brown, in Salem Township, Nov. 3, 1880, 
when he was eighty years, eight months and twentj'-seven days 
old. He united with the Presbyterian church at the age of twenty, 
and when he came to Steuben County brought his religion with 
him, and after building a cabin invited his neighbors in to hold 
reli'»-ious meetings. These consisted of reading of sermons, prayer 
and conference. He also organized a Sabbath-school, the first one 
in Salem Township, in connection with the other religious services. 
In 1839 the Presbyterian church of Salem was organized at his 
house, with him as Ruling Elder. In 181:0 his wife died, and, after 
about ten years, his children being scattered by marriage, he sold 
his farm, and soon after went to live with his third daughter, Mrs. 
S, W. Brown, with whom he continued to reside up to the time of 
his death. He was an affectionate and tender husband and father, 
a warm and congenial friend, and a true and consistent Christian. 
After the death of his wife he appeared to be only waiting for the 
summons to call him to unite with her in the better land where 
there will be no parting. There was a good old man who passed 
away at a mature age, as a candle that has burned out; and he was 
missed by his relatives, his friends and neighbors, and not least 
by his church and Sunday-school. 



-71 



\ 



T) 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 727 

Orson Woodtbrd (deceased), son of James and Urania Woodford, 
was born in Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and died at Salem Oentery 
this county, July 14, 1882, aged seventy-seven years, six months 
and eight days. He was married to Jane L. North, in Cayuga 
County, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1832, and moved to Plymouth, Kichland 
Co., Ohio, in 1839 or 1840. His wife died Sept. 30, 1849, having 
been the mother of five children. Mr. "Woodford was a second 
time married, April 29, 1850, at Plymouth, Ohio, to Martha C. 
Bodley, and three years later he and family removed to this State 
and county, settling in Salem Township. 

Salem Township now contains many highly cultivated farms, 
which indicate the tirelpss energy of the early settlers, who cleared 
away the mighty forests, and they and their descendants have 
made the waste places "bud and blossom as the rose." There are 
three postoffices in the township — Hudson, Salem Center and 
Turkey Creek. The first named is in the southeast corner, on the 
line between Salem and Steuben townships. Salem Center is a 
mile north of the center of the township, while Turkey Creek is 
situated on the creek of the same name in the southwestern part 
of the township. 

SALEM CENTEE. 

Salem Center was never platted as a village, but has for many 
years supported two mercantile establishments doing a very re- 
spectable business, beside considerable other trade. The history 
of the village began in 1843, when W. H. Austin and Edward 
Wright opened the first store, a block structure erected by Mr. 
Austin on the present site of Hammond, Dole & Co.'s store. 
Two years later Wright bought the interest of his partner, and 
after a time was succeeded by Adolphus Gale, who, in turn, sold 
to W. W. Braden. Dr. Joseph C. Kimsey bought this building 
and converted the timbers into fuel, the lot having been purchased 
by James Richards, who erected thereon a frame building, the first 
story of which he used for a time as a work shop, and the upper 
story was used as a lodge-room by the Masonic fraternity. About 
1862 E. T, Hammond and Casper Conger bought this building 
a- d fitted it up for a store, into which they put a stock of goods in 
1864. The following year Mr. Hammond became sole proprietor, 
and after a time he sold to John Carey, who carried on the busi- 
ness for several years, and was burned out in the autumn of 1871. 
He soon after rebuilt on the same lot, and sold to T. J. Warner. 



-Tji 



V 



•s«K 



IB 



728 HISTuKY OF STEUBEN CoUNTY. 

Ill the spring of 1883 the property was purchased by Arthur Haui- 
mond, and the present mercantile firm of Hammond, Dole & Co. 
was formed. 

Among the well-remembered business men of Salem Center was 
Elder Ball, who opened a store about 1858, and sold to Dr. Kimsey 
in 1866. Hogan & Van Pelt engaged in business on tlie south- 
west corner a number of years ago, but this store had a short ex- 
. istence, and was succeeded by a harness shop, which was also short 
lived. A wagon shop was built by Amos Kirkwodd, who ran the 
same for a number of years. The Masonic fraternity bouglit this 
building, and used the upper floor as a lodge-room. The Masons 
sold the building to Richardson & Teal, who opened therein a 
hardware store, the first in the village. In February, 1882, the 
property was bought by David Haskins, the present hardware 

merchant. 

The first school at the Center was taught by Eliza Smith in the 

winter of 1841-42. The school-house was built the previous 

autumn, and was the second in the township. 

Jesse Miller was the first blacksmith. The first physician was 

Dr. Bevier, now of Waterloo, De Kalb County. He was of the 

Eclectic school and came here in 1848, from Defiance County, Ohio. 

Dr. Aaron G. Parsell, now of Hudson, was the second physician. 

He had studied with Dr. Bevier. The third physician was Dr. 

J. C. Kimsey, who came in 1855. Among later physicians were 

Dr Mc Henry, who removed to Pleasant Lake, and there died ; and 
l)r L. C. Crossman. who married here, removed to Turkey Creek, 

and thence to parts unknown. Dr. M. T. Clay came to the Center 

in 1880, and now practices here. 

One of the early business enterprises of Salem Center was an 
asherv built by the first merchants above mentioned, Austin & 
■Wrii:rht. A pottery also flourished for a time here. 

In the winter of 1848-9 a mail-route was established between 
Auhnrn and Orland, and Salem Center became a postoflice on this 
- route. David Wisel was the first Postmaster, and served till 1853, 
when he removed to Fillmore County, Minn., and the oflSce passed 
into the hands of Walter Braden, who was succei^ded three years 
later by Orson Woodford. In 1856 Silas Conger was appointed, 
and after Buchanan's administration Orson Woodford came in 
ao-ain though during his second term the office was generally in 
ciiaro-e of W. E. Kimsey, his assistant. Then came John Carey, 

I 's 

O ' -T-^ 



^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



729 



Sr., who was succeeded by the present Postmaster, WillinraE. Kin.- 
sey, Jan. 1, 1880. 

The business of Salem Center is represented in 1885 by the fol- 
lowing firms: William E. Kimsej, general merchant; Hammond, 
Dole & Co., general merchants; David Haskins, hardware and gro- 
ceries; M. T. Clay, druggist; J. C. Kirasey, druggist; M. T. Clay, 
physician; M. Barnes, blacksmith; Haskins & Green, blacksmiths. 

An organization in which the people of the village and township 
feel a just pride is the Salem Center Cornet Band, which was or- 
ganized in the spring of 1874. The first members were Ira E. 
Woodfoni, William E. Kimsey, Frank Dewitt, Fred Sanxter, S. W. 
Mc Henry, E. C. Herrick, A.. K. Hammond, George Mc Henry 
and Irvin Loughrey. Their first instructor was Joseph McCabe; 
their second, P. Y. P. Smith, a superior teacher and composer, un- 
der whose instruction the band attained to great proficiency. They 
won the first prize at a band tournament of Steuben County bands, 
held at Angola, July 4, 1883, and has always sustained a high repu- 
tation for excellence. The members in 1885 are: Prof. Gny C. 
Bodley and Frank R. Tubbs, E flat cornet; A. D. Stephenson, 1st 
B flat; A. K. Hammond, 2d B flat; Charles Bruwn, 3d B flat; 
George Packer, solo alto; Guy Conklin, 1st alto; William E. Gil- 
lespie, 2d alto;F. Dole, 1st tenor; G. Elliott, 2d tenor; W. E. 
Kimsey, baritone; G. F. Amerman, B flat base; Frank Woodford, 
tuba; P. H. Gunsaullus, drummer. The officers are: Prof. G. C. 
Bodley, Director; Frank R. Tubbs, Leader; G. F. Amerman, Mili- 
tary Commander; W. E. Kimsey, Secretary and Treasurer. 

McLane Post, No. 342, G. A. R., was mustered May 3, 1884, 
with the following sixteen charter members: Samuel Parker, D. 
R. Wisel, Peter Putter, John D. Dewitt, Samuel Yan Pelt, J. C. 
Kimsey, Thomas Havens, M. B. Butler, Andrew Wolf, Hugh Men- 
agh, L. N. McLain, G. W. Strauser, William Dewitt, John Haines, 
D. S. Gillespie and A. Sams, The post was organized with Samuel 
Parker as Com.; M. B. Butler, Adj.; and Thomas Haines, Q. M. 
There are at present twenty menjbers. D. R. Wisel is Com. ; C. 
Brown, Adj.; E. D. Gunsaullus, Q. M. 

Huds )n was first platted in August, 1869, by Elizabeth Clark 
and others. Ferguson, FuUerton and Rapp made additions to the 
original plat. These were all on secti on 31, township 36, range 13. 
Leauder Brugh and Joseph Zongkers have each made additions on 
section 36, township 36, range 12. Hudson was intended for a 
large town, being situated on the line of the prospective Canada 



FT 



^t 



730 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Southern Railroad. But this village did not feel the collapse of 
that railroad scheme as did some of the neighboring towns. It is 
surrounded by a very fertile country, and is doing a thriving busi- 
ness. Its population is about 400. 

In ISSSJosephandJolin Miller erected the saw-mill, now (1885) 
owned by John Ritter. This mill was not on the village plat, but 
just south of Brugh's addition. In about 1865 a small store was 
opened near the mill, by Michael Miller; Miller sold out to Ira 
AUerton, who increased the stock of goods, and in 1867 sold to 
Keller & Son. These were the tirst bushiess enterprises of what is 
n..w known as Hudson. In 1867 Mrs. Elizabeth Clark caused to 
be laid out nine half-acre lots on the southwest quarter of section 
31, in Steuben Township. These lots were platted and placed on 
record and called the village of North Benton, which is still the 
proper name for the town, though it is generally known as Hud- 
son, the name of the postoffice. 

Ira Allerton erected the first house on the plat, which he sold to 
a man named Davis, who opened a small store in a part of the 
house; at about the same time Mr. Keller, before referred to, 
opjiied a store on the plat, he liaving purchased a lot of Mrs.Clark, 
and erected thereon a store building. 

The most important part of the village of Hudson, and the part 
on which are all business houses of the town, is Brugh's addition 
the history of which is as follows: 

In the spring of 1873, when work was in progress on the pro- 
posed Chicago & Canada Railroad, Leander Brugh engaged E. N. 
Woodford, of Motz, then Surveyor of Steuben County, to survey into 
village lots twenty-two acres of the southeast quarter of section 
36, extending on the east to the township line, between Salem and 
Steuben Townships. This plat was on the farm of Mr. Brugh, who 
was the proprietor of the plat. The only buildings on the plat at 
the time of the survey were the dwelling and barn of Mr. Brugh. 
The prospect of an early completion of the railroad, was then quite 
favorable, and lots were at once in great demand. 

The first business lot was sold by Mr. Brugh to Ira Allertcn, 
who immediately began the erection thereon of a two-story store 
building; and Mr. Allerton opened the tirst store in the early fall of 
1873. The second lot was sold immediately after, to J. S. Moore, 
of Auburn, who immediately began the erection of a hotel, which 
\\ as completed and occupied in 1874. 

Several residences were built in 1873, and completed at about 



-71- 






^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 731 

the same time. Dwellings were erected in that summer by Dr. E. 
Baker, David Ferrier, Ira Allerton, Daniel Dole and a few others. 
The first wagon-maker was Nelson H. Way, who in 1874 erected a 
shop on lot No. 2. The first blacksmith was Jacob Slaybaugh, 
The first cabinet shop was opened by J. Pensinger. Not long 
after another cabinet shop was opened by John Shaffstall, who is 
still in the business. The first drug store was opened by Dr. Mil- 
ler in 1874, who continued in the drug and grocery business for 
several years, and then removed to Farmer's Center, Ohio. Will- 
iam Hibbards was the first harness-maker. The first hardware 
store was opened in 1880 by Henry Sanders, who continued for sev- 
eral years, and sold out to Harry Difiinbaugh, the present hardware 
dealer. The first practicing physician was Dr. T. G. Matheny. 

A school-house was erected in 1876. Frank Hitter taught the 
first term of school in this building. 

The only church on the village plat is a Methodist Episcopal 
church, built in 1874. This is a frame, costing about $3,700. The 
building is 34 x 56 feet, with a seating capacity of about 400. A 
Methodist class was formed in 1854 by Joseph Miller, a local min- 
ister of the church, who still resides here. The first members of 
the class were Joseph Miller and wife, Samuel Greenamyer and 
wife, David Frederick and wife, John Ritter and wife, James Geper 
and wife, Jesse Rutan and wife and a few others. The first meet- 
ings were held at private residences. A class had previously been 
organized but was for various reasons discontinued. The present 
society has had regular preaching since its organization in 1854. 
It has a membership of about sixty with about the same number 
of pupils in the Sunday-school. 

The Hudson Holler Mills are owned and operated by Alexander 
Fullerton and his son-in-law, Samuel Ferguson. The mill is oper- 
at( d by steam-power, and was started in December, 1866. In the 
summer of that year Mr. Fullerton came here from Seneca County, 
Ohio, town of Fostoria, and brought with him the entire machinery 
for a grist-mill, including engines, boiler, burrs, etc. The entire 
machinery had been owned by Messrs. Fullerton and Ferguson in 
Ohio. Mr, Ferguson sold his interest before the mill was removed 
here, to Ananias Rapp and Ira Allerton. each of the gentlemen, 
Fullerton, Rapp and Allerton, possessing a third interest in the 
mill. The machinery was put up in the present mill building, and 
grinding began as stated in December following. The mill then 
contained three run of burrs. About the time the mill started 






^ p — ■- -^ — ^ 14^ 

732 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Messrs. Fullerton and Rapp bought the interest of Mr. Allerton. 
Mr. Ferguson bought a third interest in 1868. Mr. Rapp sold his 
interest to the other owners in 1870. Mr, Ferguson has owned a 
half interest in the mill since he bought it in 1868. Mr. FuUerton's 
interest has changed hands a few times, but the present firm of 
Ferguson & Fullerton has existed since August, 1884. In the 
fall of 1884 very important additions were made to the mill. 
Three full sets of Nordyke & Marmon rollers were substituted 
for the burrs, and all other machinery necessary for a first-class 
flouring mill, including purifiers and centrifugal reel; also u corn- 
sheller, with a capacity of 1,000 bushels per day. This mill 
does first-class work. The mill has a flouring capacity of sixty 
barrels per day. It does a large and increasing business, and is 
not excelled in the quality of its work by any mill in Northern In- 
diana. The mill is in charge of Mr. Ferguson, who is a practical 
miller of more than twenty years experience. 

David Ferrier was the first Postmaster of Hudson, and was suc- 
ceeded by H. K. Leas. Then came Frank Zimmerman, who was 
succeeded by John Wagner, the present incumbent, in October, 
1883. 

By authority of the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana, Hia- 
watha Lodge, No. 528, F. & A. M., was organized May 23, 1876, 
by the officers of Corinthian Lodge, at Flint, Steuben County. 
The first officers elected were: Seaman L. Dart, W. M. ; Eli D. Cox, 
S. W. ; John C. Heny, J. W. ; Charles Schimpfi', Treas. ; John H. 
Gray, Sec; William Wilsey, S. D. ; Martin V. Leas, J. D.; Peter 
Miller, Tyler. This lodge has been quite successful. It has a 
pleasant lodge room, which was purchased in 1882. The lodge 
numbers about thirty members. The officers of 1885 are: John 

C. Whysong, W. M. ; Samuel Bonebreak, S. W. ; George Simon, 
J. W.; John Frederick, S. D. ; Martin Y. Leas, J. D. ; T. Ray 
Morrison, Sec; S. Ferguson, Treas.; John Shafi'stall, Tyler; Eli 

D. Cox, Chaplain. 
S. D. Aldrich Post, No. 138, G. A. R., was organized at Hud- 
son, March 3, 1883. The first officers were: Wm. A. Greenamyer, 
Commander; J. C. Whysong, Sr. Vice-Corn.; Charles Brown, 
Jr. Yice-Com. ; T. Ray Morrison, Adjutant; Ananias Rapp, 
Quartermaster; Thomas Kannouse, Surgeon; J. C. Mead, Chaplain; 
Thomas Green, Officer of the Day; D. B. Chilcoat, Officer of the 
Guard ; A. B. Mathews, Sergt. Major. The charter members be- 
sides those already mentioned as first officers were: Orin Camp- 



k. 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



T33 



bell, David S. Irish, Henry Harbaugh, Charles Clink, Simon 
Dahuff and John Will. The post is in a prosperous condition and 
is now composed of about thirty wide-awake working members. 
The officers for 1885 are: Wra. A. Greenamyer, Commander; 
Henry Heckathorn, Sr. Yice-Com. ; Jerry Miller, Jr. Vice-Com ; 
Peter Snowbarger, Officer of the Day; J. Anderson, Officer of the 
Guard ;T. Ray Morrison, Adj; John C. "Whysong, Quartermaster; 
A. Diffinbangh, Snrg-eon; David Frederick, Chaplain; Oscar 
Thrasher Sergr.-Major; Orin Campbell, Quartermaster-Sergeant. 

FIRES AT HUDSON. 

In December, 1882, the general store of Ira Allerton was burned, 
involving a loss to Mr. Allerton of about $2,000 on goods. This 
fire was a<tcidental. The building was owned by William Getz, 
and was insured for $1,000, of which $800 was paid. By far the 
most destructive fire that has visited Hudson occurred in Decem- 
ber, 1884. Dr. Hamilton, in whose house the fire originated, sus- 
tained the heaviest loss. The Doctor occupied the second story of 
the building as a dwelling and offi-je. The lower story was used 
by William Ferrier as a drug store. The Doctor lost all his house- 
hold goods, surgical instruments, etc.; in fact, saved nothing but 
an organ. A portion of the goods of Mr. Ferrier were burned. 
Dr. A. G. Parsell & Son, general merchants, lost their store build- 
ing, worth $1,000, and sustained a loss on goods of about the 
same amount. David Heckathorn lost a store building of the 
same size as Dr. Parsell's, occupied by William Day as a saloon. 
Fred Harris had three billiard tables in this building, which were 
burned, involving quite a heavy loss to Mr. Howard. 

PRESENT BUSINESS FIRMS. 

Those now in business at North Benton, or Hudson, are: 
Parsell & Son, general merchants; Wm. H. Marble, general mer- 
chant; Abraham Diffenbaugh, general merchant; Harry D. Diffen- 
baugh, hardware; John H. Wagner, druggist; Joseph Ketchum, 
druggist; Scott Lotzenheiser, tin-shop; John Shaffstall, furniture 
and undertaking; John S. Moore, Benton House; Mrs. Daniel 

Dole, millinery and dress-making; Kistler, wagon and repair 

shop; A. McDowell, blacksmith; Peter Miller, blacksmith; Isaac 
Keller, shoe and harness maker; Henry Meese, harness-maker; 
Day & Kistler, house, carriage and sign painters; Ferguson & 
Fuller'on, fiouring-mill; Frederick Ritter, saw-mill; Miller Bros., 



~a 



K^ 



^s 



734 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

chair factury; Francis A. Johnson, caiie-inill; George Simons, 
meat-market; J- H. Hathaway, barber; T. Raj Morrison, plijsi- 
cian; F. C. Hamilton, physician; Alonzo Teeters, Justice of the 
Peace; Joseph Ketchnm, Justice of tlie Peace (for Steuben Town- 
ship); J. S. Moore, Constable; Ira AUerton, Notary Public; Lean- 
der Briigh, School Director; T. Ray Morrison, School Director; 
Aijuanias Rapp, carpenter and machinist; Alonzo Teeters, carpen- 
ter; Daniel Dole, carpenter; John Dole, carpenter; Allen Brugh, 
plasterer and stone mason ; Joseph Greenough, mason and plas- 
terer; Michael Frederick and Adam Weeks, auctioneers. 

TURKEY CREEK. 

Turkey Creek was platted by Porter Johnson, in March, 1857, 
on section 29. It has never attained much importance as a village, 
but its convenient country store has saved the people of the sur- 
rounding country many miles of travel in obtaining necessary 
supplies. 

CHURCHES. 

There are five religious organizations in Salem Township. A 
Presbyterian society, whose church buildmg is on section 4; two 
organizations of the M. E. church, one at Hudson and the other 
at Salem Center; a ''Reformed church" organization, with church 
building on section 11; and a '"Church of God," or Winebrennerian 
church, on section 32. The first to organize in Salem Township 
were the Presbyterians and the Methodists. 

Salem First Presbyterian Church is located on the southeast 
quarter of the northeast quarter of section 4. It is a frame struct- 
ure, 40 X 60 feet, and was built in 1868 at a cost of about $3,000, 
by the Presbyterian and United Brethren societies, and was used 
fur a number of years by both these denominations, and was 
known as the Union Church of Salem Township. It is now owned 
entirely by the Presbyterian society. Presbyterian services were 
held in the spring of 183S at the house of John Wilson, on sec- 
tion 3. A minister by the name of Parmelee conducted the servi- 
ces. The society was organized at the log cabin of Mr. Wilson in 
the fall of the same year, services being conducted on the occa- 
sion by Re\. Royal Littlefield. The members who composed the 
society as organized at that time were: John Wilson and wife, 
George Brown and wife and son, George Brown, Jr., Mrs. Fanny 
Butler, Mrs.Meleta Butler, Sarah and Catherine McKinlay and 
Moses S. Parsell and wife, with perhaps a few others whose names 



-7- 



T 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



735 



are not recalled. The only ruling member elected at the time of 
organization was John Wilson. Moses S. Parsell and George 
Brown were elected as officers of the church the following year, 
but the former died soon sfter and George Brown, Sr., and John 
Wilson served for several years. Services were held at the house of 
Mr. Wilson till the fall of 1839. Mr. Wilson, who was a zealous 
worker in the cause, organized a Sunday-school at his house in 
the spring previous to the organization of the church. This was 
the first Sunda\-8chool in the township and Mr. Wilson was the 
first Sabbath-school Superintendent. In the fall of 1839 a log 
school-house was erected on the site of the present church which 
was used till the building of the " Block Church" by the Method- 
ists, near the present Presbyterian church, which was the first 
built in the county. The Presbyterians also held services in this 
church till the building of what was known as the " Singing 
house," which was partially built by public contribution and in- 
tended as a place of general public entertainment; it was finished 
by the Presbyterians and Methodists with the understanding that 
they were to use the building for religious purposes. This build- 
ing was then used for religious purposes by both the Presbyterians 
and Methodists till the building of their respective churches in 1868. 
Among the early ministers of this denomination, besides those 
mentioned were: Rev. Christopher Corey, who succeeded Rev. 
Littlefield, and then came a young man whose name is not re- 
membered, but who remained for a short time; then came Rev. 
Mr. Chapin, who preached several years. The church was next 
several years without regular preaching. Then came Rev. Jacob 
Patch, who reorganized the church and was its pastor for ten or 
twelve years. Then came Rev, Mr. Kidder, who remained two 
or three years. The next regular mini,ster was Rev. Robert D. 
McCarthy, who was the first Pastor after the church was built, and 
he was followed by Rev. Haliday. Several others preached for a 
short time and then came Rev. Mr. Christine, who was the last 
pastor. A Sunday-school has always been supported, which was 
union in its character and not denominational. 

A class of the M. E. church was organized at the house of 
Robert Bell, on section 4, in 1838, The first members of that 
class, so far as remembered, were: Robert Bell and wife, Edward 
T. Hammond and wife, Mrs. Mary Butler, and probably a few 
others whose names are not remembered. Services were held at 
private houses for some time, and later at the log school-house on 






736 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

section 4. The first Methodist church was known as the Block 
Church on section 3. Later, services were held at the Singing 
house, on section 3. The present M. E. church building at Salem 
Center was built in 1868, cost about $3,000 and was dedicated 
Jan. 8, 1869, by Eev. Mr. Gray, of Chicago. Rev. Joseph Sellers 
was the preacher in charge at that time. The succeeding pastors 
were: Revs. Geo. W. Howe, Brawn, Curtis, Mott, Bacon, Peda- 
cord, Johnson, Pascal and Ramsy. The church has always sus- 
tained a Sunday-school. The present membership of the church 
is thirty-three. 

The history of the M. E. church at Hudson will be found in the 
history of that village. 

The population of the township in 1870 was 1,385; in 1880, 1,- 
560 — an increase of 175. The present density of population is 44 
per square mile. 

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year 
— 1880: Acres of wheat sown, 3,713; average yield per acre, 18 
bushels; total crop, 66,834 bushels; acres of corn, 2,076; average 
yield per acre, 20 bushels; total crop, 41,520 bushels; acres of 
oats, 587; average yield per acre, 25 bushels; total crop, 14,675 
bushels: acres of meadow, 584; average yield per acre, 2 tons; total 
crop, 1, 168 tons of hay; acres of potatoes, 103; average yield per 
acre, 40; total crop, 4,120 bushels. 

In 1884 the total number of acres assessed was 21,390.69; value 
of same, $214,875; value of improvements, $67,965; value of per- 
sonal property, $67,215; total valuation, $350,055; number of polls, 
250; number of dogs, 134; total taxes levied, $7,478.49. 

In politics, Salem Township has been Republican since the or- 
ganization of the party, before which time it was Democratic except 
in 1840, when it gave a Whig majority of 12. The smallest plural- 
ity the township ever gave was 10 Democratic, in 1844; the largest 
was 96 Republican, in 1856. The following statement of the presi- 
dential vote since 1840 shows the political complexion of the town- 
ship in the different presidential years, and also indicates the growth 
in population: 

1840— William H.Harrison 20 13 1856— John C. Fremont 164 96 

James Buchanan 68 



Martin Van Buren 8 

1844— James K. Polk 37 10 

Henry Clay 27 

1848— Lewis Uass 57 24 

Zachary Taylor 33 

Mariin Van Buren 5 

1852— Franklin Pierce 73 37 

Winfield Scott 36 

John P. Hale 7 



1860— Abraham Lincoln 147 G8 

Stephen A. Douglas 79 

Juuii Bell 1 

John B'eckenridaje 1 

1864— Abraham Lincoln 140 33 

George B. McClelkn. . . .108 

1868 -Ulysses S. Grant 159 34 

Horatio Seymour 125 






'K- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



737 



1872— Ulysses S. Grant 169 

Horace Greelev 75 

Charles O' Codt 16 

1876 -Rutherford B. H-iyes 226 

Samuel J. Tilden 152 

Peter Cooper 1 



94 



74 



1880— James A Garfield 233 74 

Winfleld S. Hancock 159 

James B. Weaver 2 

1884-JamesG. Blaine 220 59 

Grover Cleveland 161 

John P. St. Johc 1 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Levi N. Bodley, section 8, Salem Township, was born in Ply- 
mouth, Richland Co., Ohio, in 1830, a son of William and' 
Sally Bodlej. His rather died in Eichland County, March 8, 1861, 
and his mother in Anojola, March 2, 1879. Their family consisted 
of thirteen children; all but four of thechil.iren have lived in Steu- 
ben County, lud. But three now live in the county. Father and 
sons politically were Republicans. In 1860 the father and four 
sons voted for Abraham Lincoln and four days alter his inaugura- 
tion the father died. Three of the sons served in the war of the Rebell- 
ion. Levi N. was a member uf Company K, Twenty-ninth Lidiana 
Infantry, from October, 1864, till the close of the war. Thomas, a 
yuunger brother, was Lieutenant of Company D, Seventy-fourth 
Indiana Infantry, and was killed at Chickamauga in September, 
1863. Levi N. Bodley came to Steuben County, Ind., in the fall of 
1851, and with the exception of two years in De Kalb County has 
since made tiiis his home. He married Mary J. Butler, who came 
with her father, Jesse Butler, to Steuben County in 1838. They 
have six children — Jesse W., Guy C, Nora G. (wife of G. Elliott), 
Susan E., Fiemming W. and Isaac D. Their eldest son — Warren 
V. died in infancy. 

Charles Brown is a native of Crawford County, Ohio, born in 
181:3. He came from Fulton County, Ohio, to Steuben County, 
Ind., in November, 1869, and settled on section 14, Salem Town- 
ship. In the fall of 1877 he bought what is known as the Dutch 
mill, a saw-mill on section 13. It is run by steam-power, and has 
a capacity for cutting 4,000 feet of lumber per day. Sept. 7, 1861, 
Mr. Brown enlisted in the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry and served 
three years. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River 
and Chickamauga. At the latter place, Sept. 19, 1863, he was 
wounded and taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby Prison a 
few days and then taken to the xllabama hospital where he remained 
till Nov. 18, following, when he was paroled and was exchanged at 
Camp Chase the following June. He has never fully recovered 
from the eflects of his wounds and the subsequent exposure and 
hardships. He married Harriet Sophia Amerman, daughter of 



""^i' 



\ 



1^ 



738 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Peter D. Amerman. Thej have two children, twin daughters — 
Lura Bell and LeliaDell, born March 31, 1884. 

Samuel W. Brown, section 2, Salem Township, is a son of 
George Brown, one of the first settlers of the township. George 
Brown was born in Oxford, Mass., Feb. 8, 1786. He was a soldier 
in the war of 1812, and subsequently went to Columbia County, N. 
Y. He married Betsey "Wright, a native of Massachusetts, born Oct. 
.21, 1790. In 1837 they came to Indiana and settled on section 2, 
Salem Township, Steuben County, \^here he died Dec. 23, 1844. 
His wife died in 1880. They had a family of eleven children, five 
sons and six daughters, nine of whom are living. Samuel W. 
Brown was born in the State of New York, March 18, 1823. He 
married Elizabeth C. Wilson, a native of Kichland County, Ohio, 
born in 1826, a daughter of John Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
jiave had six children, only one of whom is living — Estella D., 
widow of Ira Woodford. Mr. Woodford died in October, 1884, 
leaving one child — Kuth Estella. 

Leander Brugh is the eldest of twelve children of George Brugh, 
who with his family settled in Steuben County in 1847. George 
Brugh was born in Pennsylvania in 1814 and when a boy moved to 
Columbiana County, and thence to Seneca County, where he married 
Catherine Clemens, also a native of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 
1847 he came to Steuben County with a brother-in-law, William 
Clemens, who returned to Ohio. He was killed in the Ashtabula 
bridge disaster, on the Lake Shore Railroad, in December, 1877. 
Mr. Brugh bought eighty acres of land on section 16, Pleasant 
Township. He returned to Ohio and the following spring moved 
with his family to this county and located on his land. They came 
with teams and were accompanied by several other families, none 
of whom settled in Steuben County except his younger brother, 
Williaiu, who settled in Angola, where he lived a number of years, 
then moved to Salem Township and thence ten years later to Ful- 
ton County, Ind. Mr. Brugh erected a log house on his land and 
remained in Pleasant Township till 1852, when he moved to Salem 
Township and settled on section 2, where he remained till his death 
in 1856. His wife is living in Hudson. Leander Brugh was born 
in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1839, and has been a resident of Steu- 
ben County since 1848. He iias always engaged in agricultural 
pursuits and has lived on his present farm since 1865. The part 
of Hudson that is in Salem Township is a part of his original farm. 
He platted and was the proprietor of that part of the village. He 



-V 



* aH I I /0 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. ' 739 

is one of the well-known, public-spirited citizens of Steuben County, 
and the success of Hudson is due, to a large extent, to his enter- 
prise. In the summer of 1878 he built his fine brick residence, 
which is a model of neatness and architectural beauty. Mr. Bnigh 
was married in 1862 to Susan Smithy a daughter of Daniel Smith. 
They have had five children— Ginevra, Ortha, Byron (deceased), 
Avery and Hurma, the eldest of whom is married to Sumner 
Bixler, a practical druggist of Angola. 

Henry P. and Marvin B. Butler are sons of Daniel Butler, 
one of the first settlers of Salem Township. Daniel Butler was 
born in Grand Isle County, Yt., Nov. 28, 1793. He married Mary 
Prentice, a native of the same section of country. A friend, Adol- 
phus Town, had settled in Jackson Township, Steuben Co., Ind., 
and sending back favorable reports of the country, Mr. Butler de- 
termined to move West and make a home for his family. In the 
early part of June, 1838, he left Yermont in company with his 
brothers, Loren and Jesse, and their families, and was four weeks 
on the route, going to Albany, N. 7., thence to Buflfalo by the 
Erie Canal and by the lake to Toledo. He left his family at Toledo 
while he went into the interior and purchased ox-teams with which 
he conveyed his family to Steuben County, arriving in July. The 
three brothers purchased 500 acres on sections 5 and 8, Salem 
Township, on which they located and improved farms. Daniel's 
farm consisted of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 
5, and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 8, and 
the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 8, con- 
taining 200 acres, where he lived till his death in 1847. His wife 
died in 1879. They had a family of five children— Susan, of An- 
gola; Harriet, deceased; Henry P., Marvin B., and Helen M., wife 
of David Gillespie. Henry P. was born in Yermont, March 16, 
1831. He married Phoebe Clark, daughter of Matthew Clark. 
They have three children— Melvin C, Wallace J. and Alberta M. 
In the fall of 1877 he was elected to the State Legislature and 
served one term. Marvin B. was born Feb. 15, 1834. He married 
Harriet M. Fuller, daughter of Elsley Fuller. They have two chil- 
dren—Benjamin M. and Harry M. The Butler brothers are among 
the prominent citizens of Steuben County. Politically they are 
Republicans, and both earnest and practical temperance men. In 
ante-bellum days their home was on the line of the underground 
railroad, and was often the refuge of runaway slaves, many of whom 
were sheltered and assisted on their way to freedom. Marvin B. 



V 



^^ 






740 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

enlisted Aug. 25, 1861, in Company A, Forty-fourth Regiment 
ludiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private; was soon after appointed 
Orderly Sergeant. Sept. 25, 1862, he was promoted to Second 
Lieutenant, and November of the same year to First Lieutenant. 
He participated in the siege and capture of Fort Donelson, where 
his health was injured by exposure and he was sent home on sick 
leave. He joined his regiment in July, 1862, at Battle Creek. He 
afterward took part in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, 
but owing to continued ill-health he resigned in May, 1863. The 
following fall he was elected Recorder and served two terms. In 
the fall of 1872 he was elected County Auditor and served four 
years. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Angola, the 
firm being Lewis & Butler. Retiring from the firm he returned to 
the old homestead and is now engaged with his brother, Henry P., 
in general farming and milling. 

Seymour S. Butler, deceased, was born in Grand Isle, Vt., Jan. 
24, 1832, a son of Jesse Butler, one of the three brothers who set- 
tled in Salem Township in 1838. He remained on his father's 
farm till after his marriage and then bought the farm on section 9, 
where his family now live, and where he died April 20, 1882. He 
was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, serving nine months in 
the Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He married Albina L. Con- 
ger, daughter of Silas and Hannah (Titus) Conger, natives of New 
York, the father of Albany County, born Jan. 7, 1800, and the 
mother of Delaware County, born Oct. 30, 1803. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Butler were born eight children, four of whom are living — Roelif 
E., Loren W., Ora S. and Fred H. Their eldest, a daughter, died 
in early infancy. Selwyn L., Omer C. and Sidney M. all died in 
childhood. In 1834 Mrs. Butler's parents moved to Huron County, 
and in 1843 to Richland County, Ohio, where her mother died the 
30th of the following September. In 1849 the father and all his 
children, save the eldest son, came to Steuben County, Ind., and 
settled on the farm now owned by Benjamin Silva. He subse- 
quently moved to South Bend, where he died Nov. 25, 1869. He 
was married again after coming to Steuben County, and his wife 
died in Salem Township. His family consisted of six children, all 
of whom are living — Nancy O., widow of J. C. Bodley ; Casper K., 
of Nebraska; Morrissa, wife of M. C. Markle; Albina, widow of 
S. S. Butler; Pembroke S., of Missouri; Selwyn, of Nebraska; 
Delmar, of Chicago. Two sons, Pembroke and Selwyn, were mem- 
bers of the Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, afterward the First In- 
diana Heavy Artillery, in the war of the Rebellion. 



-^ 



Q_ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTS'. 741 

Charles Clink was born iu Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1838, a 
son of George and Catherine Clink. He was reared and educated 
in his native county, remaining there till twenty years of age 
when he came to Steuben County, Ind. He lived in Steuben 
Township about three years, and then returned to Ohio. In the 
spring of 1861 he came again to Steuben County, and Aug. 25, 
enlisted in Company A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. After 
serving two years he was discharged with his regiment at Chatta- 
nooga, for the purpose of re-enlisting, and then served till Sept. 
14, 1865. He served in the ranks about three years and then 
was promoted to Sergeant. He participated in all the battles of his 
regiment except Shiloh, when he was on the sick list, although he 
was on the field part of the time. Among the more important of 
the battles of the regiment were Fort Dorielson, Stone River, and 
Chickamauga. After his return to Steuben County he married 
Catherine Bitter, daughter of Henry Ritter, of Steuben Township. 
They have five children — Mary C, Jennie E., Carrie M., Mattie L. 
and Nellie. One daughter, Laura E., died in her seventh year. 
In April, 1869, Mr. Clink bought a farm of 120 acres, eighty acres 
on section 14 and forty acres on section 23, Salem Township, where 
he has since lived. His residence is located on section 14. He 
learned the carpenter's trade in his youth, and has always given his 
attention to it in a greater or less degree. His farm is one of the 
best in the township, and his improvements are neat and substan- 
tial. 

Calvin Conklin, section 10, Salem Township, is a son of David 
and grandson of Isaac Conklin, early settlers of Salem Township. 
His uncle, James Conklin, was the first of the family to settle in 
Steuben County. The family was originally from Dutchess 
County, N. Y., Isaac moving from that county to Cayuga 
County, and thence with his family to Richland County 
Ohio, where he was one of the first settlers. Isaac Conk- 
lin reared a family of seven children, the most of whom 
grew to man and womanhood in Ohio. His wife died there and 
he subsequently made his home with his sons. About 1842 he 
came to Steuben County with his youngest son, James, who settled 
on section 10, Salem Township, which is now a part of Calvin's 
farm. In 1860 he moved to Kansas where he died a few vears 
later, David Conklin came to Steuben County in September 
1844, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 15, Salem 
Township, eighty acres of which is owned by his son Calvin, and 
47 



^Pv 



^2 



742 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

eiii;lity acres bj bis son Ensign, and Jobn Gary. David Conklin 
was born in Cayuga Connty, N. Y., in 1803. He married Polly 
Yan Yleet, wbo died in Ohio. Their children were seven in num- 
ber, five of whom are living — Ensign, of Salem Township; Eliza- 
beth, in Kansas; Calvin; William, of Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio; 
Cyntbia, wife of Michael Clink, of Salem Township. In 1874 Mr. 
Conklin went to Fnlton County, Ohio, where he died in 1881. 
Calvin Conklin was born in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1832, and 
was twelve years of age when he came with his father to Indi- 
ana. He married Lydia Ann, daughter of Dr. Jacob Boss, of 
Warsaw, Kosciusko Co., Ind. They have one son — Roscoe, born 
Sept. 9, 1864; married Eva Davis, a native of Mill Grove Town- 
ship, born in 1866, daughter of James Davis. Mr. Conklin owns 
160 acres of land, eighty acres on section 10, and eighty on section 
15. He is one of the enterprising farmers of the township, and a 
representative and influential citizen. 

Ahraham Diffinhaugh^ general merchant, Hudson, Ind., was born 
in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1817. He served an apprenticeship 
at the miller's trade in his native county, at which he has worked 
the greater part of his life. When twenty-one years of age he 
moved to Dayton, Ohio, and in 1858 came to Indiana and located 
in Wabash County, where he superintended the flouring mill of 
E. N. Marvin, and from there went to Kosciusko County, where he 
enlisted in the spring of 1862, in the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and 
served three years as wagon-master. After the war he returned to 
Kosciusko County, and was employed in the mill of J. D. Thayer 
& Co. He subsequently went to Wabash County and again took 
charge of the mill of E. N. Marvin; thence to Roanoke, Hun- 
tington County, where he superintended the mill of William 
W. Meach, and from there to Fort Wayne, where he remained 
several years. He subsequently went to Hutchinson, Reno Co., 
Kas., where ho engaged in milling and farming. In 1881 he re- 
turned to Huntington County, and in February, 1883, came to 
Hudson and rented the Hudson flouring mill, which he ran till 
May, 1884, when he embarked in the general mercantile business. 
Mr. Difiinbaugh has been twice married — first in Delphos, Ohio, 
to L. Stephens, who died in Kansas in 1881, leaving six children — 
Mary Ann, Henry T. , Frances Cordelia, Edmund, Charles and 
Mina. His present wife was Miss Alice C. Christie, of Hunting- 
ton County. 

Avery Emerson was born in Plymouth Township, Richland Co., 






1 o 



^s 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Ohio, in 1827. His father, Averj Emerson, Sr., was born in New- 
Hampshire, Sept. 22, 1788, where he was reared on a farm. When 
a young man he went to Auburn, N. Y., where he married 
Sophronia Allen, a native of Massachusetts, born in February, 
1799. In 1820 he moved to Richland County, Ohio. In June, 1836, 
he came to Steuben County, Ind., and selected a location, then 
returned to Ohio and the following^ November came again with 
hi« family. He settled on section 2, Salem Township, on what was 
known as the "Indian Fields," from the fact that the land had been 
cultivated by the Indians. The corn hills could be plainly seen 
although it had probably been many years since their cultivation. 
There were but three or four families in Salem Township at that 
time and the county seat had not been located. A warm contest 
was then existing between Judge Gale in behalf of Angola and 
Glover and Seth Murray in behalf of Stenbenville. He was the 
first Justice of the Peace for Salem Township, and in this capacity 
married the first couple, walking six miles to the house of Mr. 
Wright whose daughter was the bride. He was Probate Judge of 
Steuben County, from 1841 till 1849. In 1857 he sold his farm to 
his son Luke A. Emerson and removed to Angola. In the spring 
of 1864, he removed to Kendallville, where he died the following 
October, aged seventy-six years. His wife died March 17, 1877. 
Judge Emerson was a man of much prominence, and was closely 
identified with the early history of Steuben County. Politically he 
in early life was a Whig and later a Republican. He was a man of 
much general information, a great reader and especially interested 
in the cause of education. Ten children were born to Judge Emer- 
son, eight in Ohio and two in Steuben County. Eight are living — 
George, a resident of Toledo, engaged in the wholesale grocery 
business; John, of Kendallville; David, of California; Avery, Jr.; 
Emily, wife of Dr. Parsell, of Hudson; Mary, wife of William M. 
Kendall, of Humboldt, Kas. ; Almira, wife of A. A. Cliapin, of 
Fort Wayne, and Sophronia, of Kendallville. Luke Allen died at 
the age of forty years, and Albert aged five years. Avery Emer- 
son, Jr., has lived in Steuben County since 1836, with the excep- 
tion of three years, several years ago, spent in the lumber regions 
of Wisconsin. He married Elizabeth S. Parsell, dauo-hter of 
Mose- S. Parsell, who came to Steuben County in 1838. Mr. and 
Mrs. Emerson have nine children, seven sons and two daughters. 
He owns 327 acres of land and is one of the most successful and 
prosperous farmers of the township. 







-•<»• 



5pr 



tk 



744 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Samuel Ferguson^ of the milling firm Ferguson & FuUerton 
Hudson, Ind, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1842. When 
he was ten years of age his parents moved to Milwaukee, Wis., and 
a year later to Hockton, 111. In 1855 they returned to Ohio, and 
settled in Seneca County. \\\ the spring of 1859 he began work- 
ing in a mill and followed that vocation till the breaking out of the 
war of the Rebellion. Aug. 15, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourth Ohio 
Infantry, and in 1863 he re-enlisted as a veteran. June 14, 1864, 
he was wounded at the battle of Resaca, and the following Decem- 
ber was discharged. He has never fully recovered from its effects. 
He participated in the last day's fight at Corinth, at Murfreesboro, 
Stone River, Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Soon after the latter 
battle he re-enlisted and returned home on a furlough, joining the 
regiment at Tunnel Hill. After his return home, and as soon as 
he was able, he engaged in farming a short time, and then began 
work at his trade. Mr. Ferguson was married in Ohio, to Agnes 
Fullerton, daughter of Alexander Fullerton. They have four chil- 
dren — Alexander, Mary, William and Eva. 

David Fisher was born in Mifiiin County, Pa., in 1817, and 
when two years of age his parents moved to Columbiana County, 
Ohio, and several years later to Stark County, where he grew to 
manhood. In 1842 he came to Indiana and located in DeKalb 
County, where he was married the following year to Mary M. Mar- 
tin, a native of York County, Fa., born in 1818. Her father died 
when she was a child and her mother afterward moved to Stark 
County, Ohio, and in 1841, to De Kalb County, Ind. Mr. Fisher 
bought an unimproved farm of eighty acres in Smithtield Town- 
ship. He had but $80, and $50 of this he paid on his land. He 
was by trade a wheelwright, and worked" at his trade to obtain 
money to pay for his laud. Pie subsequently sold his De Kalb 
County farm and bought eighty acres of land on the southeast quar- 
ter of section 34, Salem Township, where he has since lived. Tliis 
land was entered from the Government by Robert Meeks, but no 
improvements had been made when Mr. Fisher bought it. In 1863 
he bought the rest of the quarter-section. He also owns eighty 
acres of improved and forty acres of pasture land on section 27. He 
has made his farm one of the most valuable in the township. His 
buildings are all comfortable and of a convenient design. He now 
devotes the most of his time to agriculture and is one of the most 
successful in Steuben County. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have had ten 
children, seven of whom are living — John, Leonard, Effie M., El- 

c> — ■ 

^ s ^ ■^'' s\ 



.1^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 745 

mira, Julia A., Agnes and Alfred. Louis died in the fourth year 
of his age, Jefferson in early infancy, and Edward at the age of 
fourteen years. 

Alexander Fullerton^ of the firm of Ferguson & Fullerton, pro- 
prietors of the flour-mill, Hudson, Ind., was born in Washington 
Countj^ Pa., in 1817. He was left fatherless in his childhood and 
made his home with strangers till manhood. In 1831 he went to 
Seneca County, Ohio, with the family in which he lived. He early 
in life began to work in a mill, and upon reaching manhood chose 
that occupation as a means of gaining a livelihood. He thoroughly 
understands every detail of the business, and tlie mill with which 
he is connected manufactures a fine grade of flour, having a good 
custom trade. Mr. Fullerton was married in Ohio, to Mary Ad- 
ams, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, where she was reared. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton have had seven children, but three of whom 
are living — Agnes, wife of Samuel Ferguson; Mary, wife of 
Luther B. Camp, and Sarah, wife of Orlando Kimmel, of Lagrange 
County. Four children died in early childhood. 

David 8. Gillespie^ section 5, Salem Township, was born in 
Lorain County, Ohio, April 14-, 1834, a son of James and Eve (Wor- 
man) Gillespie. James Gillespie was born in Ireland, and when 
a child his parents came to the United States and located in the 
State of New York. Later the family moved to Erie County, Pa. 
He was a soldier in the war of 1812. "When a young man he emi- 
grated to Ohio and lived several years in Stark County, where he 
was married. In October, 1844, he moved with his family to 
Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Jackson Township, where he 
died in 1852. His wife is living in Alliance, Ohio. They had a 
family of seven children, all save one daughter living till matur- 
ity. David S. is the only resident of Steuben County, and has 
made this his home since coming with his father. He remained 
on the homestead till 1860, when he bought the farm on section 5, 
Salem Township, where he now lives. Mr. Gillespie owns forty 
acres of valuable land with good improvements, all made by his 
own industry and good management. He enlisted in 1862 in the 
One Hundredth Indiana Infantry and served fifteen months when 
he was discharged on account of ill-health. He participated in the 
siege of Yicksburg, and also of Jackson, Miss. He married 
Helen Butler, a native of Yermont, born in 1837, a daughter of 
Daniel Butler. They have five children — Lester J., William E., 
Orla F., Nellie and Maud. 



■*»• 



746 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Moses Qonser was born in Whiteeyes Township, Coshocton Co., 
Ohio, Jan. 14, 1829, a son of David and Catherine (Miller) Gon- 
ser, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Mary- 
land. After their marriage his parents moved to Ohio and settled 
on a new farm in Holmes County, and subsequently moved to 
Coshocton County, where they improved another farm. In the 
spring of 1848 they moved to Fairfield Township, De Kalb Co., 
Ind., where the father died April 17, 1856. The mother died at 
the house of our subject Jan. 17, 1879. They had a family of ten 
children eii^ht of whom are living — Jacob, of Kansas; Elizabeth, 
of De Kalb County; David, of St. Joe County, Ind.; Daniel of 
De Kalb County; Moses; Elias, of Lagrange County, Ind.; Susan, 
wife of John J. Ling, and Mary, in De Kalb County. John, the 
eldest son, died in Iowa, aged sixty-two years, and Sarah died 
in Fairfield Township, De Kalb County, in the fall of 1848, aged 
twenty-four years. Moses Gonser was nineteen years of age 
when he came to Indiana. He lived in De Kalb County till 1869 
when he came to Steuben County. His homestead contains 250 
acres of land 180 acres located on sections 35 and 36, Salem Town- 
ship, and seventy acres across the county line in Fairfield Township, 
De Kalb County. His residence, on section 36, Salem Township, 
is a fine two story brick built in 1880 at a cost of $2,500. He 
also owns a farm of 200 acres on sections 18 and 19, Salem 
Township, which is carried on by his son Albert. Mr. Gonser is 
a successful farmer. He has? cleared over 200 acres of land, 
seventy-five of which are in his homestead farm, which is one of 
the best farms in Northeastern Inuiana. He is an enterprising, 
progressive citizen, and although not a politician never refuses to 
perform any duty which his fellow-citizens assign to him. He 
served as Land Appraiser of De Kalb County a year, and Trus- 
tee and Clerk of Fairfield Township. He has been a Justice of 
the Peace of Salem Township, and for three years was a Commis- 
sioner of Steuben County. In politics he was originally a Whig 
casting his first vote for General Scott in 1852. Since its organiza- 
tion has afiiliated with the Republican party. Mr. Gonser was 
married Feb. 22, 1852, to Louisa Wright, a native of Orleans 
County, N. Y., daughter of Edward Wright, of De Kalb County. 
They have five children — Albert, Flora A., Marietta, Robert M. 
and Martiia L. Their eldest child, Amanda, died at the age of 
seventeen years, in Salem Township. 

Elijah D. Gunsaullus was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 

T? « — -^ -• a V^ 



■ — — — 1 (B 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 747 

1833, a son of Levi Gunsaullus, a native of New York and an 
earl}' settler 6f Eicliland Township. In March, 1860, Mr. Gun- 
saullus came to Steuben County, Ind., three brothers having pre- 
viously settled here. His brother Henry came many years before 
and settled on section 14, Salem Township; later moved to sec- 
tion 15. He afterward sold his farm and with his brothers Levi 
B. and William A. built a saw-mill on the southwest quarter of 
section 14. The brothers ran the mill several years, when they 
sold out and Henry moved to Kansas, where he died. Levi and 
William returned to Richland County, Ohio, where the latter died 
and the former still lives. Elijah D. Gunsaullus bought his farm 
of George Davis. It is located on the northeast quarter of the 
northwest quarter of section 21. The improvements have been 
made mostly by Mr. Gunsaullus. He was married in Richland 
County, to Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Maria Conklin, 
natives of Cayuga County, N. Y., who moved after their marriage 
to Richland County. They have three children all born in Steu- 
ben County— Pyrl H., born May 16, 1860; Ella B., born May 
19, 1866, and William A., born June 12, 1873. They lost three 
children in infancy. Mr. Gunsaullus enlisted in the war of the 
Rebellion, in September, 1864, and served till its close. He has 
always been an influential, enterprising citizen, and is now Trustee 
of Salem Township, A sister of Mrs. Guhsaullns, Mariette, wife 
of Casper Conger, came to Salem Township about 1850, and set- 
tled on the northwest quarter of section 22, where they lived about 
ten years, and then moved to section 15. In the winter of 1864 
they moved to South Bend, and thence to Nebraska where Mrs. 
Conger died Sept. 2, 1880. 

£Jli R. Haines^ section 8, Salem Township, was born in Carroll 
County, Ohio, in 1851. His father, William Haines, was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1808, and was mai-ried in his native State to 
Rebecca Smith. They moved to Carroll County, Ohio, where 
they lived a number of years, and in October, 1853, moved to 
Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Salem Township, on a tract 
of unimproved land. They improved and cultivated their farm 
and lived here till death. The father died Jan. 14, 1879, and the 
mother in May, 1884. They had a family of eleven children, 
nine of wljom are living, five in Steuben County. Two of the 
sons, Thomas and William, were soldiers in the war of the Re- 
bellion. Eli R. resides on the old homestead where he has lived 
since 1853. He was reared and educated in Steuben County, and 



G\ I 

748 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

is now one of the promising farmers of Salem Township. His 
farm contains sixty acres of land all well improved. He married 
Mary A. Summers, a native of Williams County, Ohio, daughter 

of and Nancy J. Summers, her father born in 1823 and her 

mother in 1833. They moved to Noble County, Ind., where the 
father died Dec. 23, 1859, and the mother March 25, 1865. Mr. 
and Mrs. Haines have two daughters — Avilla and Luella. 

Arthur K. Hammond^ section 4, Salem Township, is the adopted 
son of Edward H. Hammond, a pioneer of 1836. Edward H. 
Hammond was born in Pennsylvania, March 21, 1805. He learned 
the trade of a blacksmith in the town of Barnsville, serving an 
apprenticeship of three years. In the spring of 1836 he came to 
Steuben County with Eli Teal and an elder brother of the latter, 
and entered land on section 4, Salem Township. They then re- 
turned to Ohio, and the following fall moved their families to the 
township. Mr. Hammond improved his land and at the same 
time worked at his trade in partnership with Mr. Teal. They were 
the first blacksmiths in Salem Township. Mr. Hammond made of 
his land one of the finest farms in the county, residing on it till 
his death, Feb. 3, 1875. He was twice married. His first wife 
was Mrs. Elizabeth Teal, mother of Eli M. Teal. His second 
wife, who survives him, was Mrs. Frances (Teal) Kaufman, a na- 
tive of Fairfield County, Ohio, born in 1810. He had no children, 
but adopted a nephew, Arthur Kirlin. The subject of our sketch, 
Arthur K. Hammond, was born in Perry County, Ohio, May 30, 
1851, and in 1855"^accompanied his father, John Kirlin, to Steuben 
County. His father is still a resident of Salem Township. He 
was adopted by Mr. Hammond in 1861. He has had good educa- 
tional advantages, attending the public schools of Steuben County. 
He nowf has charge of the homestead of Mr. Hammond, and is 
one of the most successful young farmers of the township. He 
was marriedjto Nancy Morrison, a native of Wabash County, 
Ind., born March 27, 1853, a daughter of John Morrison. They 
have three children — Clyde, Schuyler and Edith. 

John Harpster was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1828. 
When seventeen years of age he began to work at the blacksmith's 
trade, and served an apprenticeship of two years. He worked at 
his trade till 1852, when he came to Steuben County, Ind,, and en- 
tered land in Salem Township. Since then he has worked on his 
farm in connection with blacksmithing. He has a pleasant home, 
which he has made from a tract of unimproved land. His parents, 



to 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 749 

David and Catherine Harpster, were natives of Pennsylvania, and 
in 1829 moved to Seneca County, Ohio, where they died. Mr. 
Harpster was married in Ohio to Mary M. Sunday, a native of 
Pennsylvania, born in 1829, who moved with his parents to Seneca 
County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster have five children — Lu- 
cinda, wife of Ira Tubbs; John A. married Olive Jackson; Mary^ 
wife of George Conklin; Emma D., wife of Thompson Deller; 
Amanda J., a successful teacher of Steuben County. Mr. and 
Mrs. Haroster are members of the United Brethren church, in 
which they are active and zealous workers. They were among the 
first of that denomination to locate in Salem Township. 

Frajicis Hayward was born in Marion County, Ohio, in June, 
1835. "When fourteen years of age he moved with his parents to 
Lagrange County, Ind., where his father, Isaac Hayward, died in 
February, 1883. In 1879 he came to Steuben County and bought 
a farm on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 23, 
Salem Township. The first improvements were made by Abram 
Davis. Mr. Hayward was married in Lagrange County to Nancy 
Staner, daughter of Jacob Staner, who died July 4, 1874, leaving 
one son — Robert. After coming to Steuben County Mr. Hayward 
married Mrs. Emeline (Rodabaugh) Sloat, daughter of Adam 
Rodabaugh and widow of David Sloat. She was born in Portage 
County, Ohio, and removed with her parents to Stark County, 
Ohio, where she married Mr. Sloat. In 1872 she came to Steuben 
County. She has three children by her first marriage — Edward, 
Henry and Rosa. 

Joseph Ketchum^ dealer in drugs, tobaccos, stationery, etc., 
Hudson, Ind., was born in Hnntertown, Allen Co., Ind., in 
1854. He was reared and educated in his native town, and when 
nineteen years of age began teaching, and has taught nine years 
in Allen, Noble and Steuben counties. He learned the trade of a 
shoemaker of his father in his youth and plied that vocation during 
his vacations, and after abandoning the school-room devoted his 
attention to it till October, 1884. He moved to Hudson in June, 
1877, and has since made this his home. In October, 1884, he 
embarked in his present business on North Main street, where he 
keeps a complete stock of everything in his line. He is an oblig- 
ing, courteous gentleman, and is building up a good trade. He 
was married in 1876 to Francis Grieves, daughter of Thomas 
Grieves, of Steuben Township. They have had four children; but 
two are living — Bertha and Ada. Two children died in infancy. 



^ 



■k- 



750 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, 

J. R. Kimmel was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 15, 
1837. He was reared and educated in his native county, and in his 
youth learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he followed 
for twenty years. In 1863 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and 
bought twenty acres of land of John Boon on section 30, and in the 
year of 1876 he purchased forty acres more of Samuel Bair on sec- 
tion 31, all of which is in Salem Township. About eighteen acres 
had been cleared and a log cabin built, which is still standing. Mr. 
Kimmel now has fifty acres improved. In 1880 he built a pleas- 
ant frame residence and a good barn, and in many other ways has 
improved the place. Sept. 20, 1864, he enlisted for one year in 
his country's service and remained until the close of the war, being 
discharged June 26, 1865. He was married in DeKalb County, 
Ind., Feb. 17, 1861, to Rebecca Helwig. They have three chil- 
dren — Jacob and Emanuel (twins) and George H. 

William E. Kimsey, merchant, Salem Center, is a son of Dr. 
Joseph C. Kimsey. He is a native of the State of Indiana, born 
in Allen County, Oct. 12, 1851. Soon after his birth his parents 
moved to Fairfield Center, DeKalb County, and in 1855 to Salem 
Center. Mr. Kimsey's first business enterprise was running a prod- 
uce wagon, which he continued a 3'ear. In 1872 Dr. Kimsey 
erected a business house in Salem Center, and father and son be- 
came partners in the general mercantile business. In 1877 Will- 
iam E. sold his interest to his cousin, "William T. Kimsey, and en- 
gaged as a commercial traveler for the firm Taj'lor, Rodgers & Co., 
boot and shoe dealers, Toledo, Ohio. He proved a successful sales- 
man, but the active and laborious life incident to that branch of 
business was too severe for his health, and in January, 1879, he 
returned to Salem Center and the next month bought the store of 
his father and cousin and has since conducted the business alone. 
Since Jan. 1, 1880, he has been Postmaster and is an efficient offi- 
cer. He has been a Notary Public since Aug. 4, 1875. He was 
married April 11, 1872, to Elizabeth Dole, a native of Huron 
County, Ohio, born March 19, 1851, a daughter of John Dole, 
of Salem Township. They have two children — Lois I. and Wal- 
lace D. 

John Kirlin was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1816. His 
father, John Kirlin, was a native of Virginia. His mother was a 
native of Pennsylvania, but was married in Yirginia and in 1806 
moved with her husband to Fairfield Count}^ Ohio. John Kirlin, 
Jr., was reared on a farm and when seventeen years of age began 



-*■ 









HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 751 

to work at the gunsmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four 
years. May 25, 1855, he came to Steuben County, Ind., and lived 
seven 3'ears on the farm of Edward Hammond. In January, 1863, 
he bought the farm where he has since lived. It contains 110 
acres of choice land, eighty acres on the east half of section 16, 
twenty acres on the west half of the same section, and ten acres on 
section 15. His residence is on section 16. His improvements 
are all good and his land is under a high state of cultivation, Mr. 
Kirlin has been twice married. His first wife was Rebecca Teal, 
who died in Ohio, leaving one son — Arthur, the adopted son of 
Edward Hammond. He afterward married Catherine Suitterlin, a 
native of Crawford County, Ohio, born in 1840, a daughter of 
Frederick Suitterlin, who settled in Salem Township in 1851, and 
now lives in Kendallville. Mr. and Mrs. Kirlin have seven chil- 
dren — George, born in 1862; Delmar, in 1863; Mary, in 1865; 
Edmund S., in 1869; Fletcher, in 1871; Aurette, in 1873, and Fred- 
erick, in 1878. Mrs. Kirlin had two brothers who served in the 
war of the Rebellion, and died while in the service — Frederick and 
Abraham. Frederick was a member of the Twenty-first Indiana 
Infantry, and died in the hospital at New Orleans from the efiects 
of a wound received at the battle of Baton Rouge, La. 

Harvey Lewis was born in Wolcott, near New Haven, Conn., in 
October, 1812. When fifteen years of age he went to Chenango 
County, N. Y., where he married Elizabeth Bassett in 1833, a na- 
tive of North Haven, Conn., born in 1815. In 1844 he came to 
Indiana, and bought a tract of land on section 5, of Mrs. Hill, the 
only improvement being a log cabin. He lived here three years, 
clearing and improving his land, when on account of the sickness 
of his family he returned to the State of New York, remaining 
there till 1854. By this time the country had become more settled 
and consequently more healthy, and they decided to return to their 
pioneer home. They settled on the farm in Salem Township, 
where they have since lived. The family consists of five children, 
four of whom are living — Laura, now Mrs. Ira Scott, of Norwich*, 
Chenango Co., N. Y., has two children — Odell and Alice; Newell 
P., of Angola, married Orsavella Gale; Dwight B., who lives on 
the homestead, married Sarah A. Newman, and has two sons — 
Benson and Harvey; Frank B., married Samantha Newman, lives 
in Lagrange County, Ind. Their eldest son, Hiram, married 
Nettie Fuller, of Branch County, Mich. He died at Gilead, that 
county, Sept. 29, 1873, leaving a widow and one son — Frank. When 

"7 #■ "^ "•'•"%. 



752 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Mr. Lewis settled in Salem Township the country was covered 
with heav_y timber, wild game was abundant and white settlers few. 

John Loughrey, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania in March, 
1804, and when eleven years of age moved with his parents to 
Muskingum County, Ohio, and thence to Richland County, and 
Seneca County, where he was married in April, 1834, to Charity 
Young, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1814. In 1850 Mr. 
Loughrey came to Steuben County, and settled on section 3, Salem 
Township, where his family still reside and where he died March 
4, 1865. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Loughrey, eight 
of whom are living — Nancy R., Emily, Andrew, Mary, George, 
Elmer, Irving and Catherine J. William Henry died in 1863, aged 
twenty years. James died in Ohio at the age of four years. Andrew 
and George live in Missouri, and Elmer and Irvin on the old home- 
stead. Nancy and Catherine also I'eside at home. Emily is the wife 
of Hiram Colwell, of Lagrange County. Mary is the wife of Will- 
iam Yan Wagner, of Pleasant Township. 

Leonard N. McLain resides on section 1, Salem Township, 
where his father, John McLain, settled with his family July 11, 
1844. John McLain was born in the State of New York, Dec. 
25, 1792. He was reared in Cayuga County where lie married 
Eunice Nelson, a native of that county, born Feb. 16, 1803. In 
1836 they moved to Monroe County, Mich., where they lived till 
1844, and then moved to Steuben County. Mr. McLain bought a tract 
of unimproved land of John Candy. His first house, a log cabin, is 
still standing. While this house was being built the family lived in 
a log house on the farm now owned by Abner Sams, moving into 
their own house in April, 1845. After getting his farm under 
a good state of cultivation, the father died Sept. 2, 1855. The 
mother died Aug, 11, 1876. There was a family of thirteen chil- 
dren, ten of whom came with their parents to Steuben County. 
One was born here. Five of the children are living — Nancy, 
Mercy, Leonard N. , Eliza P. and Mary Ellen. Leonard N., who 
owns and occupies the homestead, was born in Cayuga County, N. 
Y., April 11, 1834. He enlisted July 24, 1861, in the Twenty -first 
Indiana Infantry and served eighteen months, when the regiment 
was converted into the First Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served 
till Jan. 10, 1866, when they were discharged at Baton Rouge, 
La. His entire term of service was four and a half years' longer 
than any other soldier from Salem Township. Soon after his re- 
turn from the war be bought the old homestead. He married Mary 

^ (S ^ ^" 



^•vK 



Lk. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 763 

Fast, daughter of Reuben Fast, formerly of Salem Township, and 
now of Michigan. They have two children — Erdley L., born 
April 26, 1868, and Ray, born Feb. 24, 1884. Mr. McLain's farm 
contains eighty acres, sixty-five acres under cultivation. His resi- 
dence and farm buildings are commodious and substantial. His 
health was undermined by his prolonged army experience, 
and he has never fully recovered his former vigor. He had four 
brothers in the service — Sylvester served two years in the Second 
Michigan Infantry, when he was discharged for disability. He died 
at Burlington, Mich., Dec. 10, 1867. Ambrose enlisted in the 
One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and was discharged for disability. 
He died July 23, 1863, four weeks after reaching home. Charles 
enlisted in the Seventy fifth Illinois, in the fall of 1862; came home 
on a sick furlough and died March 18, 1864. John W., the 
youngest son, was in the same company with Charles, and died at 
Murfreesboro, Tenn., Jan. 22, 1863. Two brothers-in-law, Martin 
Haines and Orlando Dennison, were in the service. The former 
died in the army and the latter is living in Kansas, Probably no 
other family in Steuben County can show an equal army record 
with that of John McLain's. 

Samuel Noll, section 11, Salem Township, is one of the promi- 
nent pioneers of Steuben County. His father, George Noll, was 
born in Union County, Pa., in 1796. He was reared in his native 
county and there married Nancy Hall. They moved to Stark 
County, Ohio, where nine children were born to them and where 
the mother died. He afterward married again and with his family, 
in 1839, came to Steuben County and bought the farm where Sam- 
nel now lives, living there till his death in 1862. No improve- 
ments had been made on the land, and in the spring following their 
arrival he built a log cabin in which he lived till his death. Of 
his nine children by his first wife, only Samuel is living. Three 
children were born to his second wife, two of whom are living — 
Polly, widow of Edward Snyder, and Sally, widow of Charles Ans- 
teet. Samuel Noll was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1817, and 
was there married to Christina Feghtling, a native of Alsace, Ger- 
many, born in 1819, who came with her parents to America when 
eight years of age. Mr. Noll learned the cabinet maker's trade 
in his youth and has worked at it in connection with farming the 
greater part of his life. His father being well advanced in life 
when they came to Indiana, the work of clearing the farm and get- 
ting it under cultivation devolved on him. He now owns the 



Is 



J- 



754 HI8T0KY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

homestead which contains eighty acres of choice land, on which he 
has erected a good residence and farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. 
Noll have had eight children, seven of whom are living — John, 
born in Ohio, in May, 1837; Elizabeth, also born in Ohio; George 
W,, William Frederick, Edward and Caroline (twins), and Mary, 
Samuel died at the a^je of six years. Mr. and Mrs. Noll are mem- 
bers of the Reformed church, and in 1882 Mr. Noll was largely 
instrumental in the building of the new Trinity Reformed Church 
in Salem Township. 

Samuel Parker was born in Armstrong Co., Pa., March 6, 1841, 
a son of Isaac and Margaret A. (Sanderson) Parker. Isaac Parker 
was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and was there reared and mar- 
ried. He was reared on a farm but subsequently was employed 
several years on the public works and later in the salt works and 
coal mines of his native State. In April, 1845, he moved to Steu- 
ben County, Ind., and located on section 32, Jackson Township. 
In 1849 he rented the farm of Charles Squiers, where he lived 
three years, and then bought eighty acres of land lying north of 
his first location, on section 32. He made the first improvements 
on his land, clearing with the assistance of his sons fifty acres, and 
erected a log house in which he lived till his death, Sept. 7, 1871. 
His wife died in May of the same year. They had a family of eight 
children, six born in Pennsylvania and two in Steuben County. Of 
the latter the eldest died in infancy and the other at the age of 
twelve years. The six surviving are — Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Fred- 
erick Komp, of Lagrange County; William, of Branch County, 
Mich.; Mary A., wife of John Groesbeck, of Lagrange County; 
Daniel, Samuel, and Nancy, wife of Henry Simmons, of Jackson 
Township. The sons were all soldiers in the war o f the Rebellion. 
William served three years in the Seventy -fourth Indiana Infantry. 
Daniel enlisted in the spring of 1864 in Company A, Forty-fourth 
Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. Samuel 
enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in Company B, One Hundredth Indiana 
Infantry, and served three years. He participated in some of the 
most important campaigns and battles of the war. His company 
was the leading one of the regiment the most of their term of serv- 
ice. Twenty-seven battles were inscribed on their flag, among them 
the siege of Yicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Lookout Mountain, Mis- 
sion Ridge, Atlanta campaign, Resaca and Kingston. Their last 
battle was Bentonville. Tliey then went to Washington, D. C, and 
took part in the grand review of the army. After the war Samuel 



^2 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 755 

Parker returned home. After the death of his father he bough 
the homestead, where he lived till 1881, when he bought his pres- 
ent home on section 4, Salem Township. He owns 100 acres of 
land, which is well improved. He married Melinda Haines, 
daughter of William Haines. They have five sons — George, Will- 
iam T., Earl, Orla J. and Logan E. 

Ahdalla Sams was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1833. In 
1835 his father, David Sams, moved to Steuben County, Ind., and 
settled in Jackson Township, where he was reared and educated. 
In February, 1865, he enlisted in the Fifty-second Indiana Infantry 
and served till after the close of the war, a period of about 
eight months. He was married to Mary Simmons, a native 
of Jackson Township, Steuben County, born in 1837, a daughter 
of Cephas Simmons, an early settler of that township, a native 
of Vermont, coming to this county from his native State. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sams have five children — Albert, Lafayette, Lewis 
Josephine and Eflie. They have lost three children — Eddie, died 
August, 1872, aged twelve years, and two died in infancy. Mr. 
Sams has always followed agricultural pursuits. He bought the 
farm where he now lives in 1863. It contains 139 acres of choice 
land, and is located in the northwest quarter of section 4, Salem 
Township. His residence and farm buildings are among the best 
in the township. 

CJiristojpher Shadevja.^ born in Perry County, Pa., in 1828, and 
when three years of age was taken by his parents to Ohio, where 
he was reared and educated. He learned the carpenter's trade in 
his youth and worked at it about twenty years. He was married 
in Ohio to Tirzah Ann Pease, daughter of Luraan and Gratia 
(Hawks) Pease. Her mother died many years ago and her father 
married again and lives in Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Shade have 
been born three children — Judson, Zoe Gratia and Sarah Sophia. 
In the spring of 1858 Mr. Shade moved to Steuben County, Ind. 
and settled in Salem Township. In the fall of 1859 he bought the 
farm where he now lives on section 31. There were no improve- 
ments on his land at that time, but it is now one of the finest farms 
in the township. His father, Christopher Shade, Sr., came to this 
county the same year with his family and settled on section 32 
Salem Township, where he died Sept. 25, 1859. His wife survived 
till May 28, 1879. They had a family of five children, three of 
whom are living — Christopher and David, of Salem Township, and 
Abraham, of Paulding County, Ohio. Ann died Jan. 20, 1861, 



V 



vK 



756 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and Richard, Feb. 15, 1879. The latter served two years and three 
months in the war of the Rebellion. Christopher Shade, Jr., was 
a soldier in the same war nine months, and was discharged in 
Nashville, Tenn., at the close of the war, arriving home July 
4, 1865. 

Marion Shade, the eldest son of Richard and Sarah E. (Chasey) 
Shade, resides on section 31, Salem Township, on part of the home- 
stead of his father. Richard Shade was born in Richland County, 
Ohio, in 1833, and was there reared to manhood, and married 
Sarah E. Chasey, a native of Ohio, born in 1835. In 1858 they 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 32, Salem 
Township. In September, 1864-, Mr. Shade enlisted in the Twenty- 
ninth Indiana Infantry, and s erved till the close of the war. He 
died on the old homestead Feb. 15, 1878, leaving a widow and ten 
children. Marion, the eldest son, was reared in Salem Township, 
receiving a common-school education. Since reaching manhood 
he has given his attention to agriculture and is now one of 
the rising young farmers of the township. He married Ella B. 
Parsons, daughter of George W. Parsons, of Crawford County 
Ohio. 

Adam Shaffstall was born in Crawford County, Ohio, Dec. 18, 
1836, a son of Christian and Christina (Rowe) Shaffstall, natives 
of Dauphin County, Pa., his father born Aug. 23, 1807, and his 
mother in 1809. After his marriage Christian Shaffstall moved 
to Crawford County, Ohio, where he followed the occupations of 
farming and shoemaking till the fall of 1846, when he came to 
Steuben County, and settled on section 21, Salem Township, ex- 
changing his farm in Ohio for land here, which he improved, liv- 
ing on it till his death, Nov. 15, 1880. His family consisted of 
ten children, the youngest three born in Steuben County. Eight 
are living — Lovina, wife of Hollister Slick; Susan, widow of 
William Lease; Adam; Franklin; Amanda, of Kendallville; Na- 
thaniel; Elmira, wife of George Carey; Cornelia, wife of H. J. 
Zimmerman, of Altamont, Labette Co., Kas. Adam owns and oc- 
cupies forty acres of the original homestead, which is the south 
half of the northwest quarter of section 21. He enlisted in the war 
of the Rebellion June 27, 1861, in Company A, Twenty -first Indi- 
ana Infantry. Eighteen months later the regiment was converted 
into the First Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served as such the re- 
mainder of their term of service. They were in Maryland and 
Virginia some time, thence to Ship Island, where they remained 






-B\ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 757 

six weeks; thence to the mouth of the Mississippi River, imme- 
diately after the surrender of Forts Jackson and Phillips, and from 
there to JSTew Orleans. They participated in the battle of Baton 
Rouge, Banks's Red River Expedition, and many other memor- 
able battles. Mr. Shaffstall was never in the hospital while in the 
service. Ho was discharged July 31, 1864. Since the war he has 
given his attention exclusively to agriculture. He married Hannah 
Hogeboom, a native of Medina County, Ohio, born Feb. 6, 1846, 
daughter of Bartholomew and Maria (Hill) Hogeboom, natives of 
New York, Mr. Hogeboom moved to Ohio after his marriage, and 
in the fall of 1865 came to Steuben County. Subsequently moved 
to Fulton County, Ohio, where his wife died and he still lives. 
Mr. and Mrs. Shaffstall have one daughter — Carrie M., born Nov. 
13, 1868. 

FranMin Shaffstall^ a son of Christian and Christina Shaff- 
stall, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, Dec. 23, 1842, and came 
with his parents to Steuben County, Ind., in 1846. He was reared 
and educated in this county, remaining at home till the breaking out 
of the Rebellion. He enlisted in October, 1862, in the Twenty -first 
Indiana Infantry, which was afterward converted into the First 
Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served three years. He participa- 
ted in all the engagements of the regiment, never being absent on 
account of sickness or wounds. He took part in the siege of Port 
Huron, and Banks's Red River expedition. He was discharged at 
Baton Rouge, Oct. 24, 1865. After his return from the war he 
turned his attention to agriculture. He was married Feb. 28, 
1868, to Annie Day, a native of Fremont, Ind., born March 16, 
1849, a daughter of W. H. H. and Louisa Day. They have three 
children — Lura, Libbie and Nellie. In December, 1870, Mr. 
Shaffstall bought his farm on the southeast quarter of section 16 
of L. N. Bodley. The land was originally school land and was 
bought of the State by James Groesbeck, who cleared ten acres 
and built a log cabin in which he lived till his death. The farm 
contains sixty-eight acres, sixty acres of which are improved. The 
improvements with the exception of those made by Mr. Groesbeck 
have all been made by Mr. Shaffstall. The log cabin has been con- 
verted into a stable and he has erected a substantial frame resi- 
dence. Mrs. Shaffstall's parents settled in Fremont, in 1847. Her 
father having been elected County Treasurer, in December, 1857, 
they moved to Angola, where her mother died July 26, 1876. In 

November, 1879, her father moved to Missouri, where he still lives. 
48 



"a|V 






758 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



They had a family of five cliildren — Adelbert F., foreman of the 
JRepuhlican office, Angola; Augusta A., wife of James Cappes, 
of Moberly, Mo.; Annie L. ; Alfred H., of California, and Clara, 
wife of J. P. Sommers, of Colorado. Mr. Day enlisted as private 
in 1862 in the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and was subsequently 
promoted to Second Lieutenant. He served two and a half years, 
when he resigned on account of ill health. 

John A. Shajfstall, furniture dealer, Hudson, Ind., is a son of 
Abraham Shaifstall, who, with his family, settled in Salem Town- 
ship in October, 1854, on a tract of land he had purchased the 
preceding year, located on the west half of the southeast quarter 
of section 22. A log house had been built and about thirty acres 
had been partially cleared. Mr. Shafifstall improved his land, re- 
siding there about ten years, when he sold it to Philip H. Meas, 
and bought 160 acres on section 26, where he lived till 1876. A 
year or two later he went to Kansas, where he died June 20, 
1882. He was twice married. His first wife, Louisa Cobb, died 
Aug. 8, 1847, leaving four children, two of whom are living — 
John A. and Catherine, wife of Charles Boyce, of Door County, 
"Wis. In 1849 he married Susan Coverly , a native of Virginia, 
now living in Lincoln County, Kas. To them were born three 
sons and three daughters. John A. is the only representative of 
his father's family in Steuben County. He was born in Crawford 
County, Ohio, in 1837. In the spring of 1862 he went to Door 
County, Wis., where he lived ten years. June 27, 1861, he en- 
listed in Company H, Nineteenth Indiana Infantry, but was dis- 
charged a few weeks later on account of ill health. In October of 
the same year he again enlisted in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana 
Infantry and served about two months when he was again dis- 
charged. In 1872 he returned to Indiana and in 1877 engaged in 
his present business. He was married Jan. 1, 1863, to Hannah 
Peterson, a native of Norway. They have one son — Albert H., 
born in Wisconsin, Feb. 28, 1865. 

Jesse Shields resides on the southwest quarter of section 30, 
where his father, Richard Shields, settled in the spring of 1851. 
Richard Shields was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1796, and was 
there married to Harriet Brooks. They came to the United States 
and settled in Richland County, Ohio, where they lived till the 
spring of 1851, and then moved to Steuben County, Ind., and set- 
tled in Salem Township, where Mr. Shields died in 1857, and Mrs. 
Shields in May, 1884, in the seventy-fifth year of her age. Jesse 



-7: 



J^«- 



HISTOKF OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 759 

Shields was born in Kichland County, Ohio, in October, 1848. 
He married Florence Ellen Crossley, daughter of Nathan and El- 
mira (Sanders) Crossley, of Fairfield Township, De Kalb Co., 
Ind. They have two children — Esther and Albert. Mr. Shields' 
farm contains eighty acres of valuable laud and his improvements 
are among the best in the county. He is an influential citizen 
and one of the representative fanners of Salem Township. 

George Stover, section 12, Salem Township, was born in Stark 
County, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1838. His father, Ephraim Stover, was 
born in Chester County, Pa., April 12, 1790, and was reared among 
strangers, his mother dying when he was a child. He went to 
Stark County, Ohio, where he married Margaret Noll. In October, 
1834, they moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 
12, Salem Township, where they improved a farm. The mother 
died March 1, 1854, and the father April 17, 1878. They had a 
family of seven children, three born in Ohio and four in Steuben 
County — James, Samuel, George, Nancy (now of Lagrange County, 
Ind.), Isaac (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Rachel C. (of Lagrange 
County). George Stover was reared and educated in Steuben 
County. He has always lived on the homestead which he bought 
in 1872. He was married Jan. 1, 1868, to Sarah Fackler, daughter 
of Jacob and Isabell Fackler, who came to Steuben County from 
Huron County, Ohio, April, 1865, and settled on section 10, Salem 
Township, where Mrs. Fackler now lives and where Mr. Fackler 
died in June, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Stover have three children — 
Yernon G., Edith M. and Walter C. 

Samuel Stover, the second son of Ephraim and Margaret (Noll) 
Stover, was born in Stark County, Ohio, Aug. 26, 1836, and was 
brought by his parents to Steuben County in 1838. His education 
was obtained in the district school, but his father being in limited 
circumstances his services were early required on the farm and his 
school-days were of short duration. His first farm was on section 
12, and after getting it partially improved he sold it to his brother 
George. In February, 1872, he bought the farm on the northwest 
quarter of section 13, where he now lives, of Christopher Rhinehart. 
This land was entered from the Government by a Mr. Finch, and 
the first improvements were made by William Meek. It contains 
160 acres of land, 140 acres being improved. The residence was 
built by Mr. Meek. Mr. Stover built the barn, which is large and 
commodious, and has made other valuable improvements. He is 
a thrifty, energetic farmer, and one of the representative citizens of 



l"^ 



to 



•Js 



-»l>^^ 



] 



760 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the county. He was married in 1866 to Emeline Ransburg, 
daughter of Leander Ransburg, of Salem Township, 

George W. Strawser resides on section 21, Salem Township, 
where he owns a farm of 170 acres, bought of John Zimmerman in 
1881. He has been a resident of Steuben County since 1872, and 
has taken an active interest in all the projects of public benefit. He 
was born in Ross County, Ohio, and in 1843 removed with his par- 
ents to Defiance County in the same State, where he grew to man- 
hood. Aug. 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-eighth 
Ohio Infantry, and served till July, 1865, wanting only one month 
of four years. He was Color Bearer of his regiment in the battles 
of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and 
Jonesboro, where he was wounded. At the battle of Jonesboro his 
regiment lost 186 men including the Colonel and six other commis- 
sioned oflicers. He recovered from his wound safiiciently to join 
his reofiment at Goldsboro, and accompanied it to Washington. 
The Thirty-eighth Ohio did much hard fighting and rendered 
valuable service in the war of the Rebellion. It was commanded 
by six difl'erent Colonels. Colonel Phillips fell at Mission Ridge, 
Colonel Choate at Goldsboro, and Colonel Irving lost a leg at 
Atlanta, Aug. 6, 1864. After the war Mr. Strawser returned to Ohio. 

He married Mrs. Rhoda J. (Rose) Higbea, widow of Higbea, 

who died while in the service of his country, at Memphis, Tenn,, 
April 5, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Strawser have five children — W. T. 
Sherman, Amanda J., George D., Mary C. and John W. Mrs. 
Strawser has one son by her former marriage — Alber J. Higbea. 
Andrew J. Sutherland^ section 17, Salem Township, was born 
in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1829, a son of Justice Sutherland, who came 
with his family to Steuben County in the fall of 1844 and settled 
on section 16, Salem Township, on a tract of unimproved land. 
Justice Sutherland built a house, and set out an orchard, and cleared 
about twenty-five acres of his land, living on the place till 1858, 
when he moved to Fillmore County, Minn., where he lived till his 
death. Of a family of seven children, five accompanied their par- 
ents to Steuben County, of whom only Andrew J. now resides 
here. He followed farming till the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
and in 1862 enlisted in Company B, One Hundredth Indiana In- 
fantry, and served three years; was absent from his regiment but 
thirty days during his term of enlistment, participating in all the 
important engagements of the regiment. In 1865 he went to 



"^T? « ^ '^ 5>^- 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. T^X 

Minnesota and thence to Michigan, returning to Steuben County 
in 1870. 

Leroy Tuihs, deceased, was born in Huron County, Ohio, July 
14, 1824, a son of Alfred and Christina Tubbs, natives of New 
York. "When a child he went with his parents to Kichland County^ 
Ohio, and in 1855 accompanied them to Steuben County, ind. He 
was married in Richland County to Ehoda J. Hills, a native of 
that county, born Feb. 18, 1827, daughter of John and Betsy Hills, 
natives of New York. Mr. Tubbs bouglit his land of his father, 
and immediately set to work to improve it. His first house was a 
board shanty, but the same season he built a log house into which he 
moved his family the following autumn. In 1869 he built a two- 
story frame residence, which is one of the best in the township. 
He cleared sixty-five of his eighty acres and made his farm one of 
the most valuable in tlie township. He died Aug. 26, 1884. He 
was an ambitious, hard-working man, and the labor of clearing and 
improving a heavily timbered farm was doubtless the cause of the 
disease which culminated in his death. He left a wife and five 
children — Ida, of Salem Township; Elizabeth, wife of H. H. Rit- 
ter; Sarah, wife of John Stumpf; Emma, wife of Joseph Wolf, and 
Franklin. One son, John A., died at the age of sixteen months. 
Franklin lives at the old homestead and has charge of the farm. 
He was born in Salem Township in 1859. He married Barbara 
Ritter and has one child — Mabel. 

John H. Wagner^ druggist and Postmaster, Hudson, Ind., was 
born in Salem Township in 1855, a son of Jacob Wagner, who 
came to Steuben County in 1853. He was reared and educated in 
his native county, remaining on the farm with his parents till man- 
hood. He followed agricultural pursuits till January, 1884, when 
he moved to Hudson. The following October he bought the drug 
business of Mr. Zimmerman. He keeps a full assortment of every- 
thing in his line, including drugs, medicines, paints, oils, toilet 
articles and notions. He is a genial, courteous young man and a 
popular tradesman. He has a constantly increasing trade, and is 
a valuable addition to the business men of Hudson. Mr. Wagner 
married Emma Gillen, daughter of John Gillen, one of the early 
settlers of He Kalb County. They have one son — Ora. 

Joh7i Wilson, one of the pioneers of 1836, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, Feb. 6, 1800, and when a child removed with his parents to 
Cayuga County, IST. Y. Jan. 18, 1821, he was married in Rich- 
land County, Ohio, to Dinah Bodley, a native of Cayuga County, 






762 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

N. Y., and a former schoolmate. Mr. Wilson was reared a farmer. 
In his early life he taught school in the winter months several 
years, and also taught singing schools. He removed to Indiana in 
1836 and settled on section 3, Salem Township, Steuben County, en- 
tering eighty acres of land from the Government. They came from 
Kichland County with ox-teams, in company with John and Charles 
Bodley, both of whom settled in Salem Township. There was but 
one house in the township at that time, a log structure on the farm 
now owned by the E. T. Hammond estate. Mr. Wilson's was the 
second. His wife died in 1840, and in 1816 he sold his farm and. 
made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Brown, till his death, Nov. 
4, 1880. Mr. Wilson united with the Presbyterian church when 
twenty years of age, and after getting his cabin built invited his 
neighbors to hold religious services there. He organized the first 
Sunday-school in the township at bis house. He lived a consistent, 
Christian life, and at his death left the exam])le of a well-spent life. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had a family of nine children, seven born in 
Ohio and two in Steuben County — Mary Jane, died in September, 
1847, aged twenty-one years; Margaret Ann, wife of John Col well; 
Elizabeth C, wife of Samuel Brown; Kate E., wife of Edmund 
Shepardson; Melcena, wife of Sylvester Holiday; James H. ; 
Edwin H. ; Abram Devitt, deceased; Hebecca D., wife of Lucius 
Meeks. 

Otis Wisel was born in Watertown, N. Y., in 1810, the second 
son of David Wisel. The Wisel family was one of the pioneer 
families of 1836. Oct. 25, of that year, David and his family, 
consisting at that time of his wife and three youngest children, 
and his two eldest sons and their families, settled in Salem Town- 
ship. David settled on section 10, entering the southwest quarter 
from the Government. David, Jr., entered forty acres of the south- 
east quarter of section 9, and Otis bought fifty acres of his father. 
The father erected a log house and improved twenty acres, living 
here till his death in 1844. His family consisted of ten children — 
David, Otis, Ira, Phoebe and Laura came with him to Indiana. The 
others remained in New York, although all came later to Steuben 
County. Ira enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in a AVisconsin 
regiment and died while in the service. Phoebe married Jacob 
Higgius and moved to Wisconsin; Laura married Andrew Henry 
and moved to Lenox, Iowa. David, Jr., remained in Salem Town- 
ship till 1853, when he moved to Fillmore County, Minn., where 
he lived till 1866, when his house was destroyed by a flood and he 



-*f 



lU 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 763 

was drowned. Otis Wisel improved fifty acres of land, on which 
he settled, living there till the spring of 1853, when he bought a 
quarter-section on 22, where he still lives. He has been a hard 
working man, and cleared thirty acres of his first purchase. He 
owns 160 acres where he lives, 100 acres improved, sixty of which 
he cleared with his own hands. He also owns eighty acres of land 
on section 20. He was married in New York, to Betsey Van Pelt, 
a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., born in 1811. They have 
four children — Otis, Jr.; Daniel E,., born March 9, 1837, was the 
second child born in Salem Township; Elizabeth and George. 
David Wisel, Sr. , father of Otis "Wisel, Sr., was born in Rhode Is- 
land in 1777, and was the seventh son in the seventh generation of 
seventh sons, the name of each being David, and all up to this 
David owned and operated the same foundry in Providence, R. I. 

John 0. Whysong, a son of Harrison and Amy Whysong, was 
born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1834. Harrison Whysong was 
born in Somerset County, Pa., in 1812, and when a boy his parents 
moved to Fayette County, where he was reared, and married in 
1832 to Amy Moore, a native of Alleghany County, Md. In 1851 
he moved to Hardin County, Ohio, and in 1861 to De Kalb 
County, Ind., coming to Steuben County in 1863. He bought a 
farm of Jesse Rutan, who made the first improvements and built 
a log-cabin. Mr. Whysong made many improvements, and in 1875 
built his present residence. To Mr. and Mrs. Whysong were born 
twelve children, ten of whom are living — three sons and seven 
daughters. John C. Whysong remained with his parents till after 
their settlement in De Kalb County. He remained but a short 
time in Indiana, returning to Ohio. He soon came again to Indi- 
ana and for some time lived with Abraham McCoy, of Smithfield 
Township, De Kalb County. Soon after the breaking out of the 
war of the Rebellion, Sept, 4, 1861, ho enlisted in Company H, 
Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. He participated with his regiment in 
the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Battle Creek. At Stone River 
he was wounded severely, but at his urgent request returned to his 
regiment at the end of seventeen days, and was assigned to light 
duty. At the battle of Chickamauga he was again injured, receiv- 
ing several slight wounds. He was soon after appointed Recruiting 
Sergeant, reporting to Colonel C. Baker at Indianapolis, and was 
sent to De Kalb County. He served in this capacity six months, 
and then rejoined his regiment at Dalton, Ga., and participated in 
the Atlanta campaign, at the close of which, his time having ex- 






764 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

pired, he returned with his regiment to Indianapolis, and wa& 
mustered out Sept. 27, 1864. He was a gallant, faithful soldier, 
and made an honorable record. He tilled all the positions of non- 
commissioned officers, and the latter part of his term served as 
Second Lieutenant although he was not mustered as such. Imme- 
diately upon his return from the service he was appointed to serve 
notice on drafted men, a draft having just taken place. He was 
also engaged in apprehending and arresting deserters till the close 
of the war. Mr. Whysong was married May 3, 1865, to Rebecca 
A. Fry, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio. She moved to De 
Kalb County with her stepfather. A, J. Williams. She died Sept. 
26, 1874, leaving a son and daughter — Aletta B. and James B. 
He afterward married Mrs. Lottie J. Ileara, daughter of George 
Frederick, of De Kalb County. They have two children — Amy 
and Ida. Mr. Whysong is a prominent member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and is serving his third term as Master of Hiawatha 
Lodge, No. 528, Hudson. 

Henry Wright is a native of Salem Township, born May 29, 1850, 
a son of Elbridge and grandson of Jeptha Wright. Jeptha Wright 
was born in New Hampshire in June, 1788, and was married in 
his native State to Betsey Emerson. Soon after their marriage 
they moved to New York State, where their family often children 
was born. In early life he worked at the blacksmith's trade, but 
later bought a farm in Orleans County, N. Y. In 1837 he moved 
to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he bought an improved farm of eighty 
acres. The following fall he came to Steuben County for the pur- 
pose of getting land for his sons, several of whom had grown to 
manhood. He bought 133 acres on section 19, Salem Township. 
Beino^ pleased with the country he decided to settle here, and ac- 
cordingly returned to Michigan, and the following January moved 
his family to the pioneer home. The land he had bought was all 
unimproved. He built a log cabin and began at once to clear the 
land and prepare it for cultivation. His wife died May 19, 1848, 
and he subsequently married again. His second wife died March 
6, 1872. He died in June, 1874, lacking only three days of being 
eight-six years old. But three of his children are living — Edward, 
of Fairfield Township, De Kalb County; Nathaniel E., living on 
the homestead, and Albert, of Oregon. The deceased who came 
with their parents to Steuben County were — Mary Jane, who died 
July 15, 1841, was the wife of Edmond Taylor; Heman, died in 
1847, leaving a family; Richard, died March 24, 1857, also left a 

&} - ^ , 

^ (S ^ -* cPv ' 



•Vc 



-1^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



765 



family; Anson, died Oct. 10, 1858; Elbridge, died May 28, 1879. 
The latter was born in New York, Dec. 28, 1822. He married 
Martha Ann Cochran, a native of Ohio, born March 3, 1824. His 
farm, a part of which is owned by his son Henry, he bought soon 
after his marriage, and lived here till his death. His wife is still 
living on the homestead. Their family consisted of eight children, 
six of whom are living. Henry Wright married Mary E. Frederick, 
daughter of David Frederick, and has two children — David E. and 
Charles E. After his marriage he bought eighty acres of land un 
section 21, which he improved. In iVpril, 1881, he bought 160 
acres of the homestead, on which he now lives. 

Monroe F. Wright^ a representative of one of the pioneer families 
of Steuben County, was born in Salem Township, Oct. 2, 1858, a 
son of Elbridge and Martha Ann (Cochran) Wright. He was reared 
and educated in his native township, and since attaining manhood 
has followed agricultural pursuits. He has been successful in his 
chosen vocation and now owns 120 acres of the old homestead 
farm of his father, located on the southwest quarter of section 19, 
Salem Township. Mr. Wright was married to Carrie Parr, a native 
of De Kalb County, Ind., born in 1858, a daughter of George 
Parr, an early settler of De Kalb, but now a resident of Steuben 
County. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been born two children 
— Arthur G. and Cyrus. 




^*- 






« ^ 






CHAPTER XXL 



STEUBEN TOWNSHIP. 



Geography. — Description. — First Settlers. — First Dwellings, 
Schools and Orchards. — Steubenville. — Steubenville, Junior. 
— Pleasant Lake. — Founders. — Societies, Churches and Busi- 
ness. — Population of Township. — Agricultural Statistics. — 
Property and Taxation. — Politics. — Presidential Vote since 
1840. — Detailed Yote in 1884 on State and County Tickets. 
— List of Township Officials since 1850. — Biographical. 

Steuben Township is in the southern tier of the county, and is 
bounded as follows: On the north by Pleasant, on the east by Ot- 
sego, on the south by the county of De Kalb, and on the west by 
Salem. It is six miles north and south by nearly the same dis- 
tance east and west, and therefore contains nearly 36 sections, or 
nearly 23,000 acres. The township is drained by Pigeon Creek, 
which flows from east to west irregularly through the northern 
part, connecting several lakes. The village of Pleasant Lake is on 
section 15, between Long and Pleasant lakes, the former of which 
lies on sections 15 and 16, and the latter on 14, 15, 22 and 23. 
There are a number of other bodies of water, the most important 
of which are Golden Lake, on sections 6, 5 and 8, and Goose JS^eck 
Lake, on sections 23 and 24. The Fort Wayne & Jackson branch 
of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad crosses the town- 
ship north and south. 

Steuben was first settled in 1835. Seth W. Murray, Isaac Glover, 
Alexander C. Britton, Reuben Warwick, James Forbes, Daniel 
Cummings, and perhaps one or two others being the pioneers. In 
the following year there came Abner Winsor, Jonas Carter, James 
Perfect, Lewis Carter, John W. Carter and Samuel Carter. The 
last-named gentleman entered his land on the 1st of August in the 
same year. Gideon Ball enterea land in 1835, and moved into the 
township the following year, but in a few months settled perma- 
nently in Otsego Township. Wooster McMillen also entered land 
in 1835 and settled in 1836. During the next three years a num- 

(766) 



4 



T- 






10 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. Y67 

ber of settlers came in, among whom should be mentioned Sylvanus 
B. George, Theophilus Jackson, Eber Thayer, Chauncey Clark, 
Orsemus V. Barnard, O. Smith, M. Bowen, A. P. Clark, A. Beach, 
€. Chard, A. and J. Miller, James Long, G. B. Mason, Alanson 
Abbey, H. Frink, Justin Darling, Hiram Niles, E,. Loomis, 
Thomas Lacey, J. Allison, F. Forbes and Lucius Crane. 

The first log house was built in 1835, on section 15, The first 
frame dwellinsc was erected bv Seth W. Murray in 1836. The first 
school-house was built in 1836, on section 10, in the then village 
of Steubenville. Lucy Avery was the first teacher. Abner Winsor 
and Seth W. Murray put out the first orchards in the spring of 1836. 

Steubenville, which was platted in November, 1835, was the 
competitor of Angola for the location of the county seat, early in 
1837, Glover, "Winsor and others endeavoring unsuccessfully to 
have the county buildings in their town. Steubenville was situated 
not far from the present village of Pleasant Lake. When the 
county seat was located at Angola, in 1837, Steubenville commenced 
declining, and was never destined to fulfill the expectations of its 
pioneer proprietors . 

Another Steubenville was laid out March 10, 1873, on section 
34, township 36, range 13, by Daniel Till and Samuel Teeters. It 
was started when the Canada Southern Railroad was surveyed, and 
was located at the crossing of that road and the Fort Wayne & 
Jackson Eailroad, but since the former road failed to be built it 
has rapidly declined. 

The village of Pleasant Lake was laid out by William Thompson 
and Sheldon X. Ball in 1870, on section 15, and an addition has 
since been made by David S. Gilbert. Within the past few years 
Pleasant Lake has achieved celebrity as a summer resort, on account 
of the beautiful sheet of water from which the village derived its 
name. The inhabitants of the village and township are exceed- 
ingly enterprising, and constantly doing all they can toward devel- 
oping the resources of the country, which many of them knew when 
it was a wilderness. Here, in their youthful days, they made their 
homes, and they do not propose to move away now that old age is 
creeping on apace. But few of the very early pioneers are left, many 
having died, and the restless ones long since followed the star of 
empire in her westward course, and their children are amjng the 
citizens who inhabit the prairies of Nebraska and Kansas. Of the 
first settlers, Sylvanus B. George, Abner Winsor and Omer Clark, 
are yet left. 



I 



(T" 



JV 



l^ 



^ 



768 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



The Congregational society was organized iu January, 1879, by 
Kev. John Y. Hickmott, who acted as pastor for some time, ser- 
vices being held in the church building which has likewise been 
used by the Methodists and Universalists. Since Mr. Hickmott's 
time the society has had no regular services. 

The Methodists have a growing society, under the pastorate of 
Kev. I. M. Wolverton, of Angola. The society now numbers be- 
tween thirty and forty members. 

The Baptists organized a church about 1850, under the lead of 
Elder Byron. Among its leading members were Deacon L. Colton 
and wife, Justin Darling and wife, John Meserve and wife, Tru- 
man Meserve and wife, Mr. Holmanand wife. Among those who 
have preached at Pleasant Lake are Elders William Conley, Will- 
iam Lacy, W. N. Welker,T. 0. Briggs,S. B. Ward, Lyman Colton, J. 
P. Jones, J. Ward and Mr. Finch. The society now has about fifty 
members. 

The Universalist society was organized about 1870, among the 
prominent members being S. B. George, A. B. Knapp, M. R. Knapp, 
Samuel Carter, James Carter, George W. Clawson, Yolney E. 
Simmons, J. C. Simmons, D. W. Gaylord, A. F. Huffman and 
their wives. They built a frame church about 1874, at a cost of 
$3,500, which is now used by any denomination which desires to 
hold services. Rev. M. Crary, now of Defiance, Ohio, preached 
here from 1856 to 1871:. Then Rev. John Binns, from Fayette, 
Ohio, preached two years, since when the society has had no regu- 
lar services. Sylvan us B. George has been a Trustee of the church 
since its construction. The first board contained, besides him, A. 
B. Knapp and Yolney E. Simmons. The present Trustees are S. 
B. George and A. F. Hoffman. 

The only secret society at Pleasant Lake is the Grand Army 
post. Middleton Perfect Post, No. 173, G. A. R., was mustered 
May 19, 1883, with twenty members, and the following leading 
officers: R. J. Willard, Com. ; John Carlin, S. Y. C. ; S. B. George, 
J. Y. C. ;A. Ross, Adjutant. The present officers are: Cjrus 
Robinson, Com.; Samuel Major, S. Y. C; John Hall, J. Y. C. ; 
Asa Huffman, Chap.; O. D. Scoville, O. of the D.; T. E. Biery, 
Surgeon; LeanderWeldon, Q. M.; M. J. Avery, O. of the G. ; 
A. Rose, Adjutant. The post has forty-four members, and meets 
the second and fourth Saturday of each month. 

The firms doing business at Pleasant Lake are given in the fol- 
lowing list: Chad wick & Co., dry goods; Mosiman & Co., dry 



"7" 



-afv*" 



^ 



■^ 

(* 



HISTORF OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



769 



goods; Murray & Case, hardware; Thomas Brothers, groceries; G. 
P. Ball, groceries; Weaver Brothers, drugs; Mr. Teegardin, drugs; 
G. W. Conkell, furniture; Carpenter Brothers, livery; A, P. Hub- 
bard, jewelry; G. W. Oberlin, jewelry; G. W. Conkell, Lake Yiew 
House; Augustus Stover, flouring mill; Orrin Sisson, blacksmith; 
Mr. Hannah, blacksmith; E. L. Lewis, blacksmith; Austin Knight, 
blacksmith; S. W. Freeman, wagon shop; Sam Barr, saloon; Will- 
iam Spriegel, saloon; Dr. T, E. Biery, photographer; Aldrich & Co., 
ice; J. Yanordeu, ice; Sylvanus B. George, Postmaster; J. W. Zim- 
merman, blacksmith; H. Oberlin, Justice of the Peace; S. H. Ful- 
ler, physician; T. E. Biery, physician. 

The population of Steuben Township was in 1870, 1,253; in 
1880, 1,657 — an increase of 404. The population is now equal to 
forty-seven per square mile. 

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year 
— 1880: Acres of wheat sown, 3,795; average yield per acre, 18 
bushels; total crop, 68,310 bushels; acres of corn, 2,128; averao-e 
yield per acre, 37 bushels; total crop, 78,736 bushels; acres of 
oats, 784; average yield per acre, 28 bushels; total crop, 21 952 
bushels; acres of meadow, 507; average yield of hay per acre 
one and a half tons, total crop, 760 tons; acres in potatoes, 136- 
average yield per acre, 80 bushels; total crop, 10,880 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 20,325.94* 
value of same, $284,740; value of improvements, $93,210; value 
of personal property, $81,510; total valuation, $459,460; number 
of polls, 326; number of dogs, 125; total taxes levied, $10,298,26. 
As property is assessed on a basis of one-third, the above would 
indicate a total wealth of $1,378,380. 

In politics, Steuben was strongly Whig until the death of that 
party, since when it has given its unquestioned allegiance to the 
Republican party. It is the strongest Republican township in 
the county. The smallest plurality given in a presidential year 
was in 1840, eight for Harrison; and the largest was in 1876 172 
for Hayes. The following statement of the presidential vote shows 
the political complexion of the township at each presidential elec- 
tion, and also gives an idea of the steady growth in population: 



1840— William H. Harrison.. .23 8 

Martin Van Bureu 15 

1844— Henry Clay 51 31 

James K.Polk 20 

James G. Birney 2 

1848— Zachary Taylor 45 23 

Martin Van Buren 22 

Lewis Cass 13 



1852— Winfield Scott 65 17 

Franklin Pierce 48 

John P. Hale 2 

1856— John C. Fremont 146 102 

James Buchanan 44 

Millard Fillmore 1 

1860— Abraham Lincoln 173 108 

Stephen A. Douglas 65 

John Bell 3 



"71" 



T 



-*- 






^ 



770 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



1864— Abraham Lincolo 164 107 

George B. McClellan. ..57 

1868— Ulysses S. Grant 201 129 

Horatio Seymour 72 

1872— Ulysses S. Grant 201 136 

Horace Greeley 65 

Charles O' Conor 5 

Gongressman. 

Theron P. Keator 273 115 

Robert Lowry 158 

George F. Hartsuck 3 

Prosecutor. 

Henry C. Peterson 269 104 

Frank M. Powers 165 

Senator. 

Nicholas Ensley 271 110 

Lafayette J. Miller 161 

Representative. 

DoakRBest 268 109 

William W. Wyrick 159 

Commissioners. 

Herman C. Shutts 270 111 

Adam Failing 159 

Thomas McClue 5 

Daniel P. Rummell 269 100 



1876— Rutherford B. Hayes. .269 172 

Samuel J. Tilden 97 

Peter Cooper IS 

1880— James A. Garfield 289 154 

Winfield S. Hancock.. 185 
James B. Weaver 8 

1884— James G. Blaine 270 113 

Grover Cleveland 157 

Benjamin F. Butler 7 

Commissioners — {continued). 

Alvah Carpenter 169 

John Dygert 5 

JohnM. Sewell 159 159 

Sheriff. 

Allen Fast 270 111 

Charles Squiers 159 

Thomas R. Moffett 5 

Treasurer. 

Clay Lemmon 259 92 

Edwin Jackson 167 

Martin V. Garn 4 

Surveyor. 

Robert G. Morley 271 107 

Moses J. Parsell 164 

Coroner. 

T. Ray Morrison 271 108 

Edward B. Simmons 163 ' 



The following are the names of those elected to office in the 
township since 1850, so far as obtainable, with the years in which 
they were respectively chosen: 

Assessors. — 1850, Samuel Carter; 1851, same; 1852, James Per- 
fect; 1854, same; 1856, Abner Winsor; 1858, Lucas Perfect; 1860, 
Charles Bixler; 1862, Giles T. Abbey; 1864, same; 1866, Hannibal 
Scoville; 1868, John Barber; 1870, N. M. Lacey; 1872, A. Huff- 
man; 1874, David B. Teeters; 1878, Nathan Lacey; 1880, George 
E. Young; 1882, Marshall Dunlap; 1884, Chester V. Tuttle. 

Justices of the Peace. — 1853, James Carter, 1855, Daniel Smitli; 
1857, James Carter and Leonard Slabaugh; 1858, David Gilbert; 
1860, James Carter; 1862, David Gilbert; 1865, True W. Me- 
serve; 1866, Timothy M. Albee; 1870, Timothy JM. Albee and 
Henry B. Dodge; 1874, David S. Gilbert and Henry B. Dodge; 
1876, Myron Tuttle; 1878, Joseph Ketchum; 1880, James Ketchum 
and H. P. Dodge; 1882, Hiram Oberlin and Joseph Ketchum; 
1884, Henry B. Dodge. 

Constahles. — 1858, Sylvanus B. George and Miles Gilbert; 1859, 
S. B. George and Miles Gilbert; 1860, same; 1861, same; 1862, 



-^■. 



^ 



/yk- 



>A. 



l^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 771 

S. B. George, Sr., and S. B. George, Jr.; 1863, Lemmon Tuttle 
and George Woodworth; 1864, George Morley and Lemmon Tut- 
tle; 1865, Dorman Carpenter and Jonas Hagenbaugh; 1866, George 
Scott and Edward Smith; 1868, Robert Moore and Henry Cramp- 
ton; 1869, Henry Thompson and Irving Knight; 1870, Henry 
Thompson and Morgan Swihart; 1872, Theodore F. Tuttle; 1874, 
Theodore F. Tuttle; 1878, George Murray and G. L. Balcher; 
1880, I. D. Smith, Henry Wilcox and Barney Brown; 1882, Isaiah 
Smith, Daniel Homing and Charles Dunlap; 1884, Charles Miller 
and David Heraing. 

Trustees.— 1859, True W. Meserve; 1860, same; 1861, same; 
1862, same; 1863, same; 1864, same; 1865, Middleton Perfect; 
1866, same; 1867, same; 1868, same; 1869, same; 1870, John 
Barber; 1872, John Barber; 1874, Lewis J. Matson; 1878, George 
E. Young. 1880, R. L. Perfect; 1882, David S. Gilbert; 1884, 
same. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Jacob D. Abbey ^ section 26, Steuben Township, was born in York 
Township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1823, a son of Alanson 
and Lucy (Daggett) Abbey. Alanson Abbey was born in JN'aples, 
Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1792. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and participated in the battle ofQueenstown. He was married in 
New York, and in 1819 removed with his wife to Sandusky County, 
Ohio, where they lived till the fall of 1838, when they moved to 
Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 22, Steuben Town- 
ship, on land he had entered two years before. He partially im- 
proved his land, built a large log house, and set out an orchard. 
In 1843 he sold the place to Jared H. Miner, a Free-Will Baptist 
minister of Otsego Township, and returned to the State of ]^ew 
York, remaining there two years. He came again to Steuben 
County and lived several years at the head of Pleasant Lake; then 
bought eighty acres of land on section 34, but snbsequentlv re- 
turned to Pleasant Lake. He afterward went to Kansas, where he 
lived three years, and then returned to Indiana and lived with his 
son, Jacob D., till his death, March 22, 1877. His wife died in 
Steuben Township in 1839. They had a family of ten children, six 
of whom grew to maturity, viz.: Henrietta, widow of Henry Bixler; 
Jacob D. ; Nancy, wife of Chauncey Gilbert, who removed to 
Kansas in 1862; Giles T., of Waterloo; George J., of Kansas; 
Minerva, who died in 1869. Jacob D., the only representative of 



r 



\ 



J*- 



772 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



the family now living in Steuben County, was married in 1848 to 
Eliza A. Gilbert, daughter of Bela and Anna Gilbert. They have 
two daughters — Rosalthe, wife of John Renner, and Jannette. 
Their only son, Orrin, died March 16, 1871, aged seventeen years. 
Aug. 11, 1862, Mr. Abbey enlisted in Company H, Seventy-fourth 
Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. From 1848 
till 1856 Mr. Abbey lived on the farm of his father on section 22. 
In 1856 he bought and located on his present farm. He owns 120 
acres of valuable land, with good improvements, all made by him- 
self. He is one of the representative farmers of the township, and 
a highly respected citizen. In politics he is a Republican. 

Eugene S. Aldrich is a son of Colonel Simeon C. Aldrich, one of 
the early settlers of Steuben County. Simeon C. Aldrich was born 
in Rockingham, Yt., Oct. 14, 1816, and came to Steuben County in 
1844. He was a tailor by trade and opened a shop in Angola. 
Soon after the discovery of gold in Calitbrnia he crossed the plains 
and was absent two years. Returning to Angola he engaged in the 
mercantile business and served one term as Sheriff of Steuben 
County. He made a second trip to California, returning to Indi- 
ana about the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion. In 1861 
he, with Captain Parks, of Auburn, De Kalb County, vrere chiefly 
instrumental in raising Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. 
He was elected First Lieutenant, and soon after promoted to 
Captain. In November, 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant- 
Colonel and commanded the regiment at the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, where he displayed great courage and efficiency. After 
this battle he was made Rrovost-Marshal of Chattanooga, filling 
the position till the regiment re-enlisted, when he accompanied the 
veterans home. He returned with them to Chattanooga, and con- 
tinued in command till August, 1863, when he was granted a leave 
of absence on account of ill health. A few days after reaching 
home he was suddenly taken worse and died Aug. 14, 1863. He 
was commissioned Colonel July 27, but owing to the reduced num- 
ber in the regiment was not mustered in as such. Colonel Aldrich 
was twice married. First, Dec. 23, 1838, to Polly A. Jackson, who 
was bornin Livingston County, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1816. She died 
Jan. 29, 1852, leaving three children — Eugene S., Helen J. and 
Addison Umphrey. A daughter, Emma L., born June 13, 1850, 
died in infancy. Helen J. married Charles Tyler, and died Jan. 
10, 1879. Addison died Nov. 12, 1863. June 23, 1852, he married 
Melissa Knapp, now a resident of Hillsdale, Mich. Their children 



^l 



\^ 



HISTORY OF STEFBEN COUNTY. 773 

are — Il^ellie, of Toledo; Luln, wife of William Feigel, of Hillsdale, 
Mich., and Charles C, in Mexico. Eugene S. Aldrich was born in 
Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1842. He enlisted in 1861, in 
Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served three years. 
He enlisted as a private, but on the organization of the company 
was made Third Duty-Sergeant. Nov. 27, 1862, he was promoted 
to Second Lieutenant, and April 17, 1863, to First Lieutenant. 
He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and many others of less importance. 
With the exception of three years spent in Ohio he has lived in 
Pleasant Lake since the close of the war. Mr. Aldrich has been 
twice married. His first wife, Lucy, daughter of Lansing Knapp, 
died April 14, 1869. Their only child— Simeon A., died Oct. 25, 
1871. His present wife was Addie C. Carver, a native of San- 
dusky County, Ohio, born in 1841, a daughter of Amos Carver. 
They have one daughter — Josie, born June 17, 1872. Mr. Aldrich 
owns a valuable farm of 100 acres on the south side of Pleasant 
Lake. 

Julius Ball resides in section 21, Steuben Township, on land 
entered by his father, Gideon Ball, in 1836. He was born in On- 
tario County, N. Y., Sept, 30, 1820, and was sixteen years of age 
when he came to Steuben County. His farm originally contained 
160 acres, but to this he has added forty acres, and now has one of 
the finest farms in the township. He is one of the few represen- 
tatives living of the pioneers of 1836. He was married in 1859 to 
Lucy A. Tattle, a native of Sandusky County, Ohio, born Sept. 9, 
1829. They have three children — Charles Ford, Gideon Grant 
and Carl Claude. Mrs. Ball's parentSjYan Rensselaer and Patience 
(Powell) Tuttle. Her father was born in Mount Morris, Livingston 
Co., N. Y., in 1789, and removed to Pennsylvania. He was married 
in 1812. About 1825 he moved to Ohio, and in 1869 to Steuben 
County, Ind., to live near his children. He died Jan. 17, 1870, 
and his wife in 1877. They had a family of twelve children, all of 
whom lived to maturity. Mr. Ball is the owner of the beautiful 
park at Pleasant Lake, Ind. 

Augustus V. Ball, farmer, section 23, Steuben Township, is a 
representative citizen and pioneer of the county. His father, Gid- 
eon Ball, was born in Granville, Mass., Dec. 27, 1785, and when a 
child removed to Eastern New York with his parents, locating at 
the mouth of Catskill Creek, on the Hudson River, and subse- 
quently to Ontario County, where he married Lydia Dodge, who 
49 



-sPv 



774 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was born in Wiscasset, Me., July 6, 1794, and removed with her 
parents to Ontario County when a child. In 1832 Mr. Ball moved to 
Sandusky County, Ohio. In 1835 he came to Steuben County, Ind., 
and entered about 900 acres of land in Otsego and Steuben town- 
ships, and moved his family to the county May 20, 1836. He en- 
gaged for a number of years in buying and selling land, and his 
investments were in the main successful, and he acquired a com- 
petency. He died in July, 1870. His children were eight in 
number, all, save the youngest, born in New York, viz.: Sheldon, 
Augustus Y., Julius, Edwin, Frank, Charlotte, Demia and Emeline. 
Sheldon was born Jan. 25, 1815, and when fifteen years of age 
went to Canandaigua to learn the jeweler's trade. When twenty- 
one he went to Virginia, where he taught school and became ac- 
quainted with and married Emma Lee. He died Jan. 20, 1877, 
leaving two children, a son and daughter, who are with their 
mother in New York City. Edwin, died at the age of seventeen 
years; Charlotte married Chester Ladd, and died while her husband 
was serving in the war of the Rebellion. He died soon after in the 
hospital at Washington. They left two daughters, who are now 
living in Chicago, 111. Demia married Oscar Swift, and died 
several years ago. Emeline died when five years of age. Au- 
gustus V. Ball was born in Ontario County, N. Y., May 24, 1818. 
The first farm he purchased was in De Kalb Count}', on which he 
lived several years, atid which he still owns. In 1859 he embarked 
in the mercantile business at Pleasant Lake, continuing till 1865. 
In February, 1866, he moved to the farm where he now lives, 
which contains 212 acres of valuable land. He also owns village 
property in Pleasant Lake. Mr. Ball married Emeline Stetler, 
daughter of William Stetler. They have three children — Edwin, 
Theda and Dora. 

Samuel Barr is a son of James Barr, who settled in Scott 
Township in 1846, on a tract of unimproved land for which he had 
exchanged property in Ohio. James Barr was born in Center 
County, Pa., and married Elizabeth Thompson, of Fairfield County, 
Ohio, .and soon after moved to Richland County, Ohio, where he 
remained till his removal to Steuben County, Ind., in 1846. His 
family consisted of five children. The eldest son, Benjamin, died 
in Michigan. Sarah, James, Mary and Samuel reside in Steuben 
County. The parents are both deceased. Samuel Barr was born 
in Richland County in 1841. With the exception of two years he 
has lived in Steuben County, Ind., since 1846, living on the farm 

r? s — - - — •K ' 



\ <i_ 



-f 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. T75 

with his parents till twenty-fonr years of age. He married Emily 
Huntley, a native of Ohio, daughter of Elijah Hnntlej'. Since 187^ 
lie has been living in Pleasant Lake, engaged in the wine and 
liquor business. He conducts his business in a conscientious, legiti- 
mate manner. He keeps the best qualities of liquors; no minors 
are allowed in his store; no chairs nor benches are found for the 
accommodation of loungers; no gossiping idlers nor games of chance 
with cards, dice, etc., are allowed, and no man is permitted to be- 
come intoxicated on his premises. He possesses strong principle, 
nerve and will-power, and is never imposed upon by the rougher 
element of society. Mr. Barr is a highly esteemed citizen of Pleas- 
ant Lake. 

George Brooks is one of the few early settlers living who date 
their coming to the county as early as 1837. He was born in Der- 
byshire, England, July 8, 1824. In 1830 his parents came to the 
United States and settled in Farmington, Ontario Co., N. Y., where 
they lived seven years, and then, in the fall of 1837, moved to 
Steuben County, Ind., and settled in York Township, on section 
36. His parents were George and Elizabeth Brooks. This land was 
entered for Mr. Brooks by Clark Powers, in the spring of 1837. 
After it was improved he sold it to his eldest son, William, who 
still owns and occupies it, and bought a farm across the township 
line in Kichland, on which is located the south ])art of the town of 
Metz, where he lived till his death, Oct. 6, 1853. His wife died 
twenty years later in Michigan. They had a family of nine chil- 
dren — Ann, in Lagrange County; Martha, deceased; William 
of York Township; George, Jr.; Thomas, of York Township; 
Henry died while in the service of his country during the Re- 
bellion; Samuel, of Otsego Township; Robert, of Branch County, 
Mich.; Francis, also a soldier, died while in the army. George 
Brooks, our subject, came to Steuben County in the spring of 1837, 
with Clark Powers, with whom he lived a number of years. He 
walked the entire distance from New York to Steuben Connty, and 
assisted in driving a number of cows and young stock, being about 
ten weeks in making the journey. He worked by the month for Mr. 
Powers and others, and when twenty-one years old held the deed 
for eighty acres of land and owned a fine young horse, all the re- 
sult of his own labors. When twenty-three years of age he mar- 
ried Jane Burk, daughter of Eli Burk, and settled on his land. After 
improving it he exchanged it for a farm on section 31, where he lived 
till 1868, when he bought the farm on section 24, Steuben Township, 



<r 



;t" 




776 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNXr. 

where he nowlives, which contains 200 acres of valuable land. Mr. 
und Mrs. Brooks have had four children, three of whom are living 
— Cornelia, widow of Adhill Leramon; George, of Cherokee County, 
Kas., and Ernest, on the homestead. Andrew, their eldest son, 
died Nuv. 7, 1884, aged thirty-three years. 

Samuel Carter^ of Steuben Township, is one of the few remain- 
ing settlers of 1836. He is a son of Jonas Carter, who came here 
with his family from Delaware Countj', Ohio, in July, 1837. Jonas 
Carter was a native of Worcester County, Mass.. where he was 
born in June, 1767. When a young man he started out from 
home, going to Luzerne County, Pa., where he bouglit considerable 
land, on which he located and resided for a number of years, and 
married there. Eight of his nine children were also born there. 
His wife was Catherine Wheeler, a native of New Jersey, born in 
1774. She removed with her parents to Pennsylvania soon after 
the massacre of Wyoming. Jonas Carter removed with his family 
to Delaware County, Ohio, in November, 1815, for the second time 
entering upon a pioneer life. He was one of the earliest settlers 
of that county. Here he improved a farm, and here the children 
grew to manhood and womanhood. The first members of the fam- 
ily to enter land in Steuben County were two sons, Lewis and 
John, who, in October, 1835, entered several hundred acres of 
land, comprising parts of sections 13, 24 and 25. They returned 
to Ohio that fall. John came back with his family in the 
fall of 1836, having erected a log house in July of that year 
for the accommodation of his family, on section 24. Lewis, 
who also had a family, accompanied bis father and family to 
the township for a permanent settlement in July, 1837. The 
father, Jonas, settled where his son Samuel nowlives, moving into 
a log cabin which Samuel had built during the preceding winter. 
Jonas Carter resided in this log cabin till his death, which occurred 
in November, 1842. His wife died from the effects of a fall into 
the cellar while at Hie house of her son-in-law, Mr. Jackson, in 
1853. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Carter were — Sarah, 
wife of John Curtis, of Delaware County, Ohio, where she died in 
September, 1869; Rufus died in Delaware County, Ohio; Lewis 
died in Steuben Township in 1850; Abigail died in Ohio; John N. 
died suddenly on the cars, while away from his home at Angola; 
Jonas died in Wood County, Ohio; James died in Steuben Towr.- 
ship, in April, 1881 ; Samuel, and Mary Ann, wife of T. Jackson. 
Samuel Carter was born in Luzerne County, Pa., June 27, 1814. 

. c*^ — — , — 

^^ <s ^ ^^ s\ 



<2_ 



'4^ 

fl 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



m 



He first came to Steuben County in June, 1835, came permanently 
in 1836, and in that year entered about 620 acres of land in this 
township. He worked his father's farm till the death of the latter 
when he located on a part of the land which he had entered, and 
where he lived four years and then returned to the homestead. He 
married Sarah A. Frink, daughter of Selah Frink, also one of the 
pioneers of Steuben County. Mrs. Carter died in April, 1873. Mr. 
Samuel Carter has three children — Mary L., Sarah and Charles. 
He has lost three children — Lucy J., Ellen, and Celestia, wife of 
J. B. Lemraon. 

Fi'dnk II. Chadwick is the junior member and business mana- 
ger of the firm Chadwick & Co., general merchants and produce 
dealers, Pleasant Lake. This business was established in April, 
1876. Mr. Chadwick's partner, H. Linder, is a resident of Angola. 
Their building is a two-story and basement brick, 25 x 90 feet, with 
an L 20 X 30 feet in size. They carry a stock of about $15,000, 
consisting of dry goods, clothing, carpets, boots and shoes, gro- 
ceries, etc. The salesroom comprises the entire main floor and is 
presided over by Mr. Chadwick and his gentlemanly clerks, L. R. 
Weaver, Hampton Miller and C. V. Tuttle. The second floor is 
the clothing and carpet room. The basement is under the entire 
building and is large and commodious. They buy all kinds of 
produce and have suitable buildings for the accommodation of 
this branch of their business. The store is a model of neatness 
and the business is carried on in a systematic and successful man- 
ner. Mr. Chadwick is a young man of fine business ability. He was 
born in Jamestown Township, Steuben County, in October, 1854. 
He is a son of John Chadwick, a native of Licking County, Ohio, 
born in 1825, who came to Steuben County in 1847, settling in 
Jamestown Township. He afterward moved to Clear Lake Town- 
ship where he improved a farm; later moved to Pleasant Township, 
and still later bought what is known as the old Britton farm, in 
Steuben Township. He afterward moved to Branch County, Mich., 
and in 1874 to Kansas, and settled near Topeka, where he now 
lives. Frank H. was reared and educated in his native county. 
When eighteen years of age he began to work for Scoville & Lat- 
son, remaining with them three years, and in 1876 came to Pleas- 
ant Lake. He was married in October, 1876, to Arietta Snyder, 
daughter of John Snyder. They have one son — Gruy. 

William Charlton was born in Center County, Pa., July 13, 
1810, a son of John Charlton. When he was a boy he removed 



FT 



^'- 



fi 



778 HISTORl OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

with his parents to Ohio and settled in Stark County, where his 
father died. He was reared a fanner, and followed that vocation 
in Ohio till 1854 when he came to Steuben County, Ind., and 
bought the farm on section 31, Stenben Township, of Henry 
Hecklethorne, where he has since lived. The only improvements 
on his land were a small log house and a few acres cleared. He has 
improved the farm and erected good buildings, and now has one 
of the most valuable farms in the township. He owns sixty acres 
of choice land which is well adapted to raising small grains. Mr. 
Charlton has been twice married. His first wife was Nancy Teeters. 
His present wife was Mrs. Elizabeth (Teeters) Jennings. They 
have one daughter — Martha, wife of William Greenamyer, of 
Salem Township. 

Johti Clink was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, in April, 1836, 
a son of George Clink, a native of Germany, who came to the 
United States when twelve years of age and settled in Pennsyl- 
vania, and subsequently settled in Sandusky County. He married 
Catherine Smith, also a native of German}', remaining in Sandusky 
County till their death. In the spring of 1855 John Clink 
came to Steuben County, Ind. In 1860 he bought eighty acres 
of land on section 36, Steuben Township, forty acres of which 
were improved, on which was a log cabin and a log barn. He 
now has sixty-five acres improved and in 1867 he built a large and 
commodious barn. . In 1873 he built his residence, which is one 
of the best in the township. He has set out an orchard and now 
has fifty bearing apple-trees, and cherry and peach trees, and 
small fruit of different varieties. He is one of the most success- 
ful farmers of the township, and an infl.uential and public spirited 
citizen. He married Libbie Hitter, a daughter of Henry Ritter, 
of this township. Tliey have seven children — George H., Ezra 
E., Charles li., Clara B., Cora E., David F. and Frederick J. 

George W. Closson, farmer, section 36, Steuben Township, was 
born in Genoa Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, Jan. 8, 1816, and 
remained in his native county till 1852. He was married in Ohio, 
to Bertha Thornton Weeks, a native of that State, born in 1819. 
While a resident of Ohio Mr. Closson bought eighty acres of land 
in Steuben Township, forty of which were on section 36 and forty 
on section 35. A log cabin had been built and a small patch 
cleared for a garden. The timber had been cut from about seven 
acres, but the stumps had not been removed. In the fall of 1852 
Mr. Closson moved his family to their new home. They lived in 






JH 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 779 

their log cabin till 3869, when he built his present residence. 
About two years later he set out an orchard of about three acres. 
In 1862 he bought an addition to his farm, joining Washington 
McConnell on the south, and now owns 160 acres of fine land. He 
owns forty-five acres of land in Otsego Township, where his father, 
John Closson, settled in 1852, remaining there till his death. Mr. 
and Mrs. Closson have four children — Edgar W., Mary A., J. C. 
and Bertha M. Two children, Adelaide and an infant son, are 
deceased. Mr. Closson is one of the successful farmers of Steu- 
ben Township, and a representative citizen. 

William Cramptoti resides on section 27, Steuben Township, 
where he settled Jan. 1, 1851. He was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, in 1817, and was there reared and married Mary Oldfield. In 
1849 he came to the United States without his family, and the fol- 
lowing fall located land in Steuben County, Ind. In 1850 he sent 
for his family and they lived near Angola till the first of January, 
1851, when they moved to their new home. He bought forty acres 
of wild land of Judge Thomas Gale, of Angola. He was a poor man 
and had not money enough to pay for his first forty acres. He 
has been a good manager, and industrious, and has added to his 
first purchase till he now owns one of the finest farms in the town- 
ship, and is one of the representative and influential citizens. 
Mr. and Mrs. Crampton have six children — Henry, John, Will- 
iam, Herbert, Jesse and Mattie. The sons are all married and 
have farms near the old homestead. John Crampton, the second 
son, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1841. He has lived in 
Steuben County since 1850, with the exception of two years in De 
Kalb County and one year's absence in the army . He enlisted Oct. 
1, 1864, in CompanyA, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served till 
the close of the war. He married Amelia Shaver, daughter of 
Franklin Shaver, who settled in Steuben Township April 17, 1851. 
He resides on section 33 where he has 120 acres, 100 acres of 
which are improved. In the summer of 1883 he built a fine brick 
residence and a good commodious barn. He is one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of the township. 

Hiram Croxton, section 11, Steuben Township, bought his farm 
of 250 acres of Horatio Roby, Feb. 3, 1863. He has made several 
important improvements to the farm, building in 1872 a beautiful 
residence. He has erected a fine horse barn, and several minor farm 
buildings. His location is one of the best in the township, and his 
farm is productive and valuable. Mr. Croxton was born in Car- 



es 1— 



4^ 



1^ 



780 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



roll County, Ohio, in 1824, whence he moved to Monroeville, 
Jefferson Co., Ohio, where he lived ten years. From Monroeville 
he removed to Salineville, Columbiana Co., Ohio, and in 1863 
moved to Steuben County, Ind. "While at Salineville he was 
engaged in the furniture business, and for three years was Mayor 
of the town, and four years President of the Board of Education. 
In 1870 he erected the depot at Pleasant Lake and was station agent 
eight years, the first agent in the place. Mr. Croxton was married 
in 1847 to Martha Thompson, a native of Beaver County, Pa., 
born in 1827, a daughter of John and Massa Thompson, who 
removed from Pennsylvania to Columbiana County, Ohio, and 
thence to Mahoning County, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. 
Croxton have four children — John, Elvira, Worthy and Emmet. 
They have lost three children since their residence in Indiana — 
Allie died at the age of twenty-three years, Willie aged sixteen 
years, and Ettie aged four years. In politics Mr. Croxton was 
originally a Democrat, but since its organization has affiliated with 
the Republican party. 

Aaron Deller was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1848. 
His father, Nicholas Deller, was born in Switzerland in 1818, and 
came to the United States with his parents when nine years of age. 
They settled in Butler Township, Columbiana Co., Ohio, where he 
grew to manhood. Hisfatherdiedontheoldhomesteadin Ohio. His 
mother subsequently came to Steuben County, where she died at 
the age of eighty-three years. Nicholas Deller married Lydia 
liedman who died in 1848 leaving three children — George H., 
John A. and Aaron. Two children died before the mother. Mr, 
Deller married for his second wife Mary Ann Fetterhofi. To them 
were born six children; five are living — Serena, Loretta, I. D., 
Thompson and Perry N. In 1851 the family moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and settled on section 8, Steuben Township, where 
the father died June 21, 1874. A few acres had been cleared and 
a small log house built, but with this exception the land was tim- 
bered. The farm now comtains 160 acres of valuable land, and 
the residence and farm buildings are among the best in the town- 
ship. Aaron Deller came with his father to Steuben County and 
was reared and educated in this township. He has always lived 
on the old homestead, and has since his father's death had charge 
of the farm. He was married Nov. 1, 1868, to Mary M. Ritter, 
daughter of Philip Ritter, of Steuben Township. They have five 
children — Estella, Laura, Mattie, Bertha and Howard Aaron. 



"' 



w: 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 781 

Ira A. Gardner is a representative of one of the pioneer families 
of Steuben County. His father, Ira M. Gardner, was born near 
Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., in 1810, and when a boy moved with his 
parents to Sandusky County, Ohio. He was reared a farmer and 
followed that vocation tlie greater part of his life. He was mar- 
ried in Ohio to Sally F. Knapp, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., 
ill 1819. In 1843 tliey moved to Steuben County and settled on 
section 23, Steuben Township, where they lived many years, when 
they moved to the village of Pleasant Lake. Mrs. Gardner died 
May 25, 1876, and Mr. Gardner March 4, 1882. They had a fam- 
ily of five children — Delora, wife of Thomas Hendrickson; Ira A. ; 
Elisha, who enlisted in December, 1863, in the Seventy-fourth 
Indiana Infantry, and died in the hospital at Chattanooga, June 
26, 1864; Laura died at the age of six years; Lovica C. is the wife 
of Warren Fisk. Ira A. Gardner was born in Sandusky, Ohio, 
July 8, 1843, and came to Steuben County with his parents. He 
enlisted in 1861 in the Eleventh Michigan Infantry, but on account 
of sickness was discharged before going into service. In Febru- 
ary, 1864, he enlisted in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry and 
served till the close of the war. He was married to Aurilla J. 
Hart. They have four children — Laura K., Ira M., Bertha L. and 
Elisha M; 

David W. Gaylord has been a resident of Steuben Township 
since Oct. 13, 1852, when he purchased a farm of eighty acres, on 
section 35, of James Perfect. A log cabin and a log stable had 
been built, and a few acres had been cleared of timber. Mr. Gay- 
lord cleared his land and made extensive improvements. In 1863-'4 
he built a fine residence and set out an orchard and vineyard. He 
was very successful in the culture of grapes and fruit, realizing 
greater profits from this industry than from the raising of grain. 
In 1878 he sold his farm to his son-in-law, G. W. Gilbert, and now 
lives on a farm adjoining. Mr. Gaylord was born in Luzerne 
County, Pa., in 1806, and in 1814 removed with his parents, Ele- 
azer and Jemima (Wheeler) Gaylord, to Delaware County, Ohio, 
then a new, unsettled country. His father entered land and made a 
farm, residing there till death. Mr. Gaylord was married in Del- 
aware County, in 1841, to Jane Searle, daughter of Miner and 
Sarah (Brown) Searle, and a native of Luzerne County, Pa., born 
in 1816. Her father was a native of Connecticut and her mother 
of Pennsylvania. They were early settlers of Luzerne County, and 
later moved to Delaware County. Her father died in July, 1820, 



»^ 



782 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

while engaged in surveying the State of Ohio. Her mother accom- 
panied her to Indiana, and died in September, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gajlord have had three children, two of whom were born in Ohio 
and one in Steuben County — Henry D. is a resident of Otsego 
Township; Caroline is the wife of Joseph Woodhull, of Angola; 
Sarah is the wife of George W. Gilbert, and lives on the old home- 
stead. Mr. Gaylord was a Democrat in his early life and cast his 
first Presidential vote for General Jackson. Later he was a Whig, 
and since its organization he has affiliated with the Kepublican 
party. 

Capt. Sylvanus B. George, the present Postmaster at Pleasant 
Lake, is one of the pioneers of Steuben County. He was born in 
Livonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., April 14, 1815. He removed in 
February, 1818, with his parents, Elnathan and Lydia (Haven) 
George, to Bellevue, Ohio, where his mother died. His father 
died in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he was engaged as a con- 
tractor in theconstructionof the Cleveland Canal, in October, 1830. 
Captain George was reared to the occupation of farming. He has 
been a resident of Steuben County since 1840. In 1849 he went 
over land to California, being about seven months on the route, 
traveling in a company of about sixty men. He was engaged while 
there in mining and trade. He returned in October, 1855, and has 
been a resident of this township since that time. Has lived at 
Pleasant Lake since October, 1875. He enlisted in August, 1862, 
in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. He raised Company H 
of that regiment and on its organization was elected Captain. 
Commanded the company for fourteen months, when ill health 
compelled him to resign. He participated in the battle of Mul- 
draugh Hill, in Kentucky, the Confederates at that battle being 
commanded by General John Morgan; took part in the terrible bat- 
tle of Chickamauga on Sept. 19 and 20, 1863. In 1864 he was 
elected Sheriff of Steuben County, and served four years. 
Was appointed Postmaster at Pleasant Lake, in October, 1879, be- 
ing engaged in farming in the interval between serving as Sheriff 
and his appointment as Postmaster. He married Maria Perfect, a 
daughter of James Perfect, also one of Steuben's pioneers. James 
Perfect was born near Lexington, Ky., in 1795. He removed to 
Ohio with his parents about 1810, and there grew to manhood and 
married Sally Gaylord, who was born in Lnzerne County, Pa,, in 
1799, and removed to Ohio with her parents when she was fifteen 
years old. Mr. Perfect came to Steuben County with his family 

^ ^ -"^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 783 

in October, 1836, and settled in Steuben Township, where he lived 
till his death in 1856. He was a soldier in the army of 1812. The 
circumstances attending his death have never become known. He 
was on his way to Iowa with John Carter, of this township, for the 
purpose of locating land. He took passage on a steamboat at Du- 
buque for Mc Gregor, Iowa, from which place they intended to con- 
tinue West; while making this passaaje, Mr. Perfect suddenly 
disappeared in the night, and has never been heard of since. It is 
supposed that he fell overboard and was drowned. His v;ife died 
in April, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Perfect had eight children, four sons 
and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Of the family, 
only three sisters are living. Hannah, wife of David Murray, of 
Pleasant Lake; Sophronia, wife of J. M. Forward, of Omaha, Neb., 
and Mrs. George, who was born in Marion County, Ohio, 1821. 
Mr. and Mrs. George have two children — Amanda E., wife of 
Mortimer Knapp, of Kansas, and William H. Their eldest son, 
James A., was born in 1847; he enlisted in 1863 in the same regi- 
ment with his father. After the return of the latter, he marched 
with Sherman to the sea. He died in 1870, at home. Captain 
George is one of the prominent and respected citizens of Pleasant 
Lake, and a worthy representative of Steuben's pioneers. 

David S. Gilbert is one of the representative pioneers of Steu- 
ben County. He is a son of Samuel and Fanny (Crawford) Gilbert, 
who came with their family to the county March 19, 1842. Sam- 
uel Gilbert was a native of Genesee County, N. Y., born in 1799, 
and married Fanny Crawford, a native of Vermont. They moved 
from New \ork to Lorain County, Ohio, and thence to Steuben 
County. Their family consisted of seven children; fonr are now 
living — Chauncey, in Kansas; John is deceased; David S. ; Lucy, 
widow of Calvin Powers; Lester, of Pleasant Lake; Miles died 
in Indianapolis, while in the service of the United States, during 
the war; Cornelius, also a soldier, died at Gallatin, Tenn., in 1862. 
Samuel Gilbert settled on the northeast quarter of section 20, Steu- 
ben Township, where he bought 320 acres of wild land which, with 
the assistance of his sons, he converted into a fine farm. In 1862, al- 
though sixty-three years of age, he made arrangements to enter the 
Union army. He enlisted and went to Fort Wayne to be mustered 
in, but died suddenly of heart disease. His wife died a year and a 
half later. David S. Gilbert was born in Lorain County, Ohio, in 
1827, and lived with his parents till 1852, when he joined a com- 
pany bound for California and crossed the plains, being five months 

' '® 



784 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

on the way. He remained in California four years, engaged the 
most of the time in farming. In 1856 he returned to Steuben 
County and erected a saw-mill in Pleasant Lake, wliicli he ex- 
changed the following year for a part of his present farm, and with 
the exception of one year, when he was engaged in the mercantile 
business, has since given his attention to agriculture. He is one 
of the prominent and successful farmers of the township. His 
farm contains 340 acres of valuable land. In 1874 he built a fine 
brick residence in the village of Pleasant Lake, where he now lives. 
He was married in the fall of 1857 to Lucy A. Gaylord, who died 
Feb. 19, 1864, leaving three children — Lewis H., Arthur C. and 
Miner, all of whom live on the farm. Mr. Gilbert subsequently 
married Permelia Grant, daughter of Abram Grant. Their two 
children, Frank and Grace, are at home in Pleasant Lake. In the 
spring of 1857 Mr. Gilbert was elected Justice of the Peace and 
served eleven years, when he resigned, but in 1873 was elected to 
the same office, and still holds the position. He is serving his sec- 
ond term as Township Trustee. 

John Harpham^Sr.^ was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1810, 
remaining in his native country till twenty-six years of age, when 
he came to the United States and lived in Monroe County, N. Y., 
several years. He was married in Rochester, N. Y., in April, 
1843, to Margaret Gillanders, a native of the north of Ireland, born 
in 1821, and came to the United States in 1841. The following 
fall they moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 17, 
Steuben Township, where they have since lived. There were no 
improvements on their land and but one house in Pleasant Lake, 
owned and occupied by Seth Murray. Mr. Harpliam owns 110 
acres of valuable land, ninety acres under cultivation, with a pleas- 
ant residence and good farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Harpham 
have had nine children; six are living — Martha, John, James, Sam- 
uel, Anna and George. Joseph, Mary Jane and Elizabeth are de- 
ceased. 

John Harpham^ Jr.^ was born in Steuben Township, Steuben 
Co., Ind., in 1851, a son of John and Margaret Harpham. He 
was reared and educated in his native county and since attain- 
ing manhood has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 
1871 he was married to Miss Loretta Deller, daughter of Nicholas 
and Mary A. Deller. In 1872 he bought sixty acres of land on 
section 17, Steuben Township, of Abraham Kinsley, one of the 
pioneers of Steuben County, and in 1877 bought eighty acres 

cf I — 
"7 « ^ ■'• a V 



1^ 



HISTORV OF STEUBEN COUNT i'. 785 

more adjoining, of the Grieves heirs. He now owns one of the 
best farms in Steuben Township. Mr. Harpham is one of the 
enerojetic and successful young farmers of Steuben Township. 
His interests have always been in his native county and he has 
always been among the foremost to assist every enterprise of pub- 
lic benefit. John and Loretta Harpham have had five children; 
two died in infancy; three daughters are living — Evvie May, 
Levada Dell and Carrie Ettie, 

Daniel Hoffman was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 
6, 1825, and when a child removed with his parents to Trumbull 
County. He is a son of Jacob and Mary M. Hoffman, who were 
among the first settlers of Trumbull County, and remained there 
till their death. In 1849 Mr. Hoffman came to Indiana and set- 
tled in Wells County, where he was married to Margaret Osborn, 
a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, born in 1831, a daughter of 
Jacob and Elizabeth Osborn. Her father died in Ohio, and her 
mother is a resident of Pennsylvania. She came to Indiana with 
her brother Levi in 1850 and was married in October of the same 
yfear. Mr. Hoffman settled on an unimproved farm in Wells 
County, entering 160 acres in 1849. He improved his land and 
made of it a fine farm, living on it till 1866. In 1865 he came to 
Steuben County and bought 100 acres of land, eighty acres lying on 
the east half of the northeast quarter of section 26, and twentv acres 
on the north half of the southeast quarter of the same section. In 
April, 1866, he moved his family to tueir new home. He is engaged 
in general farming and stock-raising, devoting considerable atten- 
tion to raising short-horn cattle. He is an enterprising, progres- 
sive farmer, and is one of the representative citizens of Steuben 
Township. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have had ten children, eight 
of whom are living — Jacob A., of Cheyenne County, Kas. ; Mary 
Elizabeth, wife of Ezekiel Harlan, of Paulding County, Ohio; 
Elias O., of St. Louis County, Mo.; John Charles, of Steuben 
Township; Lydia A., wife of James A. Renner, of Paulding 
County, Ohio; Margaret E., wife of Edward Teeters, of Steuben 
Township; Hannah Lois, and James L. Amanda Jane died at the 
age of sixteen years, in 1874, and Daniel W. was drowned in 
Maserva Lake, Steuben Township, while bathing, July 15, 1883. 

Asa F. Huffman was born in Erie County, Ohio, in 1839, a son 
of William and Clarissa (Dana) Ilufiman, natives of Pennsylvania. 
William Huffman was born in 1802. After his marriao-e he moved 
to Erie County, Ohio. In 1853 they moved to Steuben County 









tw^ 



y^ 



786 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



and located on section 22, Steuben Township, where the father 
died June 13, 1865, and the mother in 1867. They had a family 
of eight children, six of whom are living — Mariam, wife of Wel- 
come Pixley; Silas, of Michigan; Susan, wife of Daniel Stetler; 
AsaF.; Elizabeth, wife of George D. Hough, of Nebraska; John W. 
of Ohio, and Samuel, of Kansas. The deceased are — Eliza, wife 
of Philander Thompson, and Mildred. Asa F. remained at home till 
the breaking out of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the Seventy-fourth 
Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, 
Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's march to the 
sea. He married EmeretTuttle, a native of Indiana, born in 1843, 
a daughter of Lemmon Tnttle. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have five 
children — Melvin, Orla, Sidney, Morton and Blaine. They are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Pleasant Lake. In 
politics Mr. Huffman is a Republican. He resides on the north- 
east quarter of section 26, where he has one of the finest farms in 
the township. 

Theophilus Jackson has been a resident of Steuben County, Ind., 
since July 20, 1837. He was born Oct. 20, 1814, in Livonia, Liv- 
ingston Co., N. Y., and was reared in his native town. When a 
young man he moved with his parents to Cattaraugus County. In 
June, 1837, he started for the then far West, He went to Peters- 
burg, down the Alleghany River on a raft, and from there by the 
same conveyance to Cincinnati; thence by steamer to the mouth of 
the Ohio, up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Wisconsin, up 
that river to the mouth of Fox River, and from there to Chicago. 
He was accompanied as far as Fox River by Wilson Mudget. 
From Chicago he walked to Michigan City, where he remained a 
day or two; thence to LaPorte, White Pigeon, Lima, and Steuben 
County, a journey of about six weeks from the time he left home. 
He went to work by the month, but was soon taken sick and for 
six months suffered with the prevailing disease of a new country, 
fever and ague. The first land he purchased was forty acres on 
section 19, Otsego Township, in 1840. Like many other settlers 
Mr. Jackson came to this county with but little means, his cash 
capital on his arrival being $3. He worked by the month a num- 
ber of years, thus securing money to make his first purchase. He 
gradually increased his possessions till instead of forty acres his 
farm contained 237 acres, its present dimensions. In 1841 his par- 
ents, John L. and Hezadiah (McMillan) Jackson, followed him to 
Steuben County, and here passed the remainder of their lives. His 









L. 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTS. 787 

father was a native of the Mohawk Yalley, N. Y., and his mother 
of Vermont. They were married in Livonia, N. Y. In March, 
1873, Mr. Jackson retired from active farm life and settled in Pleas- 
ant Lake, where he has a beautiful home. He w^as married in 
March, 1843, to Mary Ann Carter, who was born in December, 
1817, daughter of Jonas Carter. They have four children — Edward 
lives on the old homestead; Leonora, wife of Henry Gaylord, of 
Otsego Township; Sarah, wife of James Stetler, of Steuben Town- 
ship, and George, in Traverse County, Mich. Their youngest child, 
Frank, died at the age of four years. 

Nathan M. Lacy was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1830, a 
son of Thomas and Nancy (McGaughey) Lacy, his father a native 
of Loudoun County, Va., born in 1803, and his mother of Wash- 
ington County, Md., born April 20, 1807. Thomas Lacy moved 
to Belmont County, Ohio, with his parents when a child, and was 
there married. In 1837 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and 
entered a tract of wild land, to which he moved his family in 1841. 
He improved his land and made a pleasant home, where he lived 
till his death, Aug. 22, 1860. His family consisted of nine chil- 
dren — William died at the age of forty-seven years; Nathan M. ; 
John B., of Warren County, Ind.; James R. died in childhood; 
Mary E., wife of Joseph Dukes, of Otsego Township; Thomas S.; 
Rhuanna, wife of William Gramling; Maria, wife of Robert 
Snowbarger; Robert A. John and Thomas S. were soldiers in the 
war of the Rebellion. Of the 240 acres of land entered by Mr. 
Lacy in 1837, all but fifty-three acres are still in the possession of 
his family. Nathan M. Lacy was married to Cordelia George, 
daughter of Joseph H. George. She died June 26, 1874. 

Thomas IS. Lacy is a son of Thomas Lacy who settled in Steu- 
ben Township in 1841. He was born in Seneca Countj^ Ohio 
May 9, 1841, and has lived in Steuben Township since his infancy. 
He served in the war of the Rebellion about twenty-two months. 
He enlisted first in Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, 
and served ten months. In ]864 he enlisted in Company A, 
Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. 
He has been three times married. His first wife was Mary Gram- 
ling, daughter of Isaac Gramling, of De Kalb County. To them 
were born three children — Manda E., William E. and Mary E. 
His second wife was Yiolet Markley, by whom he had five chil- 
dren, but two of whom are living — Emmett M. and Cora E. 
Cyrus E., Edwin B. and an infant daughter are deceased. His 



\ 



r 

788 HISTORY OF STECTBEN COUNTY. 

present wite was Mary L. Gramling, daughter of Peter Gramling. 
They have three children — Nancy E., Lovina F. and Mellie C. 

J. Stacy Lockwood was born in Hillsdale County, Mich,, in 
1839, and was there reared and educated remaining there till his 
marriao-e. He married Marian Carter, daughter of James Carter, 
a pioneer of Steuben County. Mrs. Lockwood was born on the 
old homestead on section 25, Steuben Township, Feb. 16,1844. 
After tlieir marriage they settled on the Carter homestead where 
thev have since lived. They have two children — Cora and Mark. 
Their eldest child, Arthur, died at the age of thirteen years. 
James Carter was a representative citizen of the township, and 
died at the homestead April 9, 1881. He was three times mar- 
ried. His first wife was Louisa Frink, by whom he had two chil- 

(jj-eji Mrs. Lockwood and a daughter who died in infancy. His 

second wife was Mary Stealy. To them were born seven children 

John (deceased), Martha, Maria, Kate (deceased), Ida, Eugena 

and Olivia. His third wife was Delia Smith. 

James Madison Crain resides on section 36, Steuben Township, 
on land settled by his father, Lucius Crain, in 1837. Lucius 
Crain was born in the State of Connecticut and moved when a boy 
to New York with his parents. He was married to Paulina Frink, 
a native of Madison County, N. Y. In 1837 he started for the 
West with his family and located on the land now occupied by his 
son. He put up a log house and cleared about five acres of tim- 
ber. In the spring of 1838, on account of sickness which pre- 
vailed at that time in the settlement, and actuated no doubt by 
homesickness, he decided to return to his native State and remain 
five years, till the county should get more thickly settled. He ac- 
cordingly packed up his household effects and engaged a man and 
team to take them to Toledo, where he took a steamer for his old 
home. His father-in-law, Selah Frink, had settled in Otsego 
Township, and after about two years wrote him that the country 
had become more healthy and advised him to return. Accord- 
ingly after an absence of two years and a half he again took up 
his abode in Steuben Township, and lived here till his death in 
1849. His family consisted of five children, all of whom are liv- 
ino-. James Madison Crain was born in Madison County, N. Y., 
in 1830. He remained with his father till his death and then took 
charge of the homestead, where he has since lived. He married 
Margaret J. Renner, a native of Pennsylvania. They have three 
children— Arvilla, Lucius and Wilson. 






=iV*^ 



<1_ 



L 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



789 



Samuel Menges was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1840, and 
in 1853 came to Steuben County, Ind., with his parents. He en- 
listed in March, 1865, in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana 
Infantry and served fill the close of the war. His regiment was 
stationed at Wilmington, Del., doing provost duty. After 
the war he engaged in agricultural pursuits and bought ninety- 
eight acres of land on the northwest quarter of section 9, of 
his father, Adam Menges, and twenty acres adjoining of George 
W. McConnell. In 1883 he built a fine residence and his im- 
provements are now among the best in the county. Mr. Menges 
was married to Mary A. Wolf, daughter of William Wolf, of 
Steuben Township. Mr. and Mrs. Menges have two children, 
a son and a daughter — Judson and Ida. 

George S. Murray is a representative of one of the well-known 
pioneer families of Steuben County. His father was David 
Murray and his grandfather was Seth W. Murray. He was born 
in Elkhart County, Ind., June 15, 1849. He has been twice mar- 
ried. His first wife was Mary E. Freligh, daughter of Samuel 
Freligh, by whom he has two sons — Samuel and Arthur. His 
present wife is Orpha, daughter of John Snyder. Mr. Murray 
has been a resident of Pleasant Lake since 1861. In 1870 he en- 
gaged in the hardware business in partnership with Frank Hoover. 
In 1871 he sold out to his partner and continued in business alone 
until Dec. 6,1884, when he formed a partnership with Lafayette 
Case, under the firm name of Murray & Case. Mr. Case is a native 
of Pleasant Lake, born in 1845, a son of Furman and Amelia 
(Merlott) Case. He married Leila Snyder, daughter of John Sny- 
der, and has three children — Dellie E., Ora F. and Garr. 

Henry Bitter was born in Beaver Township, Union Co., Pa., 
April 4, 1803. When nineteen years of age he moved with his 
father, John Ritter, to Wayne County, Ohio, being among the first 
settlers. His father afterward moved to Ashland County, where 
he died in the ninety-ninth year of his age. Henry Ritter was 
married in Tiffin, Ohio, to Mary Harpster, a native of the same 
township, and a schoolmate of her husband. After his marriao-e 
he settled on forty acres of land in Canaan Township, Wayne 
County, where he lived till 1851, when he moved to Steuben County, 
Ind., and settled on section 8, Steuben Township, where he has 
since lived. At that time there was a small frame building used 
as a granary, and a log-cabin on the place, and about thirty-five 
acres improved. He bought 200 acres, paying for it $7 per acre. 
50 



a 



fv 






790 HISTOKT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

He now owns 226 acres, valued at $50 per acre. He had but a few 
hundred dollars when he came to the county, but by industry and 
economy has acquired a competency. He had but little help in 
clearing and improving his land, his only son being in poor health. 
He has one of the best farms in Steuben County, which he still 
superintends. Politically Mr. Ritter has always been a Democrat. 
He and his wife are members of the Reformed church. They have 
four children — David; Elizabeth, wife of John Clink; Mary, 
widow of Andrew Sunday; Catherine, wife of Charles Clink. They 
lost one daughter in infancy. 

Philip Hitter resides on section 6, Steuben Township, where he 
settled in Jul}', 1852. He purchased his first land, 128 acres, ot 
Lewis Carter. No improvements had been made, the land being 
heavily timbered. His first house was of hewn logs, and was 
built in the spring of 1852. In 1868 he built his present residence. 
He has now 194 acres of land, about 125 acres of which are im- 
proved and very productive. Mr. Ritter is a brother of Henry 
Ritter, of this township, and was born in the same township in 
New York, in 1820. He was apprenticed in his youth to the trade 
of a carpenter, and has worked at his trade and also as an under- 
taker nearly fifty years. Since coming to Indiana he has carried 
on his farm in connection with his other business. Mr. Ritter has 
been twice married. His first wife was Lucy Ann Kope, daughter 
of Henry Kope, an early settler of Wayne County, Ohio. Mrs. 
Ritter died in March, 1854, leaving three children — Henry, Mar}' 
and Jacob. Mr. Ritter then married Mrs. Martha (Gillander) 
Anderson, a native of the north of Ireland. To them have been 
born eight children, six of whom are living — Martha,- Barbara, 
Theophilus, Levina, Elener and Orpha. Mr. and Mrs, Ritter are 
members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Ritter has accumu- 
lated his property by industry and economy, and by his integrity 
has gained the confidence of the entire community. 

Cyrus Robertson resides on section 13, Steuben Township. This 
farm was formerly the homestead of John Carter. It contains 326 
acres, and is a fine grain and stock farm. The buildings are among 
the best in tlie township. It was purchased of Mr. Carter by John 
C. Robertson in August, 1870, and of him about a year later by his 
son, Charles G. Robertson. Cyrus Robertson, a brother of Charles, 
has charge of the farm, the latter being a resident of Hillsdale, 
Mich., where he has been teaching twenty-five years. The Robert- 
son family were originally from New Jersey, and later settled in 



e» 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 791 

New York. John C. Kobertson moved to Lenawee County, Mich., 
in 1826, and located land to which he moved his family in the 
early history of that county. In 1849 he moved to Lagrange 
County, Ind., and thence in 1854 to Hillsdale County, Mich,, where 
he died in June, 1884. Cyrus Robertson was born in Lenawee 
County, Mich., in 1841. He went with his father to Lagrange 
County in 1849, and from there to Hillsdale County, Mich. In 
1863 he enlisted in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry and served a 
year, when he was commissioned First Lieutenant in the Fifth 
United States Colored Cavalry Regiment, a position he retained 
till March, 1866, when he was discharged, after a service of two 
and a half years. After the war he returned to Michigan, where 
he lived till 1870, when he came to Steuben County. He married 
Helen Mason, daughter of Charles Mason, who settled in Michigan 
from Otsego County, N. Y., in 1855. To them were born two 
children — Charles and Agnes. Mrs. Robertson died in May, 1883. 

J. Cole Simmons was born in Huron County, Ohio, in 1830, a 
son of Charles B. and Maria (Hanchet) Simmons, his father a native 
of Massachusetts, and his mother of Connecticut. Charles B. 
Simmons moved to Ohio with his parents in 1816, and still lives in 
Huron County. His wife died many years ago. Our subject was 
reared a farmer, receiving a common-school education. He came 
to Steuben County, Lid., in April, 1863, and bought a farm on sec- 
tion 26, Steuben Township, of Norman Gardner, which was entered 
bv Seth Murray. In 1866 he sold his farm at quite an advance on 
the purchase price, and in 1867 bought the farm where he now 
lives, on the northeast quarter of section 27, of William Thomp- 
son. This farm contains eighty aci-es of valuable land, and the 
improvements are among the best in the township. Mr. Simmons 
is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty 
of sheep-raising. He was married in Ohio to Ann Smith, a native 
of Huron County, and a schoolmate in his childhood. Their only 
child, Charles, died in infancy. Mr. Simmons's brother, Y. E., 
came to Indiana in 1864, and engaged in the mercantile business 
at Pleasant Lake. He was also Postmaster from 1856 till his 
death, in September, 1880. He was one of the prominent busi- 
ness men of the village, and a highly esteemed citizen. He left a 
widow, who returned to Ohio. Mr. Simmons was in partnership 
with his brother in business a year. 

Isaiah Smith is a son of George Smith, who settled on the nortli- 
west quarter of section 21, Steuben Township, in 1865. George 






792 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Smith was born in Pennsylvania in 1820, but was reared a farmer 
in Ohio. He was married in Wayne County, Ohio, to Elizabeth 
Lidge, of Frederick County, Md. They moved to Indiana in Au- 
gust, 1850, and settled in Jackson Township, DeKalb Counry, 
and in 1865 moved to Steuben County, where Mr. Smith died in 
June, 1876. His family consisted of twelve children, seven of 
whom are living — Isaiah; Francis M., of Chicago, was born Jan. 
21, 1851; Sarah, born May 4, 1854, is the wife of H. Thomas; War- 
ren M., born Oct. 2, 1856, lives in Nebraska; Edward L. , born 
Aug. 3, 1858; Harry R., born Oct. 23, 1861; George W., born 
July 30, 1865. Hiram G. was born Jan. 26, 1841, and enlisted in 
Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served nearly 
three years; died at Loudon, Tenn., April 25,1861. Elizabeth 
A. died Jan. 25, 1868, in the twenty-sixth year of lier age. Charles 
A. enlisted in the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry and served about 
eighteen months. He died at home Feb. 1, 1881, in his thirty- 
fifth 3'ear. Isadorah, born Oct. 18, 1863, died in childhood. 
Caroline died in infancy. Isaiah Smith enlisted June 1, 1863, in 
Company D, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, a?id 
served nine months. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, 
Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served till Dec. 25, 1865. Soon 
after his first enlistment, he was taken sick and sent home on fur- 
lough. When convalescent he reported for duty at Indianapolis 
and was sent to Camp Nelson, Ky. From Camp Nelson he joined 
his regiment at Greensville in time to participate in the engage- 
ment of that place. He was in active service during his term of 
enlistment. His health was undermined by exposure and privation, 
and he has never fully recovered. He is by trade a carpenter and 
mason, his home being on the old homestead. He married Susie 
Bhodefer, daughter of Abram Rhodefer, of De Kalb County. They 
have three children — Genevra, Edna and Maud M. V. One child, 
Esthanora, is deceased. 

John Snyder was born in Richland County, Ohio, in June, 1828. 
His father, William Snyder, was a native of New York, and moved 
with his parents to Richland County. John Snyder remained in 
his native county till 1852, and then came to Steuben County, Ind., 
and located on section 11, Otsego Township, where he lived till 
1872, when he sold his farm and bought another in Steuben Town- 
ship. In 1883, on account of ill health, he retired from farming 
and located in Pleasant Lake. He enlisted in 1862 in the Seventy- 
fourth Indiana Infantry and served till May, 1864. He enlisted as 



«_ 



l^ 



HI8T0KT OF STETJBEN COUNTY. 793 

a private and passed through a series of promotions till in Febru- 
ary, 1863, he was appointed Second Lieutenant. He was afterward 
commissioned First Lieutenant, but on account of disability was 
not mustered in. He participated in the battle of Chickamauga, 
where he was wounded in the right foot, from the eflfects of which 
he has never fully recovered, and owing to disability resigned in 
May, 1864. Mr. Snyder was married in Ohio, to Cornelia Hopp, 
a native of New York, daughter of Frederick and Susan Hopp. 
Her father died when she was a child, leaving a family of ten chil- 
dren to the care of a widowed mother. Mrs. Hopp died in Neva, 
Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had six children, four of whom 
are living— Zella E., Susan A., Orpha O., and Nellie M. The de- 
ceased were William and Sarah J., wife of Frank Noyes. Mrs. Sny- 
der's eldest brother, Aaron Hopp, was a resident of Pleasant Lake 
ten years,hi8 wife, Sarah (Amsbaugh}Snyder,dying here in January, 
1869. He subsequently returned to Ohio. Her brother George 
is a resident of Steuben Township, and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Mc- 
Gnir«, lives in Lagrange County, Ind. 

Chester Y. Tuttle, of Pleasant Lake, is a son of Lemmon Tnt- 
tle, one of the pioneers of Steuben County. He was born in Steu- 
ben Township in July, 1847. In 1863 he enlisted in the Seventh 
Indiana Cavalry and served till the close of the war. The Seventh 
Cavalry was assigned to the Department of the Mississippi, and 
performed much active and eflScient service. They participated in 
a number of important campaigns and battles. Since the war 
Mr. Tuttle has been connected with the mercantile business of 
Pleasant Lake, and at present is one of the efficient force of the ex- 
tensive mercantile business of Chad wick & Co. He owns a good 
farm of eighty acres on section 26, on which he resides. His wife 
was Tillie Belles, a native of Portage County, Ohio, daughter of 
George Belles. They have four sons— Earl, Carl, Worthy and 
Harry. Mr. Tuttle's father, Lemmon Tuttle, was born in New 
York State in 1813, and when a boy moved \vith his parents to 
Ohio. He married Filora Gould, a native of Caynga County, N. 
Y., born in 1818, and removed with her parents, Kiah and Mehita- 
ble (Sturges) Gould, to Ohio, when ten years of age. In 183S Mr. 
Tuttle came to Indiana, and in 1840 located in Steuben County. 
He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Asa F. Huffman, in June, 
1881. His wife died Dec. 25, 1880. They had a family of nine 
children, six of whom lived till maturity and five are living — Lo- 
rana, wife of Riley Lemmon; Emeret, wife of Asa F. Huffman; 

a gj' 1 te 



794 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Chester V. ; Frank and Alptha, Adesta, wife of Silas Huffman, 
died March 25, 1880. Sylvester, Arad and Byron died in infancy. 

Frank B. YanAiiken. — Three most important events in the or- 
dinary life of man are his birth, his marriage, and his death. 

The subject of this meager autobiography passed in comparative 
safety the first of these, Nov. 13, 1850, at Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga 
Co., Ohio. Celebrated with Rheumina H. Sanders the second, 
in Otsego, Nov. 23, 1873, and now with kings and potentates awaits 
' the inevitable hour' that shall comprehend the third. 

At his nativity Dr. D. "W. Bliss officiated, since distinguished 
at the death bed of a martyr president, and at the second Rev. 
Harlowe Carpenter, now we hope in the enjoyment of fame above. 

Frank B., next to the magical seventh son of Jacob H. and 
Nancy S. YanAuken, whose lives are elsewhere recorded in this 
volume, has since 1882 been proprietor of Magic Grove Farm on 
section 13, Steuben Township, where his youth was spent. From 
1867 to 1870 he studied in the Angola Academy receiving highest 
grade teacher's license at seventeen years of age. At eighteen he 
taught school at Pleasant Lake, at nineteen became an itinerant 
writing teacher, and at twenty organized the first township graded 
school at Orland. In the same year he with his brother, J. J. Van- 
Auken, matriculated as sophomores in Hillsdale College, from 
which institution he graduated in 1874 receiving the degree of 
Baccalaurus Scientiae {vfQ believe) two years meanwhile having 
been spent as principal of the new graded school at Pleasant Lake, 
assisted by his wife. In 1875 the two brothers, F. B. and J. J. 
Yan Auken, were elected County Surveyors of Steuben and De 
Kalb respectively, the former having only lacked the necessary 
votes two years previously — a circumstance by no means uncom- 
mon in this interesting county destined to become, with her hardy 
people, beautiful woods, nestling lakes, and fertile soil, one of the 
favorite dwelling places of creation. The other brother has main- 
tained his honorable position almost continuously to the present 
time. 

Five years were spent by the writer in the delicate and respon- 
sible position of Superintendent of the Waterloo City Schools, 
graduating the first class from that institution in 1878. Since re- 
tiring from the profession he has been treated by some of his 
opponents on the field of opinion with cruel malignity, being stig- 
matized a " good templar," " free trader" and " Democrat." But 
life is too short and time too swift on his golden wing for a full 

^ <^ — — 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. Y95 

defense or denial in this place. His gastronomic and somnolous 
powers remain, however, at this date unimpaired. 

And now, mindful of the danger of speaking long in the first 
person, we conclude: 

" Such the brief page thy story fills." 

Rheumina H., wife of Frank B. YanAuken, was born July 6, 
1852 — only daughter of Henry and Jane (Jackman) Sanders. They 
have four children — Sanders, born June 2,1875; JN'anneJane, 
born July 29, 1878; Frank Verne, born Aug. 22, 1880; and 
Glenn, born Nov. 8, 1883. 

Mrs. YanAuken's father, an iron-maker, was born in Lancaster 
County, Pa., in 1811, and died in Otsego Township, Steuben Co., 
Ind., where he had cleared and improved a beautiful farm on sec- 
tion 23, now owned by ex-Sheriff Keyes, June 29, 1879. He was 
highly respected for his intelligence and fine character. Her 
mother is living at Butler, DeKalb Co., Ind. Mrs. Sanders 
was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1822, and in September, 
1836, came to Steuben County, Ind., with her parents, Robert and 
Phoebe Jackm an, and located in Richland Township. Her parents 
had a family of twelve children, three of whom died in childhood. 
The others were — Henry, who was married, came to Steuben 
County with his family and settled in Otsego Township, where he 
died. Richard, also married, settled in Otsego Township, where 
he died July 8, 1864. Samuel was a young man when he accom- 
panied his father to Steuben County,,but returned to Ohio and was 
married and then settled in Richland Township, where he died in 
November, 1884. He built the first cabin in Richland Township 
in the spring of 1836. Mary is the widow of David Aldrich, of 
Otsego Township; Jane, now Mrs. Sanders; Robert died at the 
age of forty-nine years, unmarried; Lydia, the eldest daughter, 
died at Mount Vernon, Ohio, April 4, 1885. Margaret married in 
Ohio, George Eagle, and came with her husband to Indiana about 
1840, locating in DeKalb County. Mr. Eagle died, and his widow 
afterward married James Johnson, who is also deceased. The 
youngest daughter, Christina, married Marvin Gordon, and died 
a number of years since. Of this large and well-known family 
there remains but three daughters, all widows. Jane, the youngest 
of the surviving daughters, was married in February, 1843, to 
Daniel Thurstin, a native of the State of New York, who came to 
Steuben County from Ohio with his parents, Eli and Margaret 

* ^L — ^ ■ -^ — bv*" 



796 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

(Koons) Thurstin. After his marriage he settled in Franklin 
Township, where he was killed in 1848 by descending into a well 
where poisonous gas had accumulated, his death being instantane- 
ous. Mr, and Mrs. Thurstin had three children — Calvin H., of 
Butler, DeKalb County; Phcebe, wife of Henry Smith, of Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa; and Eobert J., who died May 15, 18Y5, aged twenty- 
four years, was a student at Hillsdale College. In 1851 Mrs. 
Thurstin married Henry Sanders, the father of Mrs. Yan Auken. 
Jacobs^. Van Auken. — The strength of the live oak remains 
unknown till tested by storm and time; the tide, unmeasured till 
it beats against the rocks; the stars unseen till night brings them 
out; our guiltless Cromwells and inglorious Miltons may sleep in 
oblivion because they fail to 

" Grasp the skirts of happy chance 
And breast the blows of circumstance." 

Thus may begin the written eulogy of the humblest as well as 
the greatest of men. But he who bravely battles with his envi- 
ronments to attain a competence or distinction among men, though 
the exertion of his utmost powers may fail, his best efforts crowned 
with failure and defeat perch upon his banner; yet if he dies with 
the consciousness of having done his best, he has attained " the 
truest success to which man can aspire." 

Among the stingy hills of his native region, at a time when the 
ordinary comforts of life cost far more effort than now, Jacob H. 
Yan Auken grew to manhood. His father, an ex-soldier of the 
war of 1812, had traded his farm in Pike County, Penn., where 
our subject was born, Aug. 13, 1810, for a tract of coal land near 
Pittsburg which he refused to occupy. At five years of age Jacob, 
the youngest of a large family of children, was thus homeless and 
face to face with poverty. During the succeeding winters he at- 
tended the country schools of Sussex County, N. J., his feet clad 
in rags, later to be exchanged for leather shoes purchased with 
quails which he had entrapped. The lad's perception and memory 
were bright and, accordingly, at sixteen he graduated from the 
college of the common people with the degree of master of 
the three R's, reading, 'righting and 'rithmetic. Shortly there- 
after we find him the leading schoolmaster of Peter's Yalley, and 
studying also logarithms and surveying under a private tutor. 
Among his pupils was Nancy Strawway, nearly five years his 
junior, to whom in March, 1831, he was married, a relationship 





^^ /^^ 





i >* ' 




^yffa^e. 



J'Cff't/^MC/^/ 



WIFEOFJ.H.VAN ANKEN, 




1^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 797 

which lasted nearly fifty years, to her death July 19, 1878. Four 
years later, Oct. 6, 1882, he also died from the gradual bursting 
of the heart. And now both have 

" Passed within the silent tent 
Whose curtain never outward swings.'' 

Among the mementoes of their early life, preserved by the 
family, is the copybook, the admiration of all, containing his 
work with the copies set by the master; also the Gunter's rule, 
Jacob-staff and compass bought by him in New York with the first 
avails of his teaching, and bearing with him an interesting compan- 
ionship through life. Soon after their marriage they embarked for the 
then ''far West," intending to settle in St. Joseph County, Mich., 
but owing to the Black Hawk war they were deterred from going 
there and stopped at Deerfield, Portage Co., Ohio, the slow and 
tiresome journey by way of the Erie Canal and lake occupying 
nineteen days. To them were here born three children. Several years 
were divided between the little farm and teaching the village 
school, among the patrons being Jesse Grant, the tanner, father of 
a son destined in the march of events to become illustrious. 
Thence they moved to Orange (afterward Chagrin Falls) Cuya- 
hoga County, and to them were there born twelve children. In 
the autumn of 1860 they, with their family, came to Pleasant 
Lake, Steuben County, and purchased the homestead now known, 
by the arrangement of nineteen stately evergreens in nine straight 
rows which they planted, as Magic Grove Farm. And here was 
born one son — he and four of the daughters dying in childhood, 

" As fades the flower beneath the frost, 
Nipped in its early bloom." 

Rearing so large a family in increasing comfort, and always of- 
fering them the advantages of books and schools, three times in 
life beginning empty handed, yet always refusing any place of 
honor from his fellows — these circumstances render appropriate a 
word to the young whose interest may prompt them to follow 
these lines. He possessed a will and energy that would not per- 
mit him to sit down in despair, together with courage and pluck 
to the verge of impulse — qualities which we admire even in an 
enemy. Moreover he was a skilled artisan in one trade, broom- 
making, and thus while wrestling to maintain his family during 
their helpless years, the winter clouds, foreboding privation and 
want, were ofttimes rifted with the sunshine of profitable industry. 



<9 



^ 



798 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



In 1840 he served his Government by surveying in the northern 
part of Michigan, a calling (bequeathed to several of his sous) 
which occupied a portion of his time and secured to him a large 
acquaintance during a residence of nearly thirty years in Ohio. 
On one occasion his assistant was an uncouth but active boy whose 
manners and intelligence excited his interest. He was the son of 
a poor widow living in the same neighborhood. He counseled 
the youth to attend the select school of his friend, Dr. Harlowe. 
Late in life he again visited his young friend, now a full man, 
and exchanged with him the old salutationsof •' Jake" and " Jim." 
The latter urged him warmly to attend in his company an im- 
portant event. Jim, whose surname was Garfield, was about to 
assume "in Kepublican simplicity the mastership of the helm ot 
State." 

In politics he was a firm believer and fearless advocate of the 
principles which underlie our form of government as taught by 
Thomas Jefl:erson. And as his pathway led through the darkest 
valley of our national experience — the war between the States — 
and as in those times, fraught with peril, his position was misun- 
derstood and misrepresented by men who assumed, without truth, 
to possess loftier patriotism for our popular institutions than he, 
some ray of light may properly be shed upon this meager picture of 
his life. As in history, the war among the States of Greece blighted 
the flower of hope for Democratic freedom and inaugurated a rule 
of tyranny; and the internecine strife between the plebeians and 
patricians of that ancient republic which had stood against the 
world led to the overthrow of Kome and the establishment of an 
empire on her ruins; so he believed that our social compact, a 
union of States based upon reciprocity and brotherly love, could 
not survive the shock and strain of a mighty civil war. In this in- 
stance he was happily mistaken. For a patriotic people, North and 
South, learned from that struggle to cherish the arts of peace above 
the arts of war. And while advocating in the midst of unforeseen 
dangers, not peace on any other than honorable terms, he yet 
counseled his two sons to be true soldiers during the war and at 
its close promptly advocated full acquiescence in its logical re- 
sults as well as a generous policy toward the veteran soldiers. 

His religious views, with which he lived and died, like his politi- 
cal opinions, may be illuminated by reference to Jefferson, in 
harmony with that wave of liberal thought that once wrought a 
moral revolution in France, "reached Germany and swept over 



T> 



|0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 799 

the Netherlands," carrying with it many of the best minds in the 
infant republic destined to become, under the benign influence of 
nntrammeled thought, like a tale of romance, the giant of the 
West. He was not an agnostic, refusing to canvass what he con- 
ceived to be the unknowable because his faith in the ;, power of 
argument to decide the warfare of opinion was supreme. While 
rejecting with scorn all slavery of thought or fear and spurning 
with contempt what he believed to be the hand-forged shackles of 
human creed, yet embracing not the " sprinkle with perfume and 
cover with flowers that I may thus enter upon eternal sleep" of 
Mirabeau, but in common with the most of the race he enter- 
tained a belief that the " darkness" which fell from his dying lips 
was pierced by some star of hope. He was reared a Presbyte- 
rian, to which church he belonged until he became convinced that 
the propositions on which the Christian religion is founded, to wit: 
The immaculate conception, the wandering of a star, the trinity, 
the vicarious atonement, the doctrine of endless punishment, the 
prophecies and miracles, are all contrary to the laws of nature, 
and consequently could not be true. He believed that the Koran, 
the Yeda Shasta, the Bible and all other books are the productions 
of man. He believed in one God and that the God of Nature, and 
that the only revelation from him could come through her laws, 
and that he who studied and learned the most of these received 
the greater amount of revelation. He closed his eyes in death in 
the arms of the son who bears his name with others of his chil- 
dren near him, the faculties of his mind unimpaired, believing, 
and satisfied with his belief, that if man uses his reason which the 
God of Nature has given him and acts honestly and conscien- 
tiously upon the conciusions thus arrived at, that certainly no 
harm can come to him in the future. On Sunday morning follow- 
ing his death not less than a thousand persons attended the burial 
services in the grove at Pleasant Lake. An obituary was read by 
the oldest son, C. E. Van Auken, after which J. H. Burnham, 
of Saginaw City, Mich., delivered a scholarly address, subject: 
Our Relation to Nature. Music by Freygang's Orchestra. Seven 
sons and two daughters were present, six sons acting as pall- 
bearers, the other, with the daughters, sons' wives, grandchildren, 
and other relatives and friends following the remains to their 
final resting place in the city of the dead by the side of the 
mother whose steadfast character had tempered his prosperity and 
upheld him in adversity through life. 



"?) 



19 



s 



<2_ 



-^ U- 



800 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



He was an ardent student, a keen debator, and advocated his 
views with warmth and vehemence. Denied in youth the equip- 
ment in science obtainable in our day of multiplied facilities, his 
love of study, and especially of mathematics in which he developed 
uncommon talent, never forsook him. A salient point in his in- 
tellectual make-up not to be overlooked was his power of criticism. 
His perception of the errors of style or logic in a discourse seemed 
intuitive. An intelligent friend, A. V. Ball, with whom he was 
associated in business during some of the happiest and most pros- 
perous years of his life, has said that in all his intercourse with 
men he never knew another so able to defend himself with his 
tongue. His power of language and invective seemed as sponta- 
neous as the well of feeling from which they sprung — his mental 
sword had two edges, reason on one side and sarcasm on the other. 

They who with filial affection pen this sketch, well knowing 
that the highest ornament of human discourse is its fidelity to 
truth, and while anxious to hold aloft his virtues as worthy of 
imitation, would yet acknowledge his faults or foibles whatever 
they may have been, and cover them over with the mantle of 
charity His generous impulses were such as to make him ever 
the willing friend of those in need, and sometimes, also, the victim 
of designing men 

And now, speaking for the young, to him and all the mighty 
band of pioneers who, with no other than the magic wand of toil, 
have changed the vast and frowning forest into fruitful fields and 
happy homes, we bid you hail and farewell. 

" Who are the nobles of the earth, 
The true aristocrats, 
Who need not bow their heads to lords. 
Nor doff to kiDgs their hats? 

" They are the men of toil 

Who cleave the forest down. 
And plant amid the wilderness 
The hamlet and the town." 

Nancy Van Avken. — We who have attempted to write a short 
biography of our mother find it no easy task. True mothers are, 
in the estimation of their children, faultless; and to attempt to 
discourse uDon the manv virtues and unselfish charities of a mother 
is entirely too delicate a matter to be dealt with in so meager a 
manner. Seated ready for the task, with pen already dipped in 
ink, the first thoughts that come to us are her last words, her last 



•U 



7" 



\^ — - - — ^ 4^ 

(0 

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COQNTT. 801 

wistful look upon us, and then, as the vivid recollection of the many, 
many loving kindnesses of mother, cluster about us, the heart 
beats quick, the eyes are filled, and the fingers refuse to write. 
* * * We pause, we linger for a time in reverie, until the fac- 
ulties are again collected. * * * Nancy Strawway was born 
and reared among the mountains of New Jersey. She was born 
at a time when the heart of this country was stirred to quick and 
resolute action in consequence of the last war with England, and 
not unlikely many of the sterling qualities which she possessed 
were imbued upon her by her mother at this critical juncture. 
When quite a young girl she was sent from her father's poor and 
lowly home (for he was a miner for iron ore) to live with her uncle, 
Joseph Harvey, where an opportunity for getting an education 
was possible. For four years she attended school under the in- 
struction of Jacob H. Van Auken, who afterward became her consort 
for the remainder of her life, with whom she lived nearly fifty 
years, rearing a large family of children. And for these many 
years she was truly both Secretary and Treasurer of her entire 1am- 
ily, and a living encyclopedia for the same. Her willingness and 
ability to do for, and her zealous and watchful care over her own 
household and family, were barely ever equaled and could not be 
excelled by any mother on earth. The children were lullabied to 
sleep at night by her tuneful song, while yet her hands found work 
to do. In addition to doing her own housework with neatness and 
dispatch, she still found time to spin the yarn and knit the stock- 
ings for the family, and once, when the stern decree of fate had 
robbed them of every farthing, with six small dependent children, 
with almost superhuman effort she found time to spin the flax and 
weave the cloth for summer clothing for herself, her husband and 
her little ones, and at the same time delivering bright and mellow 
words of hope and consolation to those about her. She was en- 
dowed by nature with a strong and vigorous constitution, added 
to which was a cultivated and well-balanced mind which well fitted 
her for the office of maternity, which she so well and nobly filled. 
The order of her motherhood is as follows — Sarah Jane, born 
Aug. 11, 1832, died Jan. 14, 1834, at Deerfield, Ohio; Calvin E., 
born July 29, 1835; James H., born Oct. 2, 1837; Horace N., 
born Oct. 23, 1839; Maria, born Aug. 9, 1841; Nancy, born Sept. 
20, 1842, died Aug. 30, 1845, at Orange, Ohio; Phebe Elizabeth, 
born Dec. 8, 1843; Mary Jane, born March 9, 1845; Amos B., 
born July 19, 1847, killed by lightning at Red Oak, Iowa, Aug. 4, 



•ya >^ ^ «, ^ 



s\ 



802 HISTOBT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1874; David E., born Sept. 17, 1848; Frank B., born Nov. 13, 
1850; Jacob J., born Feb. 8, 1852; Nannie, born June 27, 1854, 
died Sept. 4, 1856, at Chagrin Falls, Ohio; Leah Katherine, born 
Feb. 25, 1856, died Aug. 28, 1856; William P., born Dec. 23, 1858; 
Perry D., born Feb. 28, 1861, died Nov. 16, 1865, at Pleasant Lake, 
Indiana. 

And now, at the time of writing this sketch (1885), fifty-four 
years have elapsed since her marriage, and were it possible for a 
reunion of her own children with their families, sixty-seven living 
souls would call her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, 
while tvventy-three lie covered with the clods of the valley. How 
wonderful! 

She did not live quite the allotted " threescore and ten years," 
but she lived to do and accomplished much. She lived to send 
sons to the civil war, and to see them return with the scars of bat- 
tle. She lived to see her sons emerge from the colleges of learning: 
of her country, with honor to her and credit to themselves. She 
lived to see sons fill places of trust and honor given them'at the 
hands of their countrymen. She lived- to see her daughters rear 
families for usefalness. She "plied the steady oar" to a purpose, 
and with the habits of industry and frugality as a part of her very 
existence, the constant presence of which had a telling influence 
upon her family around her, a sufiicient fortune was gathered to- 
gether to insure her plenty in her declining years, and the endur- 
ing marks of her handiwork in beautifying her home will stand as 
living monuments to her praise for centuries to come. Would 
that all mothers of the children of earth could emulate her example. 

And now we think the words of the poet will clearly and plainly 
apply to her, and are here appropriate: 

" Blessings on the hands of women, 
Angels guard and give them grace 
In the palace, cottage, hovel, 
No matter where the pla9e. 

" O'er her may no storm-clouds lower. 
Rainbows be ever gently curled, 
For the hand that rocks the cradle 
Is the hand that rocks the world." 

• The obituary notice printed in the Angola Herald was as fol- 
lows: Aunt Nancy Van Auken, wife of Jacob H. Van Auken, 
died at the family residence two miles northeast of Pleasant Lake 
at 8:15 p. m., July 19, 1878. Her disease was enlargement of the 



-71 



\ 



-^5 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 803 

liver, a post mortem revealing a condition of that organ known 
as " Lardacions;" also were found within the gall bladder three 
o-all stones lying side by side, of precisely the same shape and 
size, being almost perfect cubes, the faces of which were quite one 
half inch. Her condition caused no alarm until about eight 
weeks before her death, when the enlargement became noticeable 
and from that time she knew the end was near, but she did not 
take to her bed until the very last, her last conscious words being, 
" My children, was I ever so sick, so deathly sick?" From this 
time until her death, about twenty-four hours later, she was in a 
semi-unconscious state. Her age was sixty-three years, seven 
months and twenty-seven days. Born at Morristown, Morris Co., 
N. J., on the 22d day of November, 1814; was married at 
Sandyston, Sussex County, March 3, 1831, by Peter Young, Esq., 
(father of our old townsman, Andrew Young). She was the 
mother of sixteen children, nine sons and seven daughters. Four 
of the daughters and one son died in childhood. One son Amos, 
was killed by lightning, in Iowa, and had he lived he would have 
been thirty-one years old on the same day of his mother's death. 
The funeral was held in the grove which surrounds and adorns 
the last home of the departed, one of the most beautiful spots on 
earth, made lovely by her own hands. The discourse was de- 
livered by Dr. Wilson, of Auburn, assisted by Prof. Hull, of 
Montgomery, Mich. The discourses were in keeping with the 
life of the deceased and were full of words of consolation for her 
family, such as would have come from her silent lips could they 
have spoken. The mother had the satisfaction of having all her 
living children minister to her wants during her last sickness and 
with their hands to wipe away the dew of death from her fading 
brow, and as she had no belief in a future punishment, nor expec- 
tation of meeting an angry God, she passed away as she had 
lived, with fortitude, courage and serenity. 

The large concourse of people in attendance at the funeral attest 
the esteem of the community for the deceased and their sympathy 
for the bereaved family. 

Silas R. Williams was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1847. 
In 1863 his father, Thomas L. Williams, came to Steuben County, 
and afterward went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he still resides. 
He came to this county in the spring of 1862. He enlisted in the 
war of the Rebellion in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry and 
served till the close of the war. He participated in the important 



^: 



9 



/o 



804 HISTORY OF STEUBEN OOTJNTT. 

events of the last part of the war in which General Sherman's array 
was engaged, amon^ others the siege of Atlanta and the march to 
the sea. Mr. Williams lives on section 11, Steuben Township, a 
part of the farm of Abner Winsor, and is engaged in general farm- 
ing. Mr. Williams married Sarah A. Staley, a native of Angola, 
born in 1849, the only surviving child of Christian Staley. They 
have three sons — Mild. R., Claud H. and Roy W. 

Abner Winsor is one of the most widely known and most es- 
teemed citizens of Steuben Township. He has been identified with 
the history of the county since its beginning, and has ever been in 
the front rank of its progressive and energetic citizens. He was 
born in the town of Hartwick, Otsego Co., N. Y., Sept. 29, 1812, 
a son of Joseph and Phoebe (Harris) Winsor, natives of Rhode 
Island, where they were reared and married, removing soon 
after to Otsego County, N. Y. Abner Winsor was reared on his 
fathers farm. His opportunities for obtaining an education in his 
early life were quite limited, being only such as the common 
schools afforded. In September, 1835, he came to Steuben County, 
Ind., and entered between 800 and 900 acres in Steuben Township, 
the principal portions of which were as follows: The north half of 
section 14; the southeast fractional quarter of 14; the east half of 
the southwest quarter of 14; the east half of the northeast quarter 
of 15; the southwest quarter of 11, and the west half of the north- 
east quarter of 11. After entering his land he returned to New 
York and Jan. 7, 1836, was married to Lucinda Robinson, a native 
of Hartwick, born March 10, 1819. The following March they 
moved to their pioneer home, and began the improvement of his 
land. Their first house was a board shanty, which he built in 
April, 1836, and their second a log cabin, built the next fall. Not 
having a cook-stove Mrs. Winsor cooked by a fire on the outside of 
the cabin six months. In the winter of 1836-'37 Mr. Winsor 
built a small frame house in which they lived fifteen years. In 
1836 he set out an orchard, which was the first in the township; 
most of the trees are living and productive. In 1850 he sold forty 
acres of land on section 11, including his residence, to I. D. Mor- 
lev, and in 1852 built a house on the east half of the northeast 
quarter of section 15, which at that time was the finest in the 
county, and put up suitable farm buildings. He also built a two- 
story tenement house, and set out another orchard. The most of 
the land described above was timber openings with a rich and pro- 
ductive soil. He improved all except such as he reserved for nec- 



-^ 



<a_ 



■4^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 805 

essary woodland, and made one of the finest farms in the county, 
Jiving on it till 1876. His faithful wife who had shared with him 
the hardships and struggles of a pioneer life, and who had lived to 
reap some of the rewards of their labors, died Feb. 14, 1873. In 
1868 Mr. Winsor went to Chicago, whei-e he remained two years, 
and then passed some time in the South. He still owns the old 
homestead, where he spends a portion of his time; his residence, 
however, is in Grand Rapids, Mich. In addition to his farm he 
owns valuable property in Kent County, Mich., and also city prop- 
erty in Chicago. Mr. Winsor has but one daughter — Mary Estella, 
who was born in 1846. She has been twice married. Her first 

husband was Orlando P. Fisk, who at his death left six children 

Winsor W., Mark H., Charles O., M. Stella, Lilly L. and Clara L. 
Her present husband is Orson W. Fisk, a brother of her first hus- 
band. They have one child — Carlotta M. They live on the old 
homestead in Steuben Township. 

WllliamWolf was born in Loudoun County, Va., Aug. 6, 1805 
and \vhen an infant his parents moved to Ohio, settling in Colum. 
biana County, where he was reared and educated. He married 
Cathe<rine Fetterhoft', a native of Pennsylvania, reared in Dauphin 
County. After their marriage they moved to Ashland County, 
Ohio, and in 1864 to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on the 
northeast quarter of section 7, Steuben Township. A brother 
Daniel Wolf, settled near Hamilton several years previous, and 
died there in February, 1884. His father had also come to Steu- 
ben several years before and lived with his son-in-law, George 
Dahof, till his death. Mr. Wolf has a fine farm and is one of the 
most prosperous citizens of the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolt 
have been born fifteen children, fourteen of whom are living and 
have families — John, Susanna, Andrew, Jacob, Adam, Joseph, 
Mary Ann, Catherine, Magdalena, William, Amos, Lydia, Front 
and Phcebe. One daughter, Sarah, died July 5, 1869, aged twentv- 
three years. Joseph lives on the homestead and has charge of 
the farm. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1839. 
He has been twice married. His first wife was Jane Anderson, a 
native of Ireland, who at her death left four children — Charles, 
Martha C, Harvey E. and Florence. He subsequently married 
Emma L. Tubbs, daughter of Leroy Tubbs, of Salem Township, 
Steuben County. They have one child — Emma J. 



51 



"sPv 



i«- 



1 



— !> J 



B^ 



CHAPTER XXII. 



OTSEGO TOWNSHIP. 



Geography. — Description. — Lakes. — First Land Entries. — First 
Settlers. — First School-House. — First Birth and Death. — 
"Enterprise," or Hamilton. — Population of the Township. — 
Agricultural Statistics. — Property and Taxation. — Politics. 
— Presidential Yote, 1840- '84. — Biographical. 

Otsego Township is bounded on the north by Scott, on the east 
by Richland, on the south by the county of De Kalb, and on the 
west by Steuben. It is six miles north and south, and nearly that 
distance east and west, and therefore contains a little less than 
thirty-six sections, or nearly 23,000 acres. Nearly 1,000 acres are 
covered by water. Fish Lake is a large body of water, covering 
parts of sections 21, 22, 27, 28 and 33. Fish Lake is intimately 
connected with the early history of both Steuben and De Kalb 
counties. Besides it there are Ball's Lake, on sections 31 and 32; 
Mud Spring Lake on 30; Johnson's and Round lakes on 16. 

The first entry of land made in this township was by John Fee, 
who, on the 28th of January, 1835, entered the east half of the 
southwest quarter of section 32. The second entry was made July 
11, of the same year, by Elias O. Rose, who selected the south- 
west quarter of the southeast quarter of section 34. Gideon Ball 
entered several tracts in September, and the Jackmans their land 
in November. 

The iirst settler in the township was John Fee, who came March 
13, 1835, and he built the first house in the township the same 
spring, where he lived until his death, April 2, 1873. The next 
settlers were James Clark and wife, who came in June, 1836. 
James Johnson came in August of the same year. From then un- 
til 1840 the following named persons settled in Otsego: James 
W. Jefferds, Henry R. Williams, A. Murray, William C. Herrick, 
John Salisbury, J. H. Miner, Benedict Corey, J. Corey, Henry 
Coy, P. Clark, D. Robinson, George Swope, A. Gates, Edward C. 
Johnson, John Avery, George Quick, William Gilmore, C. Burch, 

(806) 



& 

"7 



& 



. * 



I 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 807 

Gideon Ball, Saranel Tuttle, Richard JackmaD, John Haughey, 
John Lawrence, Nicanor Munson, S. P. Gambia, C. Frink, Theo- 
philus Jackson and Henry Jackman. 

The Urst school-house was put up on section 16, and the first 
teacher was Amos Stantcliff. The first birth and also the first 
death occurred Oct. 25, 1835. 

HAMILTON. 

In 1836 Nicanor Munson entered a tract of land including the 
wattr-power made by the outlet of Fish Lake, in all several hun- 
dred acres. The plat of Hamilton village is on this entry. Mr. 
Munson sold out soon after to Dr. Tuttle, agent of a company of 
Eastern capitalists styled " Steuben City Company." A town was 
platted called Enterprise, and lots were ofl:ered for sale. The 
company commenced improving the power here soon after. Sydney 
P. Gambia located here in 1837, built a house, store and stocked 
it, also built an ashery. The first frame house is said to have 
been built by Alfred Dunham. Dr. Tuttle resided here for a time, 
acting as agent for the company. He was succeeded by Mr. Gam- 
bia, who built for the company a grist-mill, and some years later 
bought the water-power of the company, and a large portion of 
their lands. The grist-mill, after several years of operation, was 
torn down. A saw-mill was erected in the early days on the site 
of the present flouring-mill. 

The old pioneer road from Lima, Ind., to Fort Defiance, Ohio, 
passed through Hamilton. 

Abram F. Beecher was an early trader here, locating, it is be- 
lieved, in 1839. He came from Jefferson County, N. Y., was 
one of the early settlers of Pichland Township, and died in De 
Kalb County in 1854. Mr. Gambia remained here an active busi- 
ness man until 1854. He now lives in Wabasha, Minn. In 1841 
Sydney and Oscar Gambia were succeeded in trade by B. B. Long. 
A washout occurred in the dam. Mr. Gambia and a Mr. Water- 
man, at midniglit, went out on the dam. The flood was at its 
height, and overturned a tree which, in falling, killed Mr. Water- 
man, and seriously injured Mr. Gambia. 

Reubi3n Lint kept hotel and liquor in the pioneer days. It is 
claimed by Mrs. John Fee that the first building ever erected where 
Hamilton now stands was a log house built by John Quicksill, a 
New Yark man. She cooked the dinner for the help and carried 
it herself to them. The growth of the village (which was called 



•r?";^=5r 



-♦- 



•V 



_s> 



4^ 



(0 



808 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Hamilton not very long after the Steuben City Company sold to 
Gambia) did not equal the fond anticipations o^ its projectors; far 
from it. Still it attaine'd considerable prominence in the new 
county. It is claimed that the first postoffice established in Steu- 
ben County was located here, and Oscar Gambia was the first Post- 
master, 

The village history in full cannot be gathered. The business 
men of its pioneer days died or lefc for other fields; others came 
and went, and none of the early business men are left. Dr. Tuttle 
was the first physician. Dr. Fink, an early physician, died here. 
Dr. La Due practiced here. He erected the building still known 
as the La Due property, and opened a dry-goods store. He died 
about the commencement of the war. Dr. Emerson, Dr. Roe, 
Dr. Govis, Dr. Teal and Dr. Taylor are remembered as having 
been at difi^erent times resident physicians. Abner F. Pinchin 
was an attorney here from 1852 until he went into the army. He 
now lives in Butler. 

In 1859 John Fee, who bought of Sydney Gambia, built on the 
site of the old saw- mill a flouring-mill. The present business men 
of Hamilton are: Andrew Sewell. proprietor of Hamilton flowring- 
mill; John Sewell, resident owner of a grist-mill, one and a half 
miles from the village ; John W. Thomas, general merchandise; 
Francis Klinkle, general merchandise ; Dr. N. E. Brown, drug 
store ; G. R. Farnham, hardware and general store ; Dr. J. F. 
Cameron, hotel; Sweet & Kimball, steam saw-mill; Dr. Schofield, 
saloon ; T. A. Beecher, tin shop ; John B. Zeigler, harness shop; 
H. A. Stout, shoe shop; Frank Farley, blacksmith; Joseph Wiler, 
blacksmith; O. P. Brown, barber and confectioner. The medical 
fraternity is represented by Drs. N. E. Brown and J. F. Cameron. 

Hamilton has one of the finest school buildings in Steuben 
County. It is a two-story brick building with belfry and bell, and 
was built in 1878. under the trusteeship of Clay Lemmo;i. Its cost 
was $2,800; cost of furniture, $400. An efficient corps of teachers 
is employed. Attendance averages nearly 100. The school is 
graded, having primary, intermediate and grammar departments. 
Prof. Charles Segur has charge of the grammar, Thomas French of 
the intermediaie, and Miss Effie Hoose of the primary depart- 
ments. Under the trusteeship of B. F. Griffith, the people of 
Hamilton and Otsego Township are justly proud of this school. 

The Methodist denomination have the only church in Hahiilton. 
a very substantial structure. Services are held regularl3^ The 



T 



l\r 



<2_ 



k* 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



809 



church is owned by the Methodist Episcopal Society, but was built 
by aid from all classes, and is occasionally used for services by 
other denominations. A flourishinaj Sunday-school is an adjunct 
of the religious work here. 

Baron Steuben Post, No. 387, G. A. R., was mustered Dec. 13, 
1884. The members at present, with their respective offices, are 
as follows: Lewis Griffith (C), George H. Cosper (S. V. C), Har- 
mon B. Kelley (J. V. 0.), Hiram Sweet (Adj.), Luman H. Beard 
(Q. M.), John Were (O. G.), K A. Chappie (O. D.), William 
Rench (S. M.), Charles Culbertson (Q. M. S.), Levi Stoy (Chap.) 
Fred D. Oberlin (Surg.), Charles Wright, Alfred Bender, Godfrey 
Ladison and Frank Griffith. 

The population of Otsego Township in 1870 was 1,318; and in 
1880 it was 1,347, an increase of twenty-nine. The density of 
population is therefore thirty-eight per square mile. 

The following leading crop statistics are for the last census year, 
1880: Acres of wheat sown, 2,963; average yield per acre, 19 
bushels; total crop, 56,587 bushels; acres of corn, 2,196; average 
yield per acre, 31 bushels; total crop, 68,076 bushels; acres of oats, 
848;,average yield per acre, 30; total crop, 25,440 bushels; acres 
in meadow, 887; average yield of liay per acre, one and one-fourth 
tons; total crop, 1,109 tons; acres of potatoes, 124; average yield 
per acre, 82 bushels; total crop, 10,168 bushels. 

In 1884 the number of acres of land assessed was 21,281.94; 
value of same, $208,925; value of improvements, $61,180; value 
of personal property, $57,605; total valuation, $327,710; number 
of polls, 209; number of dogs, 95; total taxes levied, $7,094.82. 
As property is assessed on a basis of one-third, the above valuation 
indicates an actual wealth of $983,130. 

In politics, Otsego was Democratic until the organization of the 
Republican party, since when it has uniformly given its pluralities 
to the latter party. The smallest plurality ever given in a presi- 
dential year was fourteen given for L«wis Ca^s in 1848 ; and the larg- 
est was 125, given for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. The following 
statement of the presidential vote in this township since 1840, 
shows the political complexion of the township at each presiden- 
tial election, and also gives an idea of the growth in population: 



1840— Martin Van Buren 18 16 

Wihiam H. Harrison 2 

1844— James K. Polk 40 15 

Henry Clay 25 

James G. Birney 2 



184S— Lewis Cass 36 14 

Zachary Taylor 22 

Martin Van Buren 18 

1852— Franklin Pierce. 64 26 

Winfield Scott 38 



_j v> 



— — — — — — — 1 '^ 

< 

810 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1856— John C. Fremont 123 54 | 1872— Ulysses S. Grant 132 67 



James Buchanan 69 

1860— Abraham Lincoln 160 99 

Stephen A. Douglas 61 

John Bell 1 

1864— Abraham Lincoln 177 125 

George B. McClellan.. . .52 

1868— Ulysses S. Grant 176 80 



Horace Gref^lev 65 

1876— Rutherford B. Ha) es. . .200 83 

Samui-1 J. Tilden 117 

1 880— James A. Garfie d 201 93 

Winfield S. Hancock.. .108 

James B. Weaver 3 

1884— James G. Blaine 198 91 

Grover Cleveland 107 



Horatio Seymour 9(5 Benjamin F.ButlerV.' '.'...2 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

David W. Aldrich was born in Vermont, March 29, 1817, a son 
of Simeon and Penelo)3e Aldrich, who were early settlers of 
DeKalb Countv, Ind., locating there in 1838, and remaining there 
till death. He was reared a farmer, living with his parents till 
manhood. He was married Feb. 14, 1838, to Mary Jackman, a 
native of Richland County, Ohio, born Sept. 16, 1818, daughter 
of Robert and Phebe (Yail) Jackman. After a residence of 
eighteen years in DeKalb County they moved to the homestead of 
her father in Steuben County to care for her mother, and after the 
death of Mrs. Jackman returned to DeKalb County and lived 
fourteen years;, then moved to Otsego Township, Steuben County, 
where Mr. Aldrich died Sept. 27, 1881. He was a member of the 
Baptist church, and Mrs. Aldrich is a member of the Disciples 
church. To them were born six children — Christiana died in in- 
fancy; Mrs. Nancy Cox, Mrs. Lydia Baker, Mrs. Phebe Wrench, 
Mrs. Aurelia Yanzile, and Olive, deceased, wife of James Campbell. 
Mrs. Aldrich owns a farm in Otsego Township, but has for some 
time made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jacob Baker. 

Christopher Baker was born in Loudoun County, Va., April 18, 
1836, a son of Samuel and Sarah Baker. He remained with his 
parents, coming with them to Steuben County, in 1850, till twenty- 
one years of age and then commenced improving the land he now 
owns and occupies on section 25, Otsego Township. His farm 
contains 115 acres, and he also owns forty acres on section 35. 
He was married Aug. 28, 1859, to Rosamond A. Walkins, a native 
of the State of New York, born Jan. 13, 1839, a daughter of one 
of Richland Township's early settlers. To them were born three 
children, but one of whom is living — Adelia. Samuel M. dded in 
his third year, and Frank J. in infancy. Mrs. Baker died Feb. 13, 
1876. May 24, 1877, Mr. Baker married Amy Fox, who was 
born in Morrow County, Ohio, April 5, 1849, a daughter of 
George and Emeline Fox, natives of New Jersey, who settled in 



-^ 






-^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



811 



Ricliland Township in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have had two 
children; but one is living— Leora E. The eldest, Leno C, died 
aged four months. In politics Mr. Baker is a Republican. He 
an his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
among the most prominent citizens of the county. 

Jacob Baker, son of Samuel and Sarah Baker, was born in 
Wayne County, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1837, and when thirteen years of 
age, in 1850, came to Steuben County, Ind., with his parents, they 
locating in Otsego Township. He remained with his parents till 
manhood, receiving a good common-school education. He was 
reared a farmer, an avocation he has followed successfully for him- 
self since attaining his majority. After his marriage he settled 
on the farm he now owns on section 24, Otsego Township, 
where he has 120 acres of choice land, all well improved, 
with a fine residence and good farm buildings. He has always 
taken an interest in the public affairs of the county, and has 
assisted both by his means and time in farthering all enter- 
prisp.'S of benefit to the community. He was married Oct. 23, 1859, 
to Lydia Aldrich, a native of De Kalb County, born Oct. 19, 1843, 
daug:hter of David and Mary Aldrich. To them have been born 
three children; the first two die d in infancy; Phebe Elizabeth, 
born Jan. 14, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are active members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he cast his first and last 
vote for the Republican principles. 

John S.Baker was born in Loudoun County, Va., Jan. 27, 1831, 
and came to Steuben County with his parents in 1850. His educa- 
tion was received in the common schools. He has made agricult- 
ure the work of his life, and in the winters of 1854 and 1855 
taught school, the first term at Richland Center and the last at 
No. 6, this township. He was married March 4, 1855, to Selinda 
E. Keyes, a native of Knox County, Ohio, born May 1, 1837, 
daughter of Tolman and Mary Keyes. Three children were^ born 
to them— Samuel E. died in infancy; Sarah E., wife of G. W. 
Goudy; William H. died in infancy. Mrs. Baker died June 11, 
1863. Dec. 20, 1863, Mr. Baker married Catherine B. Sanxter, a 
native of England, born March 3, 1846, daughter of Christopher 
and Rebecca Sanxter. To them have been born three children- 
Charles E., Mary P. and Cora R. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for the past twenty 
years he has been an ofiicial member; for the past eight years Re- 
cording Steward. In politics Mr. Baker is a prominent member 



1^ 






X 

812 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of the Democratic party in Steuben County and has several tinies 
been the party's candidate for township and county otiSces. He 
has twice been a candidate for County Commissioner. Mr. and 
Mrs. Baker are among the most respected and influential citizens 
of Steuben County. 

Nathaniel Baker^ son of Samuel and Sarah Baker, was born in 
"Wayne County, Ohio, Sept. 18, 1842, and was eight years of age 
when his parents moved to Steuben County. He remained with 
his parents till twenty-six years of age, working on the farm and 
attending in his youth the public schools, completing his education 
at the Orland Academ3\ When twenty years of age he decided to 
enter the ministry and from that time he studied to prepare him- 
self for his work. When twenty-seven years of age he entered the 
Northern Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and gave his time wholly to the work of the ministry till 1882. In 
this time he traveled over 24,000 miles, driving one liorse over 18,- 
000 miles. He averaged over three lectures and sermons a week, 
or about 2,000 in all. His health failing in 1882 he gave up the 
active work of the ministry and has since then devoted his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits. Reared a farmer, he is conv(^rsant 
with all the details of country life and is making a success of the 
vocation. He resides on section 24, Otsego Township, where he 
owns eighty acres of choice land, mostly under cultivation. He is 
a good citizen, taking an active interest in all enterprises of pub- 
lic benefit. In politics he votes the Republican ticket at National 
elections and the Prohibition ticket at local elections. He was mar- 
ried Nov. 8, 1881, to Elma Armstrong, who was born in Wyandotte 
County, Ohio, May 28, 1858, daughter of W. K. and Martha C. 
Armstrong, now of Tipton County, Ind. To them has been born 
one child — Ernest Clyde. 

Samuel Baker and his family settled in this township in the 
spring of 1850. He had considerable means and bought 640 acres 
of land which soon began to yield bountiful harvests as a reward 
for the labor bestowed upon it. Some years prior to his death he 
gave to John, Jacob, Nathaniel, Satnuel, Jr., Thomas and Eliza- 
beth each eighty acres and to Christopher seventy-five acres, still 
retaining a home for himself He was born in Franklin County, 
Pa., June 19, 1801. His parents, John and Sarah (Stoner) Baker, 
were natives of the same State but in 1820 moved to Loudoun 
County, Va., where he was married Nov. 5, 1829, to Sarah 
Shriver, who was born in that county March 1, 1802. All that a 

c^ , - 



«_ 



-^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



813 



wife should be she was the rest of his life to him, A willing toiler 
in converting the wilderness to a state of productiveness; a helper 
in all good work; kind and indulgent as a parent, carefully train- 
ing her children and fitting them for the duties of life, she has her 
reward in the love and esteem now extended to her by children 
and friends and the consciousness of having spent her life in use- 
fulness and doing what she could to make her husband's home a 
happy one. In 1836 Mr. Baker, in company with his parents* 
moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where his father died in 184:7 and 
his mother in 1854. He remained in Wayne County till his re- 
moval to this township. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Baker — John W., Elizabeth, Sarah, Christopher, Jacob, Thomas, 
Margaret, Nathaniel, Samuel, Jr., and Daniel. Sarah, Margaret 
and Daniel are deceased. Of the others all save Elizabeth, who 
lives on the homestead with her mother, are married and comfort- 
ably situated. Samuel Baker passed to the better life April 11, 
1884, and his funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. C. Am- 
brose. His death cast a gloom over the entire community and the 
large attendance at his funeral showed the esteem and confidence 
m which he was held. He was for over half a century a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in all things was a faithful 
servant of his heavenly Master. 

Elijah Beard was born in the State of New Hampshire, Feb. 
17, 1794, a son of Elijah Beard, who was a native of Scotland. 
Elijah Beard, Jr., and Lucy Horn were married in Stamstead, 
Canada East, in 1817. She was a native of Norwich, Conn., born 
in 1802. They lived in Canada a few years and there their three 
eldest children were born — Franklin, Charles B. and Jane. They 
subsequently moved to Yermont where three children, Phoebe, 
Elijah (who died in infancy) and Heman, were born. In 1832 they 
moved to Niagara County, N. Y., and remained a year, and while 
there Luman was born. In 1834 they moved to Huron County, 
Ohio, and five children, Mary, Harrison, Henry, Harriet and Al- 
bert, were born to them there. In 1849 they moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and settled in Otsego Township, owning eighty acres 
on section 12. Some years before his death he sold his farm and 
afterward made his home with his children. He was very fond of 
out-door life and spent much of his time in his latter days in fish- 
ing. From early life he was a member of the Baptist church. He 
was a good man and was respected by all who knew him. He died 
at the residence of his son Franklin, Feb, 17, 1875, aged eighty- 






^\\% i^ ^ 9 \^ 

814: HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

two years. His widow died at tlie residence of her daughter Har- 
riet, Oct. 8, 1881. Of their children, Franklin is in Otsego Town- 
ship; Charles B. is in Huron County, Ohio; Jane is the wife ot 
Annaniah Gilford, of Scott Township; Phoebe was married three 
times and when she died was the wife of Samuel Langley ; Heman 
is in Toledo, Ohio; Luman of this township; Mary is deceased, and 
was the wife of H. Foster, of Gilead, Mich.; Harrison lives in 
Charlotte, Mich.; Henry lives in Angola; Harriet is the wife ot 
Henry Hanna, of Scott Township; Albert is in Iowa. 

Franklin Beard, eldest son of Elijah andLucy (Horn) Beard, was 
born in Stamstead, Canada East, June 25, 1820! When twenty 
years of age he bought a year's time of his father and learned the 
cooper's trade at which he worked with more or less regularity for 
the next forty-three years, always in the winter season, much of the 
time having a shop and employing others. In the spring of 1854 
he came to Steuben County and bought 160 acres of land on sec- 
tion 11, Otsego Township, where he has since lived. To this he 
has since added tuirtj' acres and also owns a fine farm two miles 
east of his residence. He has been a successful farmer, and has 
spent his surplus accumulations in improving and beautifying his 
home. He was married in Ohio, May 24, 1846, to Janett Breck- 
enridge, a native of Huron Count}', born Feb. 26, 1827. To them 
were born six children — Giles R., of this township; Jane, wife ot 
George Bennett; Alma died in 1854, in infancy; George M., of 
Auburn, Ind.; Sylva, at home,and an infant, deceased. Mrs. Beard 
died June 22, 1863. April 3, 1864, Mr. Beard married Helen M. 
Rust, a native of Cattaraugus County, JS". Y,, born Jan. 24, 1835, 
daughter of David Rust, who died in that county in July, 1838, 
aged forty-four years. Her mother makes her house her home and 
is now aged eighty-five years. Of the seven children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Beard but one is living — Frank, a promising young man, 
a teacher in the public schools. Freddie died at the age of six 
months; Luella J., aged nine years; Howard, aged thirteen 
months, and Jessie, aged four months. In politics Mr. Beard is 
a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 

Luman H. Beard^ son of Elijah and Lucy (Horn) Beard, was 
born in Niagara County, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1834. He remained with 
his parents till manhood, receiving a common-school education. 
He was married Nov. 21, 1858, to Jane W. Rummel, a native of 
Columbiana County, Ohio, born Feb. 12, 3 835, a daughter of Henry 



■4 « ■> 



'-^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 815 > 






and Elizabeth Rummel. Oct. 28, 1861, Mr. Beard enlisted in 
Company K, Sixtj-eigbth Ohio Infantry; participated in the battle 
of Fort Donnelson. He was in the hospital the greater part of 
the time doing duty when able. In 1863 he was transferred to the 
invalid corps, and in 1863-'4 was on duty in Evansville, Ind. He 
Was discharged in October, 18 64, and after his return home bought 
eighty acres of land on section 34, his present home, which he has 
improved and now has one of the best farms in the township. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Beard have been born six children — Talma died in 
infancy; Henry R. was married in 1884 to Ida May Noragan; 
Charles L. died Feb. 9, 1884, aged twenty years ; Benjamin F., 
David A. and Minnie J. are at home. They with their son Benja- 
min F. are members of the Christian church. Charles was also a 
member of the church and a very estimable young roan. Mr. 
Beard is an upright, honorable, citizen, and one of the leading 
farmers of the township. He is a member of Baron Steuben Post, 
No. 387, G. A. R., of which he is Quartermaster. 

William Bland was born in Licking County, Ohio, Nov. 10, 
1819, a son of John and Nanc}- Bland, natives of Virginia, who 
moved to Ohio after their marriage. The mother died Feb. 8, 
1853, and the father in 1870. He was reared a farmer, remaining 
with his parents till twenty-eight years of age. He was married 
March 30, 1848, to Rhoda Spiller, a native of Fairfield County, 
Ohio, born June 12, 1828. Four children were born to them — 
George McD., of this township; Mary E., wife of Benjamin Nara- 
gon, of De Kalb County; Nancy J., deceased, wife of Marion Dally; 
Rhoda Ann, second wife of Marion Dally. Mrs. Bland died April 
16, 1860, in Wyandotte County, Ohio, where they had lived about 
six years. Sept. 16, 1860, Mr. Bland married Louisa Spiller, a 
sister of his first wife, born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Dec. 12, 
1832. She died Jan. 17, 1862, leaving one child, John Martin. 
The following spring Mr. Bland returned to Seneca County, where 
he was married May 28, 1863, to Mary Ann Harmon, born in that 
county March 10, 1834. To them have been born three children 
-Emma, William H. and Thomas H. Mr. Bland began to work 
at the carpenter's trade when twenty-two years of age and followed 
it eighteen years, and since that time has engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. He came to Steuben County, Ind., in the fall of 1864 
and settled on section 10, Otsego Township, on land he bought 
the previous spring, when on a visit to the county. There were . 
but ten acres cleared at that time, but of the eighty acres he owns j 



816 HISTOBT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

he has now sixty-five cleared and under cultivation. In politics 
Mr. Bland has always been a Democrat. 

Samuel S. £rooks, son of George and Elizabeth (Smith) Brooks, 
was born in Ontario County, N. Y., May 2, 1833. George Brooks 
was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1783, and there married Eliza- 
beth Smi th, and in 1830 they came to the United States and lived in 
Ontario County, N. Y., seven years. Then moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and settled in York Township. He was a poor man, 
having but $7 when he reached thiscountry,buttheir strong hands and 
brave hearts coupled with an abundance of energy soon overcame 
poverty and made for their family a good home. At first forty 
acres and then forty more were bought and reduced to a state of 
cultivation. The father died in 1854, and the mother in 1874, at 
the home of her son Robert in Michigan. Their family consisted 
of nine children. One died on the ocean. Ann is the wife of 
Orman Sisson, of Lagrange County. Martha and her husband, 
James Brunk, died in Williams County, Ohio. William and Thomas 
live in York Township, and George at Pleasant Lake. Henry en- 
listed in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry and 
died while in the service in Tennessee. Samuel S. is the subject 
of this sketch. Robert lives in Branch County, Mich. Frank, the 
first white child born in York Township, enlisted in Company A, 
Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and died at Fort Wayne. Samuel 
Brooks was four years of age when his parents moved to Indiana 
and was reared on a frontier farm. He was married !Nov. 16, 
1867, to Elizabeth Cooper, a native of Bucks County, Pa., born 
July 25, 1829. To them have been born two children — George 
William and Annie Laura. For one year after their marriage 
they lived in Michigan and then returned to this county and lived 
near Metz, on the Cooper farm, two years. April 4, 1871, they moved 
to their present home on section 17, Otsego Township. The farm 
contains 131 acres of finely improved land. Their residence is a 
large and handson'Je building, and everything betokens thrift and 
opulence. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are among the prominent and in- 
fluential citizens of the county, but their greatest happiness is 
found in their home and in ministering to the comfort and needs 
of their family. 

William H. L. Brown was born near Batavia, N. Y,, Nov. 16, 
1812. When he was two years ol age his father died and his 
mother subsequently married Samuel Clark and moved to Ohio, 
where he grew to manhood. He was married in 1838 to Phoebe 

4 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 817 

Ann Wilcox, and to them were born four children — Statira, Fran- 
ces M., Livingston W. and Isabel; the latter is deceased. In 1848 
he came to Steuben County and settled in Otsego Township. He 
experienced the hardships and privations of pioneer lite, both in 
Ohio and Indiana, bnt his indomitable will and perseverance were 
equal to any emergency and all obstacles were successfully over- 
come. He was one of the kindest and most self-sacrificing of neigh- 
bors,never refusing assistance to any one who needed it. He had an 
enviable reputation for honesty and strict business integrity, and 
his firmness in the carrying out of every principle he conceived to 
be right won him the confidence and esteem of all with whom he 
had any dealings. He filled several official positions of trust in 
Otsego Township, and in politics was a Democrat. His wife died 
Oct. 18, 1865, and he survived her fifteen years, dying at the resi- 
dence of his daughter, Mrs. Jesse H. Carpenter, of Angola, Sept. 
11, 1880. 

Chester Burch ssi^^. born in the State of Vermont, March 22, 
1810, a son of Oliver and Anna Burch. His parents moved to 
New York, and in 1825 to Washington County, Ohio, where, JSTov. 
10, 1831, Chester married Folly Davis, a native of that county, 
born, April 4, 1812. In 1837 they moved to Steuben County, Ind., 
and settled on section 15, Otsego Township, on land owned by 
James Clark. Three years later he bought eighty acres on section 
10, where he lived till his death, Jan. 26, 1879. He was a mem- 
ber of the Disciples church and his Christian life and honorable 
dealings won him the respect of all who knew him. Seven children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burch — Nathan died in Ohio aged four 
years; Halbert was killed Nov. 31, 1872, by being thrown from a 
wagon; Cynthia is the wife of George Hummel; Louisa, wife of 
William Rummel, died April 6, 1873. aged thirty years; Chester 
lives in Scott Township; Asa is a resident of Steuben County; 
Florilla is the wife of Harvey Sugar, of Decatur, Ind. 

Henry Burch^ son of Oliver and Anna Burch, was born July 7 
1820. In the fall of 1837 he visited and worked for his brother 
Chester in this township, but returned to Ohio and remained till 
1839, when he permanently located in Steuben County. He made 
his home with his brother till 1841, when he married Mary Ann 
Keith, who died, leaving five children — Emilv, wife of Robert 
Wilkes; Hartwell, of Ohio; William, of this township; Lvsander, 
of Jamestown Township; Elvy, wife of Elijah Shaw. He subse- 
quently married Mrs. Catherine (Williams) Teeters, widow of John 






'f 



818 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. ' 

Teeters, After twenty years of married life Mrs. Biirch died, in 
1879. Oct. 17, 1882, Mr. Enrcli married Polly (Davis) Burch, 
widow of his brother Chester. Mr. Burch owns a fine farm on 
section 1, Otsego Township. He and his wife now occupy the 
homestead of his brother on section 10. Mr. Burch is devoted to 
the principles of the Republican party. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Disciples church, and their upright Christian lives have 
placed them among the most respected citizens of the township. 

William Cameron was born in Abernethy, Scotland, Oct. 22, 
1817, the second of nine children of George and Janet Cameron, 
who left Scotland with their family in 1834, and came to America, 
settling in the Western district of Canada, where the mother died 
in 1838 and the father in 1848. Three of the children came to In- 
diana — John settled in Richland Township, Steuben County, where 
he died in April, 1878. Donald came in 1842 and is living in 
Posey County, and onr subject, who settled in Richland Township 
on section 8, in 1841, making a fine farm of 160 acres of wild tim- 
ber. In 1864 he sold his farm in Richland Township and bought 
the home where he now lives, on section 29, Otsego Township. He 
was a poor man when he came to the county but by frugality and 
industry has accumulated a good property and is surrounded by all 
the comforts of life. He was married in March, 1843, to Sarah 
Carlin, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born Feb. 1, 1826, 
daufj-hter of Robert and Sarah Carlin, who settled in Richland 
Township in 1841. To them have been born seven children. The 
eldest, Robert, died Nov. 16, 1S66, in the twenty-third year of his 
age. Tiie youngest died in infancy. Jane is the wife of Clay Leni- 
mon;* Juliet married John Fee; Sarah is the wife of Ralph Bullard; 
John is at home, and Maria Viola is the wife of IST. Griffin. 

George II. Carpenter, son of Harlow J. and Fanny (Merry) Car- 
penter, was born in Erie County, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1841, and was 
nearly ten years of age when his parents moved to Steuben County. 
At the age of nineteen years he went to Dewitt County, 111., and 
taught two terms of school, being absent a little more than a year. 
Since his marriage he has lived in Montgomery, Hillsdale Co., 
Mich., engaged in the drug business. With these exceptions he has 
been identified with Steuben County since first coming here, and 
the most of the time has lived on the old homestead, his present 
residence. In 1881 he erected a building for the purpose, and be- 
came established in the general mercantile business at Otsego 
Center, where by his genial, courteous manners he has built up a 




-v 




C-' 



C// (fr 



wcyzcy. p'a4Air/^^£4/ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 819 

good trade which is constantly increasing. He is also Postmaster 
of Oufa postoffice, appointed in 1881. He was married July 4, 
1863, to Lydia Griffith, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, 
a daughter of John and Jemima Griffith. To them have been born 
five children; but three are living — Bert, Sylvia and Lena. Their 
eldest, Leman, died aged nine years, and their third, Harlow J., 
aged fourteen months. In politics Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat. 

Rarlow J. Carjpentev was born in Chittenden County, Vt., June 
27, 1813. When twenty-one years of age he drove a team through 
to Pennsylvania for an elder brother, Joseph, and a few months 
later rode a horse to Erie County, Ohio. He was married in Erie 
County, Sept. 29, 1836, to Eanny Merry, daughter of Hosmer and 
Sally Merry. She was born in Milan, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1813, where 
her parents were pioneer sctttlers. In 1849 Mr. Carpenter be- 
came identified with Steuben County, buying and improving 120 
acres of land on section 22, Otsego Township. Of his six children 
five were born in Ohio and one in Steuben County — Jesse H, lives 
in Angola; Sarah is the widow of Robert H. Humphreys; George 
H. lives on the old homestead; Emma died in Ohio at the age of 
three years; Betsey M. is the wife of Lewis Griffith; Julia is the 
wife of B. F. Griffith, and Carrie S. is the wife of L. W. Brown. Mr. 
Carpenter was an energetic, public-spirited, thrifty man; was active 
in the promotion of every good cause. The day he was twenty-one 
years old he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and from the first was an intelligent, active worker in the Master's 
vineyard. He was for many years a local preacher and was every- 
where known as Elder Carpenter, a title he worthily earned and 
wore. He was always ready to give religious instruction and his 
purse was always open to assist the poor and needy. After coming 
to Steuben County Mr. Carpenter officiated at 612 funerals, and it 
is not known how many marriages he solemnized. He was called 
to his reward April 30, 1883. Soon after his death the Methodist 
Episcopal church at Otsego Center, and to which in life he was 
much attached, was rededicated and named, as a tribute to honor 
his memory, Carpenter's Chapel. His worthy life companion sur- 
vives and is living with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Sarah E. 
Humphreys. 

Levi Chard was born in Marion County, Ohio, May 7, 1814, a 
son of "William and Susan Chard. His father was born in England 
and died in Lower Sandusky, Ohio, in 1823. His mother was a 
native of Ohio and died in Steuben County, Ind., at the residence 



«\ I — — — — ■ ■ - ■ - ,«T^ 

820 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of her dau2;liter, Mrs. Betsey Shaffer. Levi Chard was reared in 
Ohio and there married, Feb. 3, 1834, Lydia Harriman. In the 
fall of 1837 they came to Steuben County, and the first year lived 
on land rented of J. Croy, in Jackson Township. Mr. Chard then 
bought forty acres on section 18, Otsego Township, where they 
lived tliree years when they moved to Illinois, but subsequently 
returned to Steuben County and bought forty acres on section 17, 
Otsego Township. To this he has added till he now owns 109 
acres. Mr. Chard was a man who found pleasure in the life of a 
pioneer. Of a strong, robust habit, he was fond of out-door life 
and of the chase, deer hunting being his favorite pastime. Com- 
ing as he did in the early settlement of the county he has assisted 
materially in its development. The first time he visited Fort 
Wayne he passed but three houses from his home to the latter 
place. To Mr. and Mrs. Chard have been born eight children, but 
two of whom are living — Charles and Enoch. Charles married 
Anna Dotts and is a resident of Otsego Township. Enoch married 
Susan Dutter, daughter of George and Anna Datter, and lives on 
the homestead. Phoebe Ann married William Dutter and died 
aged twenty-one years. Five died in infancy, the eldest a short 
time after coming to Steuben County, aged eighteen months. In 
politics Mr. Chard is a Democrat, but in local elections votes for 
the man he considers the best qualified for the office. 

James Clark, deceased, one of the prominent pioneers of Otsego 
Township, was born in Ireland in 1806, and when eleven years of 
age his parents came to the United States and settled in Otsego 
County, N. Y., where the children, two sons and two daughters, 
were employed in a cotton factory until they became of age. James 
continued to work in the factory and became an overseer, and 
subsequently a stockholder. In 1836 he sold his factory stock and 
came to Steuben County and bought 400 acres of land in Otsego 
Township, making his home on section 10, where Aaron Teegar- 
den now lives. He was an active, influential man in the new 
county, and as he had what so few of the early settlers had, consid- 
erable capita], was able to assist materially in its development and 
improvement. He was one of the organizers of Steuben County 
and one of its first Commissioners, an office he held several years, 
provino- himself to be the right man for the place. In politics he 
was in early life a Whig, and was one of the most active in the or- 
ganization of the Republican party. While not a member of any 
religious denomination he led a blameless life and always assisted 



^ 



<o 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 821 

every object worthy his consideration. In 1874 he moved to 
Quincy, Mich., where he intended living a retired life, but the 
death summons came for him Aug. 25, 1875, and his remains were 
brought back to his pioneer home for burial. He was married m 
New York to Eliza Swift, and to them were born five children — 
George, Susan, Edna, Halbert and Rowena. Susan died in New 
York. The fourth year of his residence in Steuben County his 
wife and four children died. June 9, 1840, he married Elizabeth 
Johnson, a native of Otsego, N. Y., born Nov. 9, 1819. Eight 
children were born to them — Eliza, widow of William Shaughniss; 
Menzie died at the age of two and a half years; Nancy, wife of 
Ranson Cory; Harriet, wife of Alvah Belot; Lucy, wife of John 
Babcock; John, of Reading, Mich.; James died aged six years; 
Jennie, wife of Mortimer Bennett. Mrs. Clark is living in Quincy, 
Mich., in the enjoyment of good health. 

Solomon M. Cox was born in Knox County, Ohio, Sept. 17, 
1840, a son of "William and Margaret Cox, the former a native of 
Delaware, born Feb. 27, 1815, and the latter of Ross County, Ohio, 
born Jan. 1, 1820. They were married Sept. 1, 1837, and after a 
residence of eleven years in Ohio moved to Steuben Countv, Ind., 
where the father died March 22, 1864. Since August, 1864, the 
mother has lived with her daughter in Fulton County, Ohio. Their 
family consisted of three children — Sarah died at the age of six 
years; Elizabeth is the wife of H. S. Persing, of Fulton County, 
Ohio, and Solomon. Our subject was reared in Steuben County, 
remaining at home till his marriage, Nov. 6, 1859, to Nancy Al- 
drich, who was born in De Kalb County, this State, Sept. 17, 1841, 
daughter of David and Mary (Jackman) Aldrich. After his mar- 
riage he settled on a farm he had previously bought in Richland 
Township, where he lived till April 1, 1872, when he bought his 
present residence on section 13, Otsego Township. He owns 
eighty acres of good land, well improved, with a pleasant residence 
and comfortable farm buildings, and thirty acres of good timber in 
Richland Township. Aug. 25, 1861, Mr. Cox volunteered in defense 
of the Union and was assigned to Company A, Forty -fourth Indi- 
ana Infantry, and Jan. 1, 1864, veteranized and served till Sept. 
14, 1865. He participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, 
siege of Corinth, Stone River and Chickamauga. At the two lat- 
ter he was on duty on General Yancleve's staff. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cox have two children — Mary Ann, born Jan. 21, 1861, was mar- 
ried to James "Wilson Nov. 14, 1880, and has two children — Char- 
52 



#»- 



T>^ 



«< »^ |4r- 

822 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ley and Maggie; Schuyler C. was born June 19, 1869. They are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Lucius R. Grain was born in Eden, Madison Co., N. Y., June 
6, 1827, a son of Lucius and Paulina (Frink) Grain. In 1836 his 
father visited Steuben County, Ind., and bought land on section 
36, Steuben Township, and in September, 1837, moved his family 
to it. The following year they returned to New York, but in 1840 
came West again and settled on their land where both parents 
died, the father Aug. 31, 1848. Lucius H. remained on the 
homestead till twenty-three years of age. He was married Jan. 
29, 1851, to Nellie Aldrich, who was born in Yermont in 1830, a 
daughter of Isaac T. and Lovina Aldrich. Her parents came to 
Indiana in 1837 and settled in De Kalb County, where they both 
died. For nine months after his marriage Mr. Crain lived in De 
Kalb County, and then returned to Steuben (Jounty, and in 1853 
settled on the farm where he now lives, on section 31, Otsego Town- 
ship, where he has a pleasant home. He is one of the representa- 
tive citizens of the township. In politics he is a Democrat. In 
early life he was a member of the United Brethren church but is 
now connected with no religious society. His wife is a member 
of the Methodist E})iscopal church. They have had a family of 
four children; three are living — Charles T., Mary and Edward. 
Their eldest child, Jane, died at the age of eleven years. Charles 
T. was married Nov. 23, 1872, to Martha Langley, a native of 
Harrisville, Ohio, and has two children — Cora Bell and Anna D. 
Mr. Crain's grandfather, Elisha Crain, was a soldier in the war of 
the Revolution and one of the heroes of the battle of Bunker 
Hill. He died in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1848, in the 
ninety-ninth year of his age. 

David H. Davis is a prominent farmer and business man of 
Otsego Township. He was born in England, Feb. 8, 1820, and in 
1850 married Elizabeth Yates, also a native of England, born in 
1820. In February, 1853, they came to the United States, land- 
ing in New York City, and after living about eighteen months in 
Pittsburg, Pa., moved to Portage County, Ohio, where they lived 
twelve years. In 1867 they moved to Steuben County, Ind., and 
Mr. Davis has since been prominently identified with the business 
interests of the county and one of the most active citizens. He 
settled on section 10, buying a large farm, and now owns 250 
acres, mostly impmved. His residence and farm buildings are 
built with a view to durability and utility, characteristic of the 

< < 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



823 






man. In addition to his farm he bought, in company with Nathan- 
iel Parker, a steam saw-mill, which was built in 1855 by Mahood 
& Sons. In 1869 the mill was burned but was immediately re- 
built and enlarged, the old engine and boiler being used. In 1871 
Mr. Davis bought his partner's interest and has since operated 
the mill in company with his son Frank, manufacturing dimension 
lumber, shingles, lath, etc., and also has a turning lathe. His 
mill is of twenty horse-power, with a capacity of 3,000 feet a day. 
Mr. Davis is known as a man of strict business integrity, his word 
being his bond, and has proved himself to be an honored member of 
the community and an influential citizen. In National politics he is 
a Republican, but in local elections votes independent of party. 
His three children, Kate, Lucetta and Frank Y., are all at home. 

George B. Farnwm was born in Coldwater, Mich., Aug. 28, 
1851, the only son of George V. and Frank C. (Willey) Farnum. 
He has always made his father's house his home, and in August, 
1876, succeeded him in business. He received a good practical 
education which fitted him for the active business of life. He has 
a general stock of groceries, dry -goods, hardware, crockery, etc., 
and is doing a good business which is constantly increasing. Mr, 
Farnum is a genial, accommodating young man and is a general 
favorite with all classes of citizens, both in business and social 
circles. He is an honorable, enterprising citizen and in 1884 was 
elected one of the Justices of the Peace of Otsego Township. 
He was married Christmas da}', 1876, to Frances E. Kepler, a 
native of Steuben County, born Aug. 19, 1855, daughter of Jere- 
miah and Susan (Griffith) Kepler. 

George V. J^armimwas born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 27, 1818. 
His father, George Farnum, died in Pennsyh^ania in 1826. His 
mother died in Massachusetts in 1817. When fifteen years of age 
he went to work in a dry-goods store in Boston and when seven- 
teen was sent out by them as a commercial traveler, visiting while 
in their employ twenty-six States and two Canadian provinces. 
He was married in Boston in May, 1836, to Charlotte Stone, who 
died six months later aged twenty-two years. In 1815 he married 
Frank C. Willey, who was born in Irasburg, Orleans Co., Vt., 
Aug. 22, 1817, living at that time in Connecticut. The year of 
their marriage they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Farnum 
engaged in the construction of telegrapli lines about a year. In 
the fall of 1846 he embarked in the mercantile business which he 
continued till June, 1848, when he moved to Burr Oak, Mich., 



^ 



•V 



824 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



buying land with the intention of engaging in farming, but not 
liking that life he engaged a short time in keeping hotel and then 
moved to Coldwater and bought an interest in a wagon and paint 
shop. Two years later he sold out and became a resident of Steu- 
ben County, Ind., locating at Angola in 1859. He for a short 
time kept the Eldora House (now the Kussell House), and in No- 
vember, 1859, moved to Hamilton, and at first kept a hotel and 
general store in the La Due property. In 1864 he established 
the business now conducted by his son George R. Mr. Farnum 
has led an active business life and has now a competency for his 
declining years. He has made many friends in his business 
career who value liim for his many sterling and business qualities 
and genial, agreeable manners. 

John Fee, the first settler of Otsego Township, was born in 
Gallia County, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1810. His father, William Fee, 
was a farmer and to that avocation the son was reared and made 
it the successful pursuit of his life. He was nineteen years of age 
when his father with family settled in Williams County, Ohio. 
He had a family of twelve children, of whom John was the sec- 
ond child. William Fee, after making a little improvement and 
shelter for his family, went back for money to pay for his land 
and on his return was taken sick and died before reaching home, 
leaving the family in limited circumstances. John Fee and Mary 
A. B. Holton were married April 9, 1833. She was born in High- 
land County, Ohio, April 9, 1811, a daughter of Samuel Holton, 
one of the first settlers of Chillicothe, Ohio. At the time of their 
marriage Mrs. Fee was residing with her brothers, Samuel and 
John Holton, in Williams County, Ohio. Samuel Holton settled 
in De Kalb County the same year and was the first settler of that 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Fee lived on Samuel Helton's farm as 
renters until 1835, wlien they came to this township, being the 
first white family to make their home here, and located 120 acres 
on section 32. Mr. Fee was a man of great energy and force — 
the man for a new country. It gave him room, and brought into 
action his inherent force of character. He became one of the 
largest land owners in the county, at one time owned about 1,500 
acres, not all in this county. His home farm on sections 32 
and 33 and adjoining lands over the line in De Kalb County, 
contained about 700 acres, now making several farms, divided 
among liis children. Mrs. Fee cooked and carried herself a din- 
ner to the men employed in raising the first building ever erected 



% 






«_ 



kL 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



825 



in Hamilton. Nine children were born to them, of whom 
seven are living — Calvin; Clarinda, wife of A. L. Nichols; Mar- 
garet R., wife of A. J. Carpenter; John; Ann, wife of L. T. Crain; 
"William and Frank. Mr. Fee died April 2, 1873. The widow 
survives, strong in intellect, clear in recollection of pioneer days, 
but helpless from a stroke of paralysis. She is cared for by her 
son Frank and his wife at the pioneer home made one-half a cent- 
ury ago. 

Lewis Fifev was born in Columbiana Connty, Ohio, Oct. 13, 
1842, a son of Adam and Elizabeth Fifer, his father a native of 
Pennsylvania, born in 1817, and his mother of Germany, born Feb. 
15, 1821, her parents coming to the United States and settling in 
Ohio in 1826. Adam and Elizabeth Fifer were married in Ohio, 
and March 28, 1861, came to Steuben Connty and settled in Steu- 
ben Township, where the father died Nov. 2, 1883. The mother 
is now living at Pleasant Lake. Their family consisted of twelve 
children — Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffman, Lewis, Mrs, Margaret Shiedier, 
Lydia (deceased, wife of Dr. T. E. Berry), Franklin, Mrs. Mary J. 
Forward, Mrs. Jestinna Harpham, William, Mrs. Hattie Wheeler, 
Addison, and Loretta (died aged eight years), and one died in 
infancy. Lewis Fifer was married March 22, 1865, to Mrs. Martha 
(Harpham) George, daughter of John and Margaret Harpham and 
widow of Sylvanus B. George, who died April 18, 1863, leaving one 
son — Edward M., who was married July 3, 1884, to Emma Averv. 
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fifer — Mrs. Elva 
Jane Brown, Mrs. Margaret Leonora Oberlin, John Adam, Or- 
lando and Jessie A. In 1873 Mr. Fifer became a resident of Ot- 
sego Township, buying 100 acres of land on section 18, where he 
has erected a good residence and farm buildings. He is one of 
the substantial farmers of the township, and an upright, honorable 
man in all his business dealings. In National politics he is a Re- 
publican, but in local elections votes independent of party. He 
and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. 

Joseph A. Gilbert^ one of the prominent farmers of Otsego Town- 
ship, lives on section 2. He was born in Adams County, Pa., 
Aug. 3, 1825, a son of John and Mary Gilbert. When he was 
eight years of age his parents moved to Portage County, Ohio, 
where he was reared a farmer, remaining with his parents till 
twenty-five years of age. In the fall of 1851 he came to Steuben 
County and lived the following winter on his brother John's place 
in York Township. In the meantime he bought 160 acres of 



-J o 






_«) 



y^ 



♦- 



826 



HIoTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



timber-land on section 2, Otsego Township, on which he built a 
small log cabin, and the next spring moved his family to it. He 
went to work to improve his tbrest home and was soon able to 
live comfortably. He has since erected a large, fine residence, and. 
all his farm buildings are commodious and comfortable. To his 
first purchase he has added till he now has 265 acres, the most ot 
it under cultivation. He was married Feb. 25, 1850, to Martha 
Ann Forder, who was burn in Pennsylvania, July 28, 1833. To 
them were born six children — Alonzo, of this township; George 
W., died aged two years; Marietta, died in infancy; Almira and 
Alvira (twins), the former died in infancy and the latter is the wife 
of Frank Fee; Sarah Florence is the wife of Truman Bender, of 
Kansas. Mrs. Gilbert died Jan. 26, 1859. In February, 1861, Mr. 
Gilbert married Emil}' Case, a native of Orleans County, N. T., 
born Jan. 14, 1835. Three children were born to them — Alton J., 
Yictor and Verna. Mrs. Gilbert died April 12, 1884. Mr. Gil- 
bert, on his mother's side, is of a long-lived race. His maternal 
grandmother, Mrs. Mary Bachman, lived to the age of 106 years, 
and when 100 years old walked six miles to visit her daughter. 
His mother died Jan. 16, 1885, aged eighty-nine years, ten months 
and five days. At an early age she united with the German 
Lutheran churcli of which she was a member forty years, and after 
coming to Indiana transferred her membership to the United 
Brethren church. She was a kind mother, a generous Christian 
woman, and was always ready to help in any way she could the 
needv. Her husband died in 1861. Her children were eight in 
number, six of whom are living — Hannah M., wife of Aaron 
Williams; John, of York Township; Jacob, of Big Rapids, Mich.; 
Joseph A., our subject; Elizabeth, wife of John Kogen; Sylvester, 
of York Township. Jackson and Mary are deceased. Joseph A. 
Gilbert is in politics a Republican. He is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, Angola Lodge, No. 236, making their motto the 
guide of his life. 

B. Frank Griffith was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, May 
16, 1846, a son of John and Jemima (Gossage) Griflith, and was five 
years of age when his parents moved to Indiana. After the break- 
ing out of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company A, One 
Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry and served the greater 
part of the time of his enlistment in the Shenandoah Yalley after 
it had been swept clean of rebels by Sheridan's array. On his re- 
turn home he again assumed charge of the homestead and cared 



^ 



s- 



>V" 



±^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 827 

for his widowed mother till her death. Christmas day, 1868, he 
married Julia, daughter of Elder Harlow J. and Fanny Carpenter. 
She was born in Ohio in 1850, and was about one and a half years of 
age when her parents came to this township. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith 
have four children — Eugene A., Harlow J., Maude C. and Leo, 
Mr. Griffith is a prominent member of the Republican party, and 
is serving his second term as Township Trustee, being one of the 
most efficient officers the township has ever had. He is a member 
of Baron Steuben Post, No. 387, G. A. R. 

John Grijflth was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1813. 
He was reared a farmer and attained his majority in his native 
county. In 1839 he was married to Jemima Gossage, a native of 
the same county, born in 1812. In 1850, with a view to bettering 
their condition, they came to Indiana and located in De Kalb 
County, entering 160 acres of land in Franklin Township. Nine 
children were born to them, seven in Ohio and two in De Kalb 
County — Susan is the wife of Jeremiah Kepler; Lewis; Nancy, 
wife of Hiram Oberlin; Leman, who enlisted in Company H, 
Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and was wounded in the battle of 
Chickamauga, and after spending some time in the hospital was 
offered his discharge but refused, and after a furlough of a few 
weeks returned to his regiment and served till the close of the war, 
although his death in 1866 was the result of his wound and disease 
contracted while in the service; Lydia is the wife of George H. 
Carpenter; Frank B. ; Catherine died at the age of fifteen years; 
John B., and Sarah, who died in 1858. In 1857 Mr. Griffith be- 
came a partner of his brother Lewis, who was in trade in Hamil- 
ton, and continued there three years, when they traded their stock 
with Nelson Earl for 227 acres of land in this township. John 
Griffith bought his brother's interest and lived the remainder of his 
life on this farm, selling his property in De Kalb County to Mr. 
Haverstock. He was an active, pushing man, a good citizen and 
much respected. His death occurred in September, 1860. His 
wife survived him and was cared for by her son B. F. and his wife 
on the old homestead till her death, Dec. 22, 1884. 

Captain Lewis Griffith^ son of John and Jemima (Gossage) 
Griffith, was born June 17, 1838, and was twelve years of age 
when his parents settled in De Kalb County, Ind. He remained 
at home till the breaking out of the Rebellion, and July 25, 1861, 
enlisted in Company A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. His first 
engagement was at the heroic siege and capture of Fort Doneison; 



[ 



l"^ 






<a_ 



t^ 



fi 



828 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



the next was at Pittsburfi^ Landing where he received several slight 
wounds. The regiment suffered severe losses, thirty-live color 
bearers being either killed or wounded. At the battle of Stone 
River he was in Crittenden's division, and was there promoted for 
gallant and meritorious conduct from a Sergeant to First Lieuten- 
ant. Prior to this he was in the campaign of General Buell 
against Bragg, and later at the battle of Chickamauga, where he 
was wounded in the right hand and won a Captain's commission. 
The gallant Forty-fourth was nearly annihilated at this battle, be- 
ing able at Chattanooga to muster only seventy men. They were 
then placed on post duty and were never again in the front of battle. 
Captain Griffith veteranized and was discharged Oct. 22, 1865. 
While awaiting orders from the front, Sept. ], 1861, he was mar- 
ried to Betty M., daughter of Elder Harlow J. and Fanny Car- 
penter. They have eight children, all at home — Emma C, Jessie, 
Edna, Sarah, ISTellie, George, Shirley and Ford. After his return 
from the war Captain Griffith engaged in agriculture and buying 
and shipping stock. His army service has caused permanent dis- 
ability, and he is one of the thousands who have given the best 
part of their lives to the nation, and are now partially dependent 
on her for maintenance. In 1868 he was elected Assessor, an office 
he has since acceptably filled. He has served four years as Deputy 
County Auditor. He is a member of Baron Steuben Post, No. 
387, G. A. E,., of which he is at present Commander. 

Robert H. Humphreys was born in Clark County, Ohio, a son 
of James and Catherine Humphreys. He was reared on a farm, 
and receiving a good education. He remained at home till his mar- 
riage, Nov. 22, 1860, to Sarah E. Carpenter, daughter of Harlow 
J. and Fanny (Merry) Carpenter. She was educated and qualified 
for a teacher, and at the time of becoming acquainted with Mr. 
Humphreys was one of the teachers of Clark County, Ohio. They 
made their home in Genoa, Pickaway Co., Ohio, till 1863, when Mr. 
Humphreys enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio In- 
fantry, and after his discharge they moved to Steuben County and 
settled on section 15, Otsego Township, buying what is known as 
the Dunham place. The Indian village and burial place of the 
Pottawatomie Indians was on this farm. His sterling worth was 
early recognized by the citizens of this township, and soon after 
his arrival lie was elected Township Trustee, an office he filled ac- 
ceptably and to which he was again elected at the last election be- 
fore his death, which occurred July 29, 1869. Three of the four 









\^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



829 



children born to Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys died in infancy. The 
only one living is Frank B., who was born Feb. 15, 1866, and is 
now a young man of promise, possessing many of the noble traits 
of his father. Mrs. Humphreys and her son own and occupy the 
old homestead. 

William R. Ingalls was born in Rochester, Windsor Co., Vt., 
March 27, 1827. He was about four years of age when his parents, 
Jeremiah and Lance (Carpenter) Ingalls, moved from Vermont to 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, there joining the Shakers, a community 
of whom was established in that county. His mother became dis- 
satisfied and left there, and afterward married Alouzo Hancock. 
Her death occurred Oct. 15, 1843, in Summit County^ Ohio. The 
father remained with the Shakers until his death, as did also his 
son George W. He died in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls have had 
six children — Effie C, Lana J., Willie E. and Lillie (twins), Albert 
T. and Germ W. Lana J. married William Clark and resides in 
Douglas County, Dakota. The subject of this sketch, William R. 
Ingalls, has been the architect of his own fortunes. He has taken 
care of himself since he was fifteen years of age. He had good 
school advantages which he well improved, although, having to earn 
his way, he was not able to give his youth entirely to study. Most 
of his boyhood life was spent on a farm. He was married in Ash- 
land County, Ohio, in 1850, to Syiva M. Rowley. Two children 
were born to them — Charles A., now a resident of this county, and 
Susan, wife of Prof. A. W. Long, of Angola. Mrs, Ingalls died 
in 1859. Mr. Ingalls was again married Nov. 14, 1859, to Lovina 
J. Thompson, daughter of John and Cornelia Thompson, of Wood 
County, Ohio. Her father came from Scotland when seventeen 
years of age, and died in Branch County, Mich., July 28, 1870, Her 
mother now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Hattie Legge. Mr. In- 
galls first came to this township in 1847, employed by Everitt Farn- 
ham, chopping, on land now owned by Mr. Ingalls. He was 
engaged in this work five months, then returned to Ohio, still in 
the employ of Mr. Farnham, who lived there. Mr. Ingalls knowing 
the value of this land was ready to buy it if opportunities ofiered, 
and the purchase was efiected in 1850, and in the fall of 1851 he 
moved his family here. He now owns one of the best farms in the 
township, containing 200 acres. Mr. Ingalls fitted himself for the 
practice of law and is a member of the Steuben County bar. 
Though he has had some practice he does not care to make it his 
business. By industry, energy and frugality he has placed him- 



"^ 



■^ 






^'. 



830 HISTOR"i' OF STEUBEN COUNT r. 

self and his family beyond want, and by his upright, square deal- 
ing life he has earned the good-will and confidence of all who know 
him. He is a member of Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., and 
to the teachings of the ancient and honorable Masonic order he 
"squares'' his life. 

Robert Jachman, the first settler of Eichland Township, Steuben 
Co., Ind., was born in Ireland in 1785. When he was about five 
years of age his parents came to the United States and settled in 
Jefl:erson County, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives, 
and where he was reared and married in 1808 to Phebe Yail, a na- 
tive of New Jersey. Not long after their marriage they moved 
to Eichland County, Ohio, and March Y, 1886, came to Steuben 
County and bought for himself and sons 640 acres of land in the 
southwestern part of the township, making his residence on sec- 
tion 30. He was an energetic, enterprising man and made a fine 
farm of his land. He was perfectly honorable and won many friends. 
Coming as he did when the county was inhabited by Indians, he by 
his upright dealing with them won their confidence and had many 
friends among them. He died in 1851 while on a visit to his old 
home in Richland County, aged sixty-six years. His wife sur- 
vived him many years and died at the home of her daugljter, Mrs. 
Aldrich aged eighty-two years. They had a family of twelve 
children, nine of whom grew to maturity; all but one married 
and had families. The sons are all dead. Four of the five daugh- 
ters are living — all widows — Mrs. Lydia Hill, of Montgomery 
Couut}^ Ohio; Mrs. Margaret Johnson, of Richland Township; 
Mrs. Mary A. Aldrich, of Otsego Township, and Mrs. Jane San- 
ders. 

Andrew Jackson was born in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 3, 1829, 
a son of John and Orpha (Watson) Jackson. His father died 
about 1831 and his mother twenty-seven years later. His mother 
married a man by the name of Asa Church, and moved from Stark 
County to Crawford County, and then to Wood County, thence to 
Williams County, Ohio, where she died. She was the mother of 
four boys by her last husband. When he was two years of age he 
was taken into the family of Peter Boyer, and remained with them 
till about fourteen years of age. Peter Boyer moved to De Kalb 
County, Ind., in the year 1836, and settled in Franklin Town- 
ship, where he and his wife died. Andrew Jackson endured all 
the hardships that were incident to the earlier settlers of our now 
beautiful county. He did not wear shoes until after he was ten 



9 . 



\ 



HI8T0KY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



831 



years old. In the winter when he was sent out to cut fire-wood he 
would warm a shake to stand on, and when it would get cold he 
would go in the house and warm it again, or until he had com- 
pleted his wood cutting. After the death of Mr. Boyer, Andrew 
lived in the families of Abram F. Beecher and John Fee a short time 
and when sixteen years of age went to Defiance County, Ohio, and 
remained one season, then came to Steuben County and attended 
school the following winter. In the fall of 1849 he went to Cook 
Countv, 111., where Evanston now is, and engaged in garden farming 
for a man bv the name of Eli Garfield. In December, 1853, he 
returned to Steuben County. Dec. 24, 1856, he was married to 
Mary M. Einia, a native of Northern Ohio, born June 20, 1838, 
daughter of Daniel and Anna (Burr) Rima. In 1843 her parents 
mov'ed to Green County, Wis., and in 1853 to Steuben County, 
Ind. , where they both died. For two years after their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson lived in Franklin Township, De Kalb 
County, and then moved to Steuben County and bought 120 acres 
of land on section 20, Otsego Township. In 1875 he sold his farm 
and moved to Grand Traverse County, Mich., and six years later 
returned to Steuben County and purchased his old farm, where he 
has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have no children, but 
have an adopted daughter, Nellie May Stoddar, born Jan. 23, 1874. 
They also reared Judson Jackson, who is now a young man. In 
politics Mr. Jackson is a Republican. 

Edwin Jackson was born in Otsego Township, on the old home- 
stead, Jan. 20, 1844, a son of Theophilus and Mary Ann (Carter) 
Jackson. His father came to Steuben County before his marriage 
and bought a tract of wild land. After his marriage he settled on 
section 19, where he now owns 234 acres of land all finely improved. 
In the early days of the county he was one of the township's most 
prominent men, serving several terms as Trustee and in other 
positions where reliable and responsible men were needed. For 
the past seven years he and his wife have been living a retired life 
at Pleasant Lake. Five children were born to them— Edwin is the 
eldest; Lenora, wife of Henry Gaylord; Sarah, wife of James Stel- 
lar; George, a resident of Michigan; and Frank, who died at the age 
of four years. Edwin Jackson was reared and educated in Otsego 
Township, and has always made the old homestead his home. He 
has by his manly and upright dealings won the respect and confi- 
dence of his fellow townsmen. He was married April 17, 1870, to 
Sarah Stellar, a native of Ohio, born March 28, 1847, daughter of \ 



832 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

William and Sarah Stellar, both now deceased. Two children 
have been born to them — Maude and Clyde. Mr. Jackson is one 
of the leading Democrats of the county, and in 1884 was the party's 
nominee for County Treasurer, but as his party is largely in the 
minority was defeated. 

Edward G. Johnson^ son of James and Elizabeth Johnson, was 
in the twentieth year of liis age when his parents settled in Otsego 
Township. was born in Otsego, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1816. The 

two years following his coming he spent the most of the time in 
South Bend. "With that exception he has listed on the old home- 
stead on section 17, which he now owns. To the original 160 acres 
he has added from time to time till he now owns 250 acres. In 
addition to this his brother Orrin owns seventy acres adjoining. 
In June, 1845, he was married to Eleanor P. Mabrey, who was 
born in Onondaga County, N. Y., and came to this county with 
her parents, James and Martha Mabrey, in 1840. She died Nov. 
28, 1847, leaving one child six days' old — Eleanor P., who grew to 
womanhood and married Josiah Bennett. She died Oct. 2, 1882. 
Jan. 16, 1848, Mr. Johnson married Mary Corbin. To them have 
been born four children — Elmer A., died Aug. 25, 1854, aged six 
years; Cyrenus, died in infancy, Aug. 20, 1851; Calista is the wife 
of Lebbeus Anderson, and Mina May is at hojne. Mrs. Johnson 
was born in Monroe Conuty, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1831, a daughter of 
Amos and Civil Corbin. Her mother died Jan. 15, 1835, and Sept. 
9, 1835, her father married Hannah Coe. His children by the first 
marriage were Harvey Corbin, of Ionia, Mich. ; Judson, of Angola; 
Newell, of Yolo County, Cal.; Calista died Jan. 22, 1881; she 
was the wife of Peter Pisher, who died Aug. 25, 1874, the day his 
twin sons, Judson and Newell, were twelve years old. Mr. Cor- 
bin came West in 1843 and died in this township Aug. 15, 1846. 
March 1, 1885, Grandma Corbin quietly passed away at the ripe 
old age of eighty-seven years and two months, at the home of her 
daughter, Mrs. Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have a happy 
home and are surrounded with all that makes life a pleasure. 

James Johnson, one of the pioneers of 1836, was very prominent 
in the early history of Otsego Township and a history of the county 
would be incomplete without a mention of him. He was born in 
Otsego, Otsego Co., N. Y., Sept. 24, 1790, and was married in his 
native county Nov. 22, 1810, to Elizabeth Crandall, a native of 
Newport, K I., born Aug. 26, 1792. Their five children were all 
born in New York and at the time they came West were all living. 

■^^ _ -— ■ h *»- 



4*: 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



833 



Three, Cyrenus, Edward C, and Elizabeth, came with them. 
James H., the second son, moved to Ohio the same year his par- 
ents came to Indiana. Orrin, the third son, remained in New 
York and in 1839 married Laura Barras, who was born July 2, 
1814, and died in March, 1843. In 1856 Orrin Johnson came to 
Steuben County, and in 1860 went to California, returning to In- 
diana the following year, and since then has made his home with 
his brother, Edward C. In 1849 Cyrenus went to California but 
returned some years later and married in Otsego County, N. Y. 
Subsequently he returned to California and died there in 1864. 
Edward C. resides on the old homestead. Elizabeth, the second 
wife and now the widow of the pioneer, James Clark, now lives in 
Quincy, Mich. Mr. Johnson took an active part in the organiza- 
tion of the township and named it in honor of his native township 
and county. He was elected Magistrate, an office he held seven- 
teen years. He is well remembered by all the old settlers for his 
honest, upright life. He died Sept. 10, 1856. His widow survived 
him till Dec. 10, 1861. 

William H. Reyes, one of the prominent citizens of Steuhen 
County, resided on section 23, Otsego Township. He was born in 
Knox County, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1841, a son of Tolman and Mary 
(Richards) Keyes, his father a native of Rutland, Vt., and his 
mother of Connecticut. He is the tenth of eleven children; only 
three beside himself are living— Augustus, of Minnesota; Hiram, 
of Lagrange County, Ind., and Charles, of Branch County, Mich. 
His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Shortly after his 
marriage he moved to Ohio and in 1844 to Richland Township, 
Steuben County, where the mother died in the spring of 1863, aged 
sixty-four years. The father died at the age of eighty-four years. 
They were firm believers in the faith of Wesley. William H. was 
educated in the common-schools, making good use of his somewhat 
limited advantages. He remained at home till after the breaking 
out of the Rebellion and in the fall of 1861 enlisted in Company 
A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry. His first engagement was at 
the battle "of Pittsburg Landing. He was taken sick soon after and 
sent home on a furlough; rejoined his regiment at Battle Creek, 
and later participated in the -battle of Liberty Gap and Chicka- 
mauga. His Colonel, John F. Miller, now United States Senator 
from California, was wounded in the battle of Liberty Gap. Mr. 
Keyes has a letter from Senator Miller, dated Sept. 2, 1884, in 
which are kindly words of remembrance of Mr. Keyes and all the 



"^ 






7W 










UISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

gallant men of the old Twenty-ninth, in whom he had the greatest 
pride. The regiment after the battle of Chickamauga was stationed 
at Chattanooga on post duty and Mr. Kejes was detailed to duty 
at General Stanley's headquarters. A few months later he was 
with the regiment a short time and then was detailed to duty in 
the postal department. After the rebel General Wheeler had 
severed commucations with Knoxville and the road again opened 
he was sent with a car load of mail and was also given cha,rge of 
mail sent to Sherman after the capture of Atlanta. He remained 
in that department till his discharge, early in November, 1864. 
He was married Jan. 10, 1865, to Melvina Gary, a native of Knox 
County, Ohio, born Jan. 18, 1843, a daughter of William and 
Melissa Gary. They were playmates in childhood and were rocked 
in the same cradle. Mr. Keyes could not be an idle spectator of 
the struggle against rebellion and in 1865 again enlisted as a recruit 
and was assigned to Company B, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, 
and was present at the death of secession, and at the grand review 
at Washington. Alter the war he resumed agricultural pursuits, 
making his home in E-ichland Township. In October, 1878, he 
was elected Sheriff of Steuben County, and re-elected in 1880. It 
is no disparagement to others to say that the county never 
had a more eflScient officer. He made for himself quite a repu- 
tation as a detective. Lewis Schwartz, charged with burglary 
and larceny, was traced and captured by Mr. Keyes. Dell Quin, 
a horse thief, was captured at North Manchester, Ind. James Cul- 
ver, charged with grand larceny , and Joseph Etting, a forger to the 
amount of $40,000, were captured through his co-operation. Mr. 
and Mrs. Keyes have been from early youth members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, and for several years he has been a local 
preacher. He is an ardent Republican and in politics, as in all 
questions of public interest, always has an opinion and is very free 
to express it. He is courteous and genial in his manners and 
never intentionally wrongs any one. He is one of Steuben County's 
most prominent citizens and is popular with all classes. While 
Sheriff of the county he sold his farm in Richland Township and 
about the close of his second term bouofht the one where he now 
lives, known as the Sander's place. A daughter, Cora A., is their 
only child. 

Clay Lemmon, youngest son of Maurice and Lucinda Lemmon, 
was born in Otsego Township, Aug. 18, 1844, and was here reared 
and educated. His early educational advantages were, however. 



^7=^ 







HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 835 

meager, and his time for securing an education brief, for at the age 
of seventeen he entered the service of his country as a soldier in 
the civil war. He enlisted in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana 
Infantry, Oct. 10, 1861. His company being left at Henderson, 
Ky., he was not present at the battle of Fort Donelson, but joined 
his regiment previous to the battle of Shiloh, and participated in 
that engagement, the siege of Corinth and all the marches and du- 
ties of the regiment until it encamped at Battle Creek, Tenn., in 
July, 186'2. On account of ill health he was sent to the hospital 
at Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 17, 1862; was discharged Oct. 2, and 
reached home the 25th of the same month. He attended school 
the following winter, and having regained his health, on Nov. 26, 
1863, he again enlisted as a veteran in Company H, Seventy- 
fourth Indiana Infantry, joining the regiment Feb. 14, 1864, at 
Chattanooga; was under fire the most of the way from there to 
Atlanta, and took part in the battles of Jonesboro, the last of a 
series of battles culminating in the fall of Atlanta, following the 
banners of Sherman on his march to the sea and through the 
Carolinas, thence to Washington via Kichmond. He was in line 
at the time of the grand review of the army at Washington, May 
22 186' Having enlisted as a veteran he was trans erred June 
9 1865 -o the Twenty-second Indiana Veteran Yolunteer Infan- 
try, and was discharged with them at Louisville, Ky., July 24, 
1865. After his second enlistment, he was not absent from his 
reo-iment a day, and was in the ranks in all the marches and en- 
gagements of the regiment. He returned home in the month of 
his twenty-first birthday, and in November, 1869, shortly after his 
marriage, settled on the farm on section 20, Otsego Township, 
where he now lives. He has always taken an active interest in all 
public afi'airs of his township and county, and has been honored 
with several positions of trust and responsibility. In the fall of 
1874 he was a non-partisan candidate for the office of Township 
Trustee, but was defeated. In 1876 he was elected to this olfice, 
and was again elected in 1878. During his last term he was in- 
strumental in having built the convenient and tasty school build- 
ing at Hamilton, and in establishing there a graded school which 
has proven of great benefit to the town and township. In 1880 
he was elected Justice of the Peace for his township, and in 1884 
Treasurer of Steuben County for the term beginning in Septem- 
ber 1885. In politics he is an earnest Republican and an active 
worker in the party's ranks. He was married Sept. 19, 1869, to 



^ 






\ 



J- 

836 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Jane Camerou, who was bora in Richland Township, Jan. 27, 1846, 
daughter of William and Sarah Cameron, early settlers of the 
county and of Richland Township. To them have been born 
four children, three of which number are living — Sarah E., Edith 
R., Earle C. Their second child, Ernest C, died Feb. 20, 1876, 
aged ten months and fifteen days. 

David R. Leminon, son of Maurice and Lucinda Lemmon, was 
born in Sandusky County, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1839, and was four years 
of age when his parents settled on the farm where he now lives, 
and where he has since made his home. This farm contains 156 
acres of choice land, with a fine residence and other buildings. He 
was married Feb. 20, 1862, to Lorana Tuttle, a native of Steu- 
ben Township, Steuben Co., Ind., born April 15, 1840, daughter of 
Lemmon and Lora Tuttle. They have a family of nine children, 
all at home save the eldest — Maurice, Cora, Morton, Lora, Chap- 
lin, Vira, Bessie, Ethel and Elsie. Maurice is married and lives 
in Richland Township. Mr. Lemmon is a thorough, progressive 
farmer, and has been successful in all his undertakings. He stands 
high in the community, and is noted for his close attention to 
business. In politics he is a Republican. 

John Lininger was born in Stark County, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1824, 
the fourth of nine children of Samuel and Catherine Lininger, 
who moved to Hancock County, Ohio, in 1839. He was married 
Aug. 26, 1849, to Elizabeth Dotts, a native of Stark County, Ohio. 
The winter following their marriage they lived in Noble County, 
Ind., and the next spring moved to Steuben County, and settled 
on eighty acres of heavily timbered land on section 5, Otsego 
Township, where he built a log cabin and commenced to make a 
farm. Having a large supply of energy and good management, 
he soon bettered his condition and his log cabin gave place to one 
of the finest houses in the township. He now owns 120 acres in 
the homestead and forty acres in Pleasant Township. His wife 
died March 2, 1864. Of the eight children born to them but three 
are living — Sarah C, wife of Charles Rozell; Francis M. and 
John A. April 23, 1865, Mr. Lininger married Mrs. Amelia (Tay- 
lor) Cleveland, widow of Frederick Cleveland. Four children have 
been born to them — Sylvia A., Elmer (died in infancy), Luella and 
Alnetta. In 1862 Mr. Lininger, filled with patriotism, enlisted in 
the Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, but his health becoming im- 
paired he was discharged a few months later. He has been a 

^ o/J' ~ [ ^ t 



\ 



to' 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 837 

member of the Kepublican party since its organization. He is a 
member of Angola Lodge, No. 180, I. O. O. F. 

Jonas Markley was born in Crawford County, Ohio, July 15, 
1850, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Stongh) Markley, also natives 
of Ohio. His grandfather, Horatio Markley, was a native of Ash- 
land County, Ohio, a son of the pioneer, Joseph Markley. His 
father died in 1857 and his mother afterward married Peter Rutan 
and lived in Crawford County. Her father, John Stough, was of 
Holland descent, and tradition says his Grandfather Stough was 
of royal parentage. The wife of Horatio Markley was a daugh- 
ter of Adam Link, who was born in Washington County,Md., 
Nov. 14, 1761. Of him more than passing mention must be made. 
He entered the war at the age of sixteen years and served five 
years. While away from home his father, Jacob Link, was killed 
in his own house by the Indians. A part of the time during his 
service he was a companion of Poe, the scout, whose fame is his- 
torical At the age of twenty-eight years he married Elizabeth 
Link, a distant relative. He was by disposition a rover, and rug- 
ged hunter, who liked nothing better than the haunts of the wil- 
derness, and his early life saw many changes of residence. He 
was a man of iron constitution, no deprivation or hardship affect- 
ing him. At the age of sixty years he walked from Pennsylvania 
to his home in Ohio, a distance of 141 miles, in three days. He 
was always a poor man, never caring to accumulate property. He 
was a hard worker, nevertheless, and cleared quite a farm after he 
was seventy years of age. He was careless of what he ate or 
drank, either in quality or quantity, or how often. A great lover 
of whisky, but would divide his last dram with a friend. He 
often said to himself, " Whatever may be said of me, no man 
could ever call me a coward." As years grew upon him in his 
lonely condition, he went to live with his son-in-law, Horatio 
Markley. He was often remonstrated with by Mr. Markley about 
the use of whisky. Mr. Markley was an inveterate smoker, and 
one day the old man said to him, "Well, you quit smoking and I 
will quit drinking whisky." Mr. Markley could not undertake 
this, but soon after was prostrated by sickness and upon his re- 
covery said to Mr. Link, "Now I have quit, will you stand to 
your word?" The old gentleman said " Yes" and did, although 
then past ninety years of age. This change from a life-long slav- 
Tsh habit prostrated him and all thought he must die. All knew 
the remedy, but no, the old hero was adamant, and from that day 
53 



"*^1 






838 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

never a drop of liquor passed his lips. He was a Democrat from 
the days of Jefferson, but his last vote was the Republican ticket. 
He died at Sulphur Springs, Crawford Co., Ohio, Aug. 15, 1864, 
aged 102 years nine months and one day, it is believed and claimed 
the last of the heroes of the war for American independence. To 
return to the subject of our sketch. Jonas Markley was about 
seven years of age when his father died, and life's responsibilities 
were his almost from that time. The four years following he lived 
with his uncle, John Stough, and afterward worked by the month at 
farm work, until about eighteen years of age. Then worked at 
brick and tile making about nine years. While a resident of Ohio 
he came to Indiana for his bride. He was married Dec. 26, 1875, 
in Otsego Township, Steuben County, toMarcella Souder, a native 
of Hardin County, Ohio, born Dec. 27, 1856, a daughter of Amos 
and Elizabeth Souder, who came from Wyandotte County, Ohio, in 
November, 1869, and settled in Otsego Township. The first two 
years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Markley lived in Wyan- 
dotte County, Ohio, and then came to this county and bought 
forty acres of land on section 11, Otsego Township, where they 
lived three years, and then sold the farm and bought the one 
where they now live on the same section. Mr. Markley is a self- 
made man, the only assistance he ever had being $700 from his 
Grandfather Markley's estate. He is a Republican in politics and 
a radical temperance advocate. He is one of Otsego's most hon- 
ored citizens having the respect of all who know him. He has 
two children — Marshall J. and Jennie M. 

Christopher Petre was born in Germany, Jan. 8, 1820, a son of 
Jacob and Elizabeth Petre. His father was born in one of the 
German provinces conquered by Napoleon I., and served eight 
years in the army under him. He participated in the campaign 
against Kussia and witnessed the burning ot Moscow, and was one 
of the remnant of that grand army that escaped the perils of that 
mid-winter retreat. He was instrumental in saving the life of 
Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain, at the destruction of the bridge, 
but the downfall of the empire followed too soon for him to receive 
his promised reward. Jacob Petre was among the bravest of the 
devoted followers of that greatest General of modern history, and 
idolized him to the day of his death. AYhen Christopher Petre 
was ten vears of age his parents embarked from Havre de Gras 
for the United States, and when in mid-ocean his father died. 
Within a year after landing in New York his mother married 

7t<5 — - — -^^T 



,N^— 



^ 



^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



839 




Adam Zimmer, and thus was enabled to keep her family together. 
She had six children, three of whom are now living — Christopher, 
Jacob, Jr., and Mrs. Rachel Ketre. Two years after their mar- 
riage they moved to Lehigh County, Pa., thence to Mahoning 
County, Ohio, and in 1837. to Portage County, Ohio. In 1854 
they came to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Otsego Town- 
ship, where Mr. Zimmer died in April, 1862, aged seventy-three 
years, and Mrs. Zimmer in June, 1864, aged sixty-four years. 
Christopher Petre came to Steuben County in 1854 and settled in 
York Township, and in 1857 bought the 140 acres of land on sec- 
tion 3, Otsego Township, which is still his home. He was married 
in Ohio, March 16, 1842, to Hannah Harper, who was born April 
22, 1820, and died Feb. 17, 1856, leaving three children — Marga- 
retta is the wife of George Harmon, of Henry County, Mo.; Henry 
is a physician of Oregon; Henrietta died at the age of five years. 
Henry was a member of the Fourth Michigan Infantry and served 
three years. He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness and 
for fifteen years carried two rebel bullets in his body, when one was 
extracted; the other is lodged in his left shoulder. Oct. 19, 1856, 
Mr. Petre married Rowena Trowbridge, and to them have been 
born ten children, seven of whom are living — Melvin, Jacob, 
Christopher, Jr., Elmer, Fred, Linn, wife of Joseph Layman, and 
Mary. Mrs. Petre died March 2, 1872, and Mr. Petre subse- 
quently married Mrs. Sarah Rhodes, a native of New York State, 
born Oct. 25, 1824. Mr. Petre has been a Democrat from the days ot 
James K. Polk. Economy and industry have been rewarded and 
he has a competency for his old age. He is happy in the prosper- 
ity of his children, who are all thrifty and are well established in 

life. 

Robert G. Renner was bora in Levvisville, Pa., July 25, 1840, a 
son of John and Julia Renner, who settled on section 31, Otsego 
Township, in 1844, where they still reside. Of their six children, 
four were born in Pennsylvania and two in Steuben County, viz.: 
James W., of California; David H., Robert G., Mrs. Margaret 
Grain, John P. and Mrs. Rosa Grain. He remained at home till 
after the breaking out of the Rebellion, and in October, 1862, en- 
listed in Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served 
till July 31, 1863. Returning to the home of his parents he re- 
mained with them till his marriage, May 1, 1864, to Loueasy C. 
Greenamyer, who was born in Salem, Ohio, in October, 1847, a 
daughter of Samuel and Caroline Greenamyer, who settled in 



_0) 



84:0 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Butler, De Kalb Co., Ind., in 1849. The father died Nov. 30, 
1878, and the mother Feb. 11, 1875. Six months after their mar- 
riage they settled on sections 29 and 30, Otsego Township, their 
residence being on section 29. The farm contains 106 acres of 
choice land, and his farm buildings are comfortable and commo- 
dious. In 1882 Mr. Renner moved to the village of Hamilton that 
his children might have better educational advantages. He has 
five children — William S., Samuel W., John F., Effie I. and 
Charles W. In 1884 Mr. Eenner, in company w^ith Washington 
Foley, bought the La Due property, of fifty-three acres. He also 
owns thirty-seven acres in another tract adjoining the village of 
Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Renner are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. In politics he is a radical Prohibitionist. He 
is one of Otsego's prominent business men and a popular and re- 
spected citizen. 

Heiwy Rummel was born in Cumberland, Pa., June 3, 1802, a 
son of Henry and Elizabeth Rummel, natives of Pennsylvania, 
who moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1800, w^here they both 
died. He was married March 17, 1825, to Elizabeth Pirkey, also 
a native of Pennsylvania, born March 17, 180G. In 1844 they 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Richland Township, 
where the wife died Aug. 3, 1875. Mr. Rummel is living on the 
homestead, his widowed daughter, Mrs. Caroline Willard, keeping 
house for him. She has been twice married. Her first husband, 
Henry Jackman, to whom she was married Sept. 12, 1863, died 
Aug. 7, 1868, leaving one daughter — Isabella. May 25, 1876, she 
married Joseph Willard. He died Feb. 18, 1880, leaving two chil- 
dren — Mar}^ and Henry. Six sons of Mr. Rummel were in the 
war of the Rebellion — George, Henry, Jacob, Alexander, Alfred and 
David. The last died while in the service. Mr. Rummel was for- 
merly a Democrat in politics, but now affiliates with the Repub- 
lican party. He is an active member of the Disciples church, as 
was also his wife. 

George Rummel was born in Salem Township, Columbiana Co., 
Ohio, June 7, 1827, and was seventeen years of age when his 
parents, Henry and Elizabeth Rummel, settled in Richland Town- 
ship, Steuben County. He remained with liis parents till of age, 
assisting his father on the farm. He was married Oct. 14, 1855, to 
Cynthia Burch, a native of Otsego Township, born Feb. 7, 1839, 
the third of eight children of Chester and Polly (Davis) Burch, who 
-settled on section 10 in 1836. For eighteen months after his mar- 



"7' 



\\ 



\ 



^2 



H* 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 841 

ria^e Mr. Ruinrael lived on his farm on section 34, Otsego Town- 
ship, and then lived a year on his father-in-law's farm. He then 
moved to the farm on section 3, where he has since lived and where 
he owns 141 acres of valuable land. He also owus forty acres of 
the homestead of Chester Eurch. Of the eia^ht children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Hummel, seven are living— Stella, wife of Charles 
Segur; Alma, wife of George Middaugh; George W., of Kansas; 
Mary, Cyrus M., William and Shirley, at home. The second child, 
Nathln,'died in infancy. July 29, 1862, Mr. Rummel enhsted in 
Company H, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. His first engage- 
ment was at Perryville; subsequently was in several minor engage- 
ments, and at the hotly contested battle of Chickamauga; was 
nnder continued fire sixty-four days in the Atlanta campaign ; at 
the battle of Peach Tree Creek and later at Jonesboro. At the 
latter battle he won historical fame and a Sergeant's commission by 
his gallantry, being the first man to cross the enemy's breast- 
works. He was with Sherman to the sea and through the Atlan- 
tic States to Washington, participating in the grand review of the 
army. He was honorably discharged June 9, 1865. His record 
since the war as a citizen and neighbor has been marked with the 
same integrity that won for him respect as a soldier. 

Christopher Sanxter was born in Cambridgeshire, England, and 
there married his wife Rebecca, who was also a native of that 
county. Nov. 5, 1851, they embarked in a sail vessel for the 
United States. Encountering severe storms their vessel was little 
better than a wreck, and it was the 27th of February, 1852, when 
they reached New York. They first settled in Medina County, 
Ohio, and in the fall of 1857 moved to Steuben County, Ind., where 
the mother died June 5, 1883. She, as is her husband, was a con- 
sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was a kind 
mother, anda true neighbor when her services were needed in times 
of sickness and distress. Her funeral services were conducted by 
her pastor. Rev. A. C. Gruber. Of their six children two were 
born in England and four in this country— Arthur and Mrs. Cathe- 
rine Baker, of this township; Frederick, William, Mrs. Mary D. 
Swift and Ella. Mr. Sanxter is still a resident of this county. 

Andrew Sewell was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Aug. 20, 

1823, a son of Abner and Mary Sewell, his father a native of Mary- 

and,'and his mother of Ohio. When he was a child his parents 

moved to Tucarawas County, Ohio, where he was reared, and there 

married, Dec. 12, 1844, PrisciUa Crago, a native of Harrison 



19 



^___ — =?=5|7 



■^ N" * -^ — ^ ^ 

— 1 ^ 

842 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTV. 

County, born March 6, 1827. Tliey moved to Defiance County, 
Ohio, where he followed farmlncr till 1868, when he located in Steu- 
ben Countj^, Ind., buying the mill property of Samuel Hnsselman. 
This propert}'^ he has greatly improved, expending in the past two 
years about $4,000. Re has a good custom trade, which is con- 
stantly increasing. He is one of the best citizens of the village ot 
Hamilton, and has by his upright dealing won the coniidence and 
esteem of the business circles. Mrs. Sewell died May 22, 1860. 
Their family consisted often children — Mrs. Mary Ann Steitsmith 
(deceased), Abner, Mrs. Sarah E. Weir, Isaac N., Mrs. Melvina 
Sweet, Nancy, Rebecca (died aged three years), Solomon (died aged 
nineteen years), James H. and Mrs. Priscilla Kepler. Jan. 31, 
1861, Mr. Sewell married Sarah M. Crago, a sister of his first wife, 
a native of Harrison County, Ohio, born May 5, 1835. To them 
have been born ten children — Rosa, Green B., Andrew F. (died 
aged thirteen years), Julia C. (died aged four years), Charles (died 
aged thirteen years), Lillie May, Aga M., Bertha, Albert E. and 
Edwin L. (died in infancy). Mr. and Mrs. Sewell are members ot 
the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Lewis P. Sisso?i was born in Wayne County, N. Y., Oct. 10, 
1817. When he was nine j'ears old his parents, Sanford and Fla- 
via (West) Sisson, moved to Huron County, Oliio, where his father 
died. His mother died many years later at the residence of her 
son Sanford, in Michigan. Of a familj^ of fourteen children five 
are living — Lewis P.; Arnold, Augustus and Mrs. Emeline Fowler, 
in Michigan, and Lucins P., in Huron County, Ohio. Lewis P. 
celebrated his twenty-first birthday by logging, wages, 50 cents, 
and with that capital started in life on his own account. He worked 
the next four years by the day, month, or job, generally at chop- 
ping and clearing land. He has chopped the timber from 170 acres 
of land. He was married on his twenty-fifth birthday to Mary F. 
Gifford, who was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., May 1, 1816. 
She died May 23, 1879. Their only child, Eflie A., born July 18, 
1849, married John Cole, and died Oct. 18, 1871. March 30, 1880, 
Mr. Sisson married Mrs. Catherine (Smith) Strauss, daughter ol 
Dr. Robert Smith, and widow of Rev. H. F. Adolpli Strauss, to 
whom she was married Aug. 20, 1863. Mr. Strauss was born in 
Germany. April 13, 1819. He was a minister of the Lutheran 
church, located in Union County, 111. Tiiree children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Strauss. Robert Adolph died in September, 1865, 
aged ten and a half months; Joseph N, died in December, 1871, 






IX|p» 



Ll 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 843 

aged five years and four months. Frederic M. lives vi'itli his mother. 
Mary A., a daughter of Mr. Strauss by a former marriage, married 
Oliver Scotten, and lives in Huntington County, Ind. Mr. Strauss 
died Feb. S, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Sisson reside on a farm of the 
latter on section 2, Otsego Township. The farm he owns and where 
he resided till recently is on section 35, Scott Township, and was 
bought in 1849, when he first settled in the count}'. Three brotliers 
of Mr. Sisson — Foster, Aus^ustus and Henry — were soldiers in the 
war for the Union. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
Mrs. Sisson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 
politics he was originally a Whig but since its organization has 
affiliated with the Republican party. 

Isaac Slayhaugh was born in Stark County, Ohio, Oct, 29, 1840. 
In October, 1848, his parents, Leonard and Hannah Slaybaugh, 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on 120 acres of almost 
unbroken land, where the father died May 12, 1873, and the mother 
Sept. 5, 1880. The family consisted of fourteen children, eleven 
of whom are living — Mrs. Sidney Barber, Franklin, Mrs. Har. 
riet Rummel, Mrs. Susan Clining, Isaac, Jacob, William, Mrs. 
Hannah Larimer, Mrs. Mary Johnson, George and James. Bar- 
bara died at the age of seventeen years and two died in infancy. 
The old homestead has been divided and sold. Isaac Slaybaugh 
lived at home till twenty-two years of age when, Oct. 9, 1862, he 
was married to Elizabeth Thresher, a native of Delaware County, 
Ohio, daughter of David and Sarah Thresher, residents of Steuben 
Township, where they settled in 1851. The spring after his mar. 
riage Mr. Slaybaugh bought sixty acres of land in Steuben Town- 
ship, living there eight years. He then sold his farm and lived on 
his father's place a year, and in October, 1872, bought the farm on 
section 12, Otsego Township, where he now lives. He owns ninety 
acres of choice land, mostly under cultivation, and his buildings are 
all commodious and in good repair. To Mr. and Mrs. Slaybaugh 
have been born nine children, eight of whom are living — Adelaide 
Z., L. Sherman, Sarah H., Carrie A., Mary N., Charles D., Anna 
A. and Cora E. The next to the youngest child died in infancy. 
Mr. and Mrs. Slaybaugh are members of the Baptist church. 

Lewis Cass Smithy son of Dr. Robert and Eliza (^Pomeroy) Smith, 
was born in this township. Sept. 6, 1847. He was named for the 
old patriot and statesman, with whom his father had been ac- 
quainted in the early Territorial days of Michigan. His life has 
all been spent on the homestead, where his parents settled in 1842. 



5^ 



f 



844 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

He was married July 2, 1871, to Elizabeth Bennett, who was born 
in this township July 24, 1852, a daughter of Abram and Maria 
Bennett, natives of New York, who in 1843 moved to Seneca 
County, Ohio, and in 1849 to Steuben County, Ind. Her father 
was a member of the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and died 
Jan. 17, 1863, while in the service of his country. Her mother 
afterward married Walter Vaughn and resides in De Kalb County, 
Ind. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born iive children, four 
of whom are living — Amy, Benjamin F., Leslie and Asa. Robert 
died Jan. 28, 1885, aged two and a half years. 

Hiram Sweet was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., July 1, 
1841, a son of Thomas J. and Ormanda Sweet. In 1845 his parents 
moved to Defiance County, Ohio, where the mother died in De- 
cember, 1840. Hiram is the fifth of eight children, five of whom 
are living, the others being — Mrs. Alvira Crocker, Harry, Mrs. 
Fanny Price and Mrs. Delana Manning. His father afterward 
married Rebecca Bisby, who died several years ago. His father is 
now making his house his home and is in the eighty-second year 
of his age. Of the four children born to his second marriage, 
three are living — Mrs. Marian Divert, Cyrille and Anna. Hiram 
Sweet was taken a short time after his mother's death by family 
friends, by whom he was reared. Aug. 25, 1861, he enlisted in 
defense of the Union in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, 
which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. His first gen- 
eral engagement was at Stone River, then Chickamauga, Mission 
Ridge and the Atlanta campaign. About this time he was taken 
sick and after his recovery joined the regiment at Wilmington, N. 
C. He re-enlisted as a veteran and served four years lacking one 
month; was discharged July 24, 1865. Returning to Defiance he 
engaged in the manufacture of lumber, cider and jelly, at Farmer, 
till February, 1873, when he sold out and came to Steuben County, 
locatino; at Hamilton. The same vear he built a steam saw-mill of 
twenty-five horse-power, where he has successfully carried on his 
business of manufacturing. In 1882 he bought 120 acres of land 
on sections 27, 28 and 34, Otsego Township, which he has im- 
proved, erecting a fine residence and other farm buildings, and 
now has one of the pleasantest homes in the township. Since his 
residence in the county he has, by his upright dealings, won the 
confidence and esteem of the community and has made many 
friends. He was married March 6, 1870, to Meivina Sewell, who 
was born in September, 1851, daughter of Andrew and Priscilla 






HISTOKT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



845 



Sewell. To them have been born three children — Ora O., Laura 
B. and Glenn O. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. He is a member of J3arou Steuben Post, 
No. 387, G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican. 

George W. Swift^ one of the pioneers of Steuben County, set- 
tled in Otsego Township in 1836. He was born in the old Bay 
State in May, 1804, a son of Ephraim Swift, who died while a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812. When he was about fourteen years of age 
he went to Broome County, K. Y., and lived with his maternal 
grandfather, Solomon Bodfitch, till manhood. He was married in 
1826 to Lucretia Gates, a native of Broome County, born in 1807. 
When they came to this county they had three children — Edward, 
who died aged thirteen years; Oscar F., and Alice D., now widow 
of John Cowan. The children born here were — Adolphus, of York 
Township; David K., on the old homestead; Susan L., wife of 
Peter Zimmer, and Josephine, who died in childhood. Mr. Swift 
was one of the honored and trusted men of the township, and is 
well remerabesred by all the old pioneers for his many good quali- 
ties. He served the township many terms faithfully as Trustee 
and in other positions. He was an active member of the Baptist 
church and was one of the Deacons. He died after a life of use- 
fulness in 1868, his wife surviving him six years. 

John W. Thomas^ merchant and Postmaster, Hamilton, Ind., 
was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 1, 1830, a son of Rev. 
Jonathan and Elizabeth (Beacom) Thomas. He was reared by his 
grandfather, Michael Thomas, and given a good education. At 
the early age of fifteen years he began teaching in connection with 
attending school. When twenty years of age he left school and 
went to California by the overland route and the winter following 
went to Portland, Ore., then a small village in the woods, and 
taught the only school there at a salary of $75 a month. In the 
spring of 1851 he returned to California and located at Yreka, a 
mining village, and remained two years, teaching a select school 
in the winters of 1853 and 1855. In the winter of 1855 he was 
elected Assessor of Siskiyou County and served two years, and in 
1857 was a mining overseer and Deputy SheriflF. In the winter of 
1858-'9 he returned home and in the spring of 1860 became estab- 
lished with his brother-in-law, John Holt, in the mercantile busi- 
ness at Richland Center. The following fall he sold his interest 
and engaged in farming. He was married Sept. 2, 1860, to Juliet 
Benedict, who died Sept. 2, 1861, leaving an infant daughter fif- 



i>'^ 



J^ 



^ =TV^ 

846 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

teen days old, which died six months later. Mr. Thomas then left 
his farm and taking his youngest sister, Henrietta, went to Hills- 
dale College, intending to complete the course. After passing 
through the junior year he was obliged to leave school, and in the 
winter of 1863 and summer of 1864 taught at Angola. He then 
sold his farm and for six years was engaged in business at Metz. 
In the meantime he served as Trustee of Richland Township live 
years. In 1872 he moved to Edon, Ohio, where he engaged in gen- 
eral merchandising, and also conducted a steam saw and grist-mill. 
He continued in business seven years when reverses in business 
overtook him and he lost all his property, save his residence. In 
1880 he moved to Newville, De Kalb Co., Ind., and engaged in 
the manufacture of lumber, and in 1882 came to Hamilton and 
again engaged in the mercantile business, where by his genial and 
accommodating manner he has built up a large trade which is con- 
stantly increasing. He is a prominent and devoted member of the 
Odd Fellows' order. He was a charter member of Yreka Lodge, 
No. 180, and of the encampment, and held all the higher offices in 
each; was also a charter member of the encampment at Angola, 
holding all the higher offices and representing both the lodge and 
encampment in the grand lodge of the State; was a charter mem- 
ber of the Mt. Pleasant lodge at Metz and also passed all the chairs 
of the Florence Lodge in Williams County, Ohio. He was an active 
man in public affairs while in California. He enlisted in the 
Rougue River Indian war in 1856, under Captain J. P. Goodale, 
and participated in several skirmishes and two general engage- 
ments, serving under General Jo Lane, United States Senator. He 
was one of a force of twenty men under Lieutenant Ely, who dis- 
covered a large force of Indians at Dry Creek. Sending two of 
the men to inform General Lane the eighteen held the Indians, 
nnmbering about 250, at bay four and a half hours before rein- 
forcements came. Fifty-two Indians were killed, and of the eight- 
een gallant men nine were killed and two died of wounds, Mr. 
Thomas and one other being the only two who were uninjured. 
The Indians were followed, although with great loss to the troops, 
and the next day were captured, thus ending the war. In the days 
of vigilant committees Mr. Thomas was active in upholding law 
and order. He was married the second time in 1866 to Phoebe 
Everhart, who was born in Morrow County, Ohio, in 1842, daugh- 
ter of James Everhart, of Richland Township. To them have 
been born four children — Zoe, Thaddeus W., Frank P. and Jona- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 84/' 

than p. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, of which he is class-leader and is also Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school. 

Rev. Jonathan Thomas was born in Pennsylvania in 1807. 
When he was seventeen years of age his parents, L. and A. Thomas, 
moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he was married in 1825 to 
Elizabeth Beacom, a native of Maryland, born in 1807, dauc^hter 
of Henry Beacom, a hero of the Revolutionary war. To them were 
born ten children; all save one lived till maturity and four are now 
living — Enoch, of Marshall County, Iowa; John W., of this town- 
ship; Fletcher, of North Manchester, Ind., a Presiding Elder in 
the United Brethren church, and William H., of Tama County, 
Iowa. Elizabeth (deceased), a twin sister of Enoch, was the wife 
of Rev. E. P. Church. S. Mark died in Iowa. Henrietta was noted 
for her culture and literary ability, many of her poems and prose 
articles appearing in the New York Ledger and other periodi- 
cals. She married Frank Payton, of Huntington County, 
Ind., and died at Winterset, Iowa, in 1880, aged twenty-six 
years. Rev. Jonathan Thomas moved from Williams County, 
Ohio, to Steuben County, Ind., in 1846, where he resided till after 
the death of his wife, wliicii occurred in 1863. Since then he has 
had no permanent residence. He has been a minister of the United 
Brethren church sixty years, being ordained soon after his first 
marriage. At present he has no settled appointment, but is doing 
the work of an evangelist, and expects to do the Master's work till 
called home. He is now living with his third wife. 

George H. Walberry was born in Fremont, Sandusky Co., Ohio. 
Oct. 26, 1845, a son of Christian and Sophia (Miller) Walberry, his 
father a native of Germany and came to America in 1840 and mar- 
ried the same year, and his mother of Columbiana County, Ohio, 
In July, 1846, his father died alone while returning home from 
the field of a friend where he had been working and his body was 
not found till three days later. He left two children — Rhoda Ann 
and George H. May 4, 1854, his mother married William Burket, 
by whom she had five children — Ellen Jane, George W., Caroline, 
Angeline and Charlotte. Mr. Burket died Aug. 7, 1864, and his 
wife survived him till Jan 9, 1883, dying at Elkhart, Ind., where 
she was visiting. George H. Walberry lived with his mother till 
sixteen years of age and then began to work by the month in a 
saw-mill. Dec. 9, 1863, in obedience to a call from the Govern- 
ment, he enlisted in the Ninth Company, First Battalion, Ohio 






k 



848 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Sharpshooters. The company was raised by Captain W. L. Stearns, 
for special service, and by him bartered for a Major's commission, 
and was assigned to 'the Sixtieth Ohio Infantry as Company Gr. 
Upon their united remonstrance to the war department tliey were 
armed with Spencer rifles and served as flankers and sharpshooters 
for the Second Brigade, Third Division, Mnth Corps of the Army 
of the Potomac. Mr. Walberry received his baptism of fire at the 
Wilderness, then followed Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, where 
he was under fire seven days. He was in the works before Peters- 
burg and on one occasion when volunteers were called for to re- 
cover the rifle pits captured by the enemy, he was one of twenty 
to respond and was one of ten left after the successful charge. Par- 
ticipating in all the engagements of his regiment he did all his 
duty, never shirking because of danger, and was discharged July 
28, 1865. His regiment was the second to enter Petersburg and 
the second to unfurl its banner on the dome of the court-house. He 
was in the line at the grand review of the army at Washington. 
After his return to Ohio he worked at milling till 1875, when, Dec, 
5, he came to Steuben County, Ind., and bought the farm where 
he now lives, on sections 1 and 11, Otsego Township, known as 
the old Maybry farm, his residence being on section 11. Since his 
return to civil life he has made a record as honorable as in war and 
has won many friends. F o the first he has taken an interest in 
the public affairs of the township, and in 1880 was elected Town- 
ship Trustee on the independent ticket. Dec. 22, 1867, he was 
married to Sarah Rinehart, a native of Sandusky County, Ohio, 
born Sept. 5, 184.7, a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Ramer) 
Rinehart. Four children have been born to them , three of whom 
are living — Llewellyn, Perry, and an infant, born Dec. 30, 1884. 
Cora died at the age of ten months. 

Ejphraim B. Williams, the fifth child of Henry R. and Mary 
Ann (Case) Williams, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., Jan. 10, 
1833, and in the fourth year of his age came to Indiana with his par- 
ents and settled in Jackson Township, Steuben County. His mother 
was in feeble health when they left New York and died of con- 
sumption Dec. 2, 1836, the year of their settlement. Of the family, 
Hamilton died at the age of ten years; Maria died at the age of 
twenty years; Wallace is living on the homestead on section 9, this 
township, and E. B. is the subject of our sketch. Two years after 
the mother's death the father married Philura Town, and in 1842 
removed to Otsego Township, buying 100 acres on section 9, where 

., y I ■■ — , ■ 

~« — ^ ^^ — «>v 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 849 

he died Oct 9, 1879, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His 
widow died in 1882, leaving no children. The youth of Ephraira 
B. Williams was spent in common with the sons of pioneer farmers, 
the greater part of the time being devoted to hard work. His ed- 
ucational advantages though limited were well used and he obtained 
a practical knowledge of the world and a fair business education. 
He remained at home till manhood, and in 1857 married Susan 
Pearce, a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., daughter of Ora 
Pearce, an early settler of Steuben County. He lived the first 
three years of his married life on section 16, and then moved to his 
present home on section 17. His farm contains 160 acres of choice 
land and his residence and farm buildings are commodious and 
comfortable. Every indication of thrift and prosperity is evident, 
all of which has been acquired by industry and frugality. His wife 
died Juno 15, 1863. Feb. 18, 1864, he married Martha Cooper, a 
lady of culture and refinement, a native of Bucks County, Pa., born 
Aug. 27, 1833, daughter of William and Lucy Cooper, who settled 
in Eichland Township in 1844. Her father died Sept. 13, 1869, 
and her mother at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. S. S. 
Brooks, in 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born three 
children — Alma and Lucy are with their paren ts ; Susie, the youno-- 
est, died in 1881, aged eleven years. In politics Mr. Williams is 
a Republican. 

Peter Zijnmer was born in Portage County, Ohio, June 7, 1839, 
a son of Adam and Elizabeth Ziramer, who came to Steuben 
County in 1854 and settled on section 1, Otsego Township, five 
children accompanying them to their new home — Eliza, the second 
child, was the wife of George Kettring, and remained in Ohio, 
where she died; Adam is a resident of Scott Township; Caroline 
married George Kettring after her sister Eliza's death and died 
in Ohio; Peter is the subject of our sketch; Catherine is the wife 
of Henry Gi5ise, of Hillsdale, Mich.; Sophia is the wife of Zacha- 
riah Kinne, of Berrien, Mich. The parents were natives of Germany 
and came to the United States in March, 1831, landing in New 
York the same day from different vessels. Mrs. Zimmer left Ger- 
many the wife of Jacob Petre, who died on the ocean, leaving six 
children. She became acquainted with Mr. Zimmer in New York 
and early in 1832 they were married. They went to Lehigh 
County, Pa., and three years later to Mahoning County, Ohio, and 
in 1837 moved to Portage County, where they lived till 1854. Mr. 
Zimmer died in April, 1862, in the seventy-third year of his age. 

"^^ . --- -^jv 



•s, 



L 



850 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Mrs. Zimmer died in June, 1864, aged sixty-four years. Peter 
Zimmer was a faithful son till the death of his parents, remaining 
at home and caring for them. April 4, 1865, he married Susan 
Swift, daughter of one of Otsego's pioneers. He commenced house- 
keeping on his father's homestead, living there till 1872, when he 
bought 142 acres of land on section 3, where he has since lived. 
His farm is finely improved, mostly the work of his own hands. 
His residence is large and commodious. To Mr. and Mrs. Zim- 
mer have been born seven children — Delphena, Oscar, Jesse G., 
Cassius Clay, Carrie, John and Orville. Mr. Zimmer takes great 
interest in the education of his children, being determined to give 
them something of which they can never be robbed. In politics 
he is an earnest Republican and a believer in the policy of protec- 
tion for American industries. 




-4— 



7' 



^ 



lLl 



1 



CHAPTEK XXIII. 



RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 



Position. — Geography. — Description. — First Land Entries. — 
Early Settlers. — First Frame Dwelling, First School-House. 
Mill, Church, Minister, etc.— Richland Center, or Alta- 
jiADo. — Living Pioneers. — Population. — Property and Taxa- 
tion.— Agricultural Statistics.— Politics. — Yote for Presi- 
dent SINCE 1840. — Biographical. 

The township of Richland is the smallest but one in Steuben 
County, and occupies the southeastern corner. It is bounded as 
follows: On the north by York Township; on the east by Williams 
County, Ohio; on the south by De Kalb County; and on the west 
by Otsego Township. It is six miles north and south, and a little 
over two and a half miles east and west, therefore containing a 
trifle under sixteen sections of land, or nearly 10,000 acres. It has 
no lakes within its borders. The Canada Southern Railroad was 
surveyed and graded through the southern part of the township, 
but will probably never be built. 

The first entry of land in this township was made by John Doug- 
las Oct. 11, 1835, who entered the west half of the northwest quar- 
ter of section 20. The 31st of the same month John Kerr entered 
the southwest quarter of the same section, and Nov. 11, 1835, 
Robert Jackman entered land in section 30. 

The first settler was Robert Jackman, who with his family came 
early in 1836, and built a log cabin on the southwest quarter of 
section 30, this being the first house erected in Richland Town- 
ship. H. E. Gordon carae in 1836 and entered the east half of the 
northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 30. Besides 
these, the following came previous to 1840: Samuel Jackman, Sam- 
uel W. Scoville, Betsey Jones, D. K . Jones, James Beecher, John 
Douglas, P. Hoag, A. Doolittle, William Letcher, Henry Letcher, 
George Letcher, James Kelly, James Beebe, Samuel Leonard, Asa 
Aldrich, Edward Johnson, Asa T. Beebe and Francis Stevens. 

(851) 



-i ^=^ — i| 






— — _ ^ 

852 BISTORT OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

In May, 1839, Kichland was separated from Otsego Township, 
of which it had been formerly a part. 

The first frame house was built in 1843 by Gera Goodale, who 
afterward removed to Scott Township, and now resides in Angola. 
The first school-house was a small log building, and was erected at 
Richland Center. At the same point was erected the first church, 
a Methodist Episcopal society having been formed about 1850. 
This church, which is now a frame structure, has about eighty 
members. The present pastor is Kev. J. C. Ambrose, of Hamilton. 

The first mill was built in the spring of 1842, by Horatio E. 
Gordon, which was the first frame building in the township. 

The first preacher was Elder Stealy, a Free-Will Baptist minis- 
ter, and Elder Town also preached occasionally. 

Richland Center is a small village, located mostly on the north- 
west corner of section 20. It is a convenient postoffice for the 
township, has a graded school and a store, the latter kept by John 
Douo-las, who is also Postmaster. The postoffice is known as 
Alvarado. 

Richland Township also contains a part of the village of Metz, 
which is spoken of more fully in the chapter devoted to York 
Township. Among the living pioneers of the township are H. E. 
Gordon, Samuel W. Scoville, Asa T. Beebe, D. K. Jones, George 
Letcher, Fred Enfield and Joseph Alton. 

The population of Richland Township in 1870 was 653, and in 
1880, 664 — an increase in ten years of only eleven. This is a den- 
sity of forty-one inhabitants per square mile. 

The following statistics of leading crops are for the last census 
year, 1880: Acres of wheat sown, 1,477; average yield per acre, 21^ 
bushels; total crop, 31,755 bushels; acres of corn, 1,032; average 
yield per acre, upland 40 bushels; bottom, 20 bushels; total crop, 
38,348 bushels; acres of oats, 569; average yield per acre, 37 bush- 
els; total crop, 21,053 bushels; acres of meadow, 461; average yield 
of hay per acre, 2 tons; total crop, 922 tons; acres in potatoes, 
76; average yield per acre, 35 bushels; total crop, 2,660 bushels. 

The total number of acres of land assessed in 1884 was 9,894.68; 
valueof same, $100,085; value of improvements, $19,850; value of 
personal property, $37,000; total valuation, $156,935; number of 
polls, 132; number of dogs, 48; total taxes levied, $3,698.57. As 
property is assessed on a basis of one-third, the actual wealth of 
Richland Township may be safely estimated at $470,805. 

In politics Richland has been strongly Republican since tha 

'^i« — - =5=;r^ 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 853 

party was organized, and before that time it M'as Democratic. 
The vote in 1840 was a tie. The largest majority ever given was 
in 1868, ninety eight for Grant. The following statement of the 
presidential vote since 1840 will show the political complexion of 
the township in the different presidential years, and also afford a 
good idea of the increase in population: 



1840— Martin Van Buren ^ ) rp. 

William H. Harrison 7 [ "^ 

1844— James K. Polk 16 5 

Henry Clay 11 

James G. Birney 1 

1848 -Lewis Cuss 31 9 

Zachary Taylor 23 

1852— Franklm Pierce 40 14 

Winfield Scott 26 

John P. Hale 11 

1856— John C. Fremont 69 30 

James Buchanan 39 

Millard Fillmore 5 

1860-Abraham Lincoln 96 76 

Stephen A. Douglas 20 

John Bell ...7 



1864— Abraham Lincoln 96 70 

Geo. B. McClellan 26 

1868— Ulysses S. Grant 102 64 

Horatio Seymour 38 

1872— UJysses S. Grant 116 98 

Horace Greely 18 

1876— Rutherford B. Hayes. . . 135 95 
Samuel J. Tilden. ..... .40 

1880— Jas. A. Garfield 125 80 

Winfield S. Hancock.... 45 

1884— Jas. G. Blaine 138 92 

Grover Cleveland 46 

Jno. P. St. John 3 

Benj.F. Butler 1 



A 



The following list comprises the various township ofiicers as 
elected since 1850, with the years in which they were chosen: 

Assessors. — 1850, David K. Jones; 1851, James Everhart; 1852, 
Francis Stevens; 1854, Samuel W. Scoville; 1856, William S. 
Gary; 1858, same; 1860, same; 1862, same; 1864, same; 1866, 
Ebenezer Hoadley; 1868, same; 1870, same; 1872, same; 1874, 
David B. Teeters; 1878, Ebenezer Hoadley; 1880, same; 1882, 
Andrew Groy. 

Justices of the Peace. — 1854, Henry Letcher; 1855, John Cam- 
eron and Horatio E. Gordon; 1859, John Gameron and J. W. 
Thomas; 1863, Marvin B. Gordon; 1864, John Gameron; 1868, 
Barnabas Allman; 1870, Barnabas Allman; 1872, James Robinett; 
1874, Barnabas x\llman and Gor. Grooks; 1876, Lyman A. Hix; 
1878, Barnabas Allman and Henry Allman; 1884, Barnabas 
Allman. 

Constables.— 1869, James Garlin and John Everhart; 1860, same; 
1861, James Garlin and David Scoville; 1862, John Waller and 
William Waller; 1863, Gharles Huyler and John Waller; 1864, 
James Garlin and W, Hand; 1865, James Garlin and Samuel Max- 
well ;|1 866, John Hall and William Waller; 1868, George Heller 
and Theodore Sergeant; 1870, James Garlin and E. Heller; 1872, 
John W. Larne and John G. Davis; 1874, Gharles Dean and John 
G. Davis; 1878, Thomas Ghase and George W. Reese; 1880, Ben- 
54 



^:^ ' ' — - ^ — * i^ 

C\ r ■ ~~~ — I f 

854 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

jamin McGrew and Amos Vaughn; 1882, Alonzo Williams and 
Liberty Slade; 1884, John Porter and Edward Inland. 

Tri(stees.—lS59, Noble Matthews; 1860, same; 1861, Eobert 
V. Carlin; 1862, same; 1863, John Holt; 1864, same; 1865, same; 
1866, Joseph W. Thomas; 1868, same; 1870, John Cameron; 1872, 
samn; 1874, M. B. Gordon; 1878, Allen Fast; 1880, same; 1882, 
Albert Morley; 1884, Albert Omstead. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Barnabas Allman was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 20, 
1833. His father, James Allman, was a native of Washington 
County, Pa., boni May 6, 1806, and when four years of age was 
taken by his father, Ebenezer Allman, fco Stark County, Ohio, 
where he was reared, and June 11, 1829, married Margaret Ans- 
paugh, who was born Sept. 25, 1810, a daughter of Jacob Ans- 
paugh. In 1842 they moved to Williams County, Ohio, where the 
father died, Sept. 13, 1846, and the mother still lives. They had 
a family of seven children — Mrs. Catherine Ingram, of Logansport, 
Ind.; Barnabas, Haman C, Mrs. Magdalene Ingram, John, Mrs. 
Agnes Pugh and Jacob. Haman enlisted in Company H, Thirty- 
eighth Ohio Infantry, and died of wounds received at the battle 
of Jonesboro Station, Ala. John lives on the old homestead with 
his mother. He served in the war of the Rebellion four years, a 
member of the same company as his brother Haman. Barnabas 
Allman was married Jan. 15, 1856, to Ellen Barcalow, a native of 
Bucks County, Pa., born Sept. 29, 1833, daughter of John and 
Martha Barcalow. They have six children — John B., Edith, 
Haman C, Martha, James and Margaret. In April, 1864, Mr. 
Allman moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 5, 
Richland Township, where he owns fifty acres of finely improved 
land. He also owns a farm of fifty acres on section 7, and another 
of thirty -five acres on the southwest quarter of the same section. 
He is one of the enterprising citizens and is now serving his 
township as Justice of the Peace. In politics he is a Republican. 

Joseph AUomong was born in Armstrong County, Pa., April 11, 
1824. The year of his birth his parents, John and Julia Ann AU- 
omong, moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where his mother died 
in 1828. His father's second wife was Catharine Riche. They 
moved to Florence Township, Williams Co., Ohio, where his 
father lived till his death in 1873. His father's family of six 
children were — Margaret, deceased, wife of Jacob Miller, of Ohio; 



■^ 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNT:f. 855 

Elizabeth, wife of John Simpkinson, a prominent citizen of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio; Susannah, of Cincinnati; John, on the old homestead 
of his father in Williams County; Joseph; Julia Ann, deceased, 
wife of Daniel Redmon, of Ohio. Joseph Allamong was, in his 
eighteenth year, given his time by his father, and started in life 
with no capital but strong hands and a willingness for hard work. 
In 1841 he contracted for 160 acres of land, his present home on 
section 20, obtaining a deed of it in 1844. To this purchase he has 
added till he now owns 456 acres, having deeded to his children 
163 acres. He was married April 28, 1843, in Stark County, Ohio, 
to Catherine Klingman, and made his home on her land in 1845. 
To them were born four children — William died in his nineteenth 
year; Becky Jane, wife of John Lint; Sarah E., wife of Jacob 
Anspaugh; John Wesley, at home. His wife died April 14, 1867. 
Aug. 3, 1870, he married Martha Jane Bell. She was born in 
Maryland, March 22, 1843; was living with her brother, Milton 
Bell, in this township at the time of her marriage. They have one 
child — Cyrus. In politics Mr. A.llomong is a Republican. He and 
his wife are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Allo- 
mong is one of the prominent citizens of the township and stands 
high in the respect and confidence of his neighbors. His son, 
John Wesley AUomong, one of the promising young men of the 
township, is 3'et one of his father's family. He owns considerable 
land and is industrious and of frugal habits,* and is fast becoming 
one of the influential and enterprising citizens. 

Jacob A. J. Anspaugh, son of John and Sarah Ann Anspaugh, 
wrs born in Florence Township, Williams Co., Ohio, April 24, 
1850. Jan. 1, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah 
Allomong, daughter of the well-known citizen Joseph Allomong, 
and commenced housekeeping at his present residence on section 
20, llichland Township. Hid farm is under fine cultivation; his 
residence and building improvements are especially good. Two 
bright children gladden their home — Clara E. and Lura. Mr. 
Anspaugh is one of the young, energetic men of the township, 
who are rapidly coming to the front as the older ones are passing 
from the stage of active life. In politics he is thoroughly Republi- 
can. He is a member of Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., and 
squares his life to the teachings of that order of which he is a 
worthy member. 

John Anspaugh was born in Stark County, Ohio, a son of Jacob 
and Barbara Anspaugh, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of 




^ 



(8 



856 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Stark County, settling there in 1808. Their children were — Jacob, 
of Williams County; Margaret, widow of James Allman; Jonas, 
deceased; Daniel, deceased; Mrs. Mary Hawk, of Pennsylvania; 
George, of Williams County, Ohio; Catherine and Samuel, deceased, 
and John. All were born in Stark County. In 1844 the family 
moved to Williams County, Ohio, where the father died in Octo- 
ber, 1857, aged eighty-eight years, and the mother Oct. 3, 1874, 
ao-ed eighty-seven years, John Anspaugh was married April 27, 
1847, to Sarah Ann Cain, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, born 
Oct. 11, 1830, daughter of Samuel and Hester Cain, natives of 
Pennsylvania, who after several changes settled in Williams County, 
Ohio, in 1838. They had a family of twelve children — Mrs. Sarah 
Ann Anspaugh, Mrs. Julia Ann Coon, Mrs. Rachel Anspaugh, 
Mrs. Delilah Owens, John (a member of the Fourteenth Ohio In- 
fantry, killed at Chattanooga), Mrs. Margaret Dick, Mrs. Cather- 
ine Myers, Mrs. Lucinda Mathews, Mrs. Ellen Knapp, Samuel, 
Elizabeth, and Henry (deceased). The mother died in June, 1852, 
and in 1854 the father married Rachel Meeks, of Williams County. 
Twelve children were born to them — Caroline, deceased, wife of 
H. Sowles; Isaac, of Williams County; Mrs. Minerva Omela, of 
Tennessee; David R., of Steuben County; Mrs. Amanda Morse; 
Almina, Charles, Clara and Benjamin, at home; Thomas B., George 
and an infant deceased. Mr. Anspaugh commenced married life 
in Florence Township, Williams Co., Ohio, remaining there sev- 
eral years. He was in early life very fond of hunting and en- 
joys nothing better now than to relate to delighted hearers details 
of his experiences and adventures. He settled on section 5, Rich- 
land Township, March 8, 1870, where he owns eighty acres of val- 
uable land. He is one of the representative citizens of Steuben 
County; in politics is a Republican. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the United Brethren church. They have had seven chil- 
dren, all born in Williams County, Ohio — Jacob A. J.; Samuel; 
Benjamin, died in the seventh year of his age; Hester, wife ot 
Charles D. Bowles; John L., an energetic, industrious young man, 
who lives with his parents; Mrs. Amanda Flegal and Henry 
Grant. 

Asa T. Beebe was. born in Madison County, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1814, 
a son of James and Zeborah Beebe, his father a native of Connect- 
icut and his mother of New York. Asa T. Beebe was in his fourth 
year when his parents moved to Knox County, Ohio. His father 
is livina: at Chesterville, Morrow Co., Ohio, aged ninety-three 







^^ 



k- 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



857 



years. His mother died about six years ago. He was married 
Feb. 16, 1837, in Delaware County, Ohio, to Nancy Dillingliam. 
He lived on his father's farm one year after his marriage and then 
moved to Steuben County, Ind., and located at Richland Center, 
where he lived about ten years, when he moved to his present resi- 
dence on section 20, Eichland Township, where he owns 100 acres 
of tine land. Mrs. Beebe died in 1853, leaving one child — Alvah 
O., a prosperous farmer of Williams County, Ohio. Mr. Beebe 
afterward married Mary Jane Merritt, a native of Ohio. After 
five years of married life Mrs. Beebe died, and Feb. 24, 1860, Mr. 
Beebe married Elizabeth Moore, who was born in Pennsylvania, 
Jan. 24, 1834. Mr. Beebe in politics is a Greenbacker. He and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. 
Beebe has by industry, frugality and attention to his business 
acquired a fair competence which he has used to make himself and 
family comfortable. He enjoys the respect and confidence of all 
who know him. 

Willia7n S. Gary was born May 16, 1818, and when a lad settled 
with his parents, John and Margaret Cary, in Knox County, Ohio, 
where they died. He was married in that county, Feb. 21, 1843, 
to Melissa Gordon, a native of New York State, born Jan. 28, 1825, 
daughtei' of William and Mary Gordon. In 1844 they settled on 
section 19, Richland Township, where Mr. Cary died Feb. 27, 1869. 
He was a man of irreproachable character, a Christian by precept 
and practice. Both he and his wife were members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal church. Mrs. Cary is a lady well known and highly 
respected. She still occupies the home which has been hers for 
forty-one years, jointly with her son Ellsworth, who was born Nov. 
29, 1861, and April 10, 1881, married Relefia Dally, born Feb. 26, 
1863, daughter of Vincent Dally. Her children were eight in 
number — Melvina, wife of William H. Keyes; Emaline, died aged 
seven years; Jane, died aged four years; Elizabeth, died aged 
twenty-one months; William G., of Angola; John L., died aged 
twenty- one years; Ellsworth and Freeman. Mrs. Gary's father, 
William Gordon, was born in Manchester, England, Sept. 17, 1773. 
His father was a man of great wealth and influence, a pliysician 
and silk manufacturer, giving employment to 700 operatives. When 
William was twelve years of age he played some pranks on one of 
the operatives for which he was severely punished by his father. 
This so enraged him that he ran away from home, and embarked 
on a whaler, making a voyage of three years. After many other 



-*i 



-w* 






^f 



J- 



858 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

adventures he enlisted in the Enjrlish army. His fatlier secretly 
used his influence and securel him a Colonel's commission. He 
served ten years, a part of the time under Wellington, and attained 
considerable distinction, but iinally determined to leave England 
forever. He visited and bade his mother good-by, but refused to 
speak to his father, and in 1802 embarked for New York City. He 
married there Sept. 25, 1809, and in 1814 became a resident of 
Morrow County, Ohio. He reared a family of eight children — 
James Nelson, Horatio E, Mrs. A. E. Fox, Marvin B., AVilliam 
W., Mrs. Cary, Hannah D. and Sydney W. His wife died in 
Ohio in 1873, aged eighty-four years. His latter years were full of 
regret for his treatment of his friends, and he planned a visit to 
England, but died in May, 1882, before carrying out his designs, 
aged 109 years. He retained his mental and physical strength till 
a few days before his death. 

Andrew Croy, son of John and Margaret (Mclntire) Croy, was 
born in Marion, Marion Co., Ohio, Sept. 11, 1826. He was reared 
a farmer, with very limited opportunities for education, living 
with his parents until twenty-two years of age. His father, John 
Croy, a son of Jacob and Sarah Croy, was born in Marion County, 
Ohio, in 1802, and married Margaret Mclntire in 1825. She was 
born in Ohio in 1805. In 1829, with their two children, Andrew, 
the sutiject of this sketch, and Mary, they moved to White Pigeon, 
Mich.!, thence the following year to Gilead, Branch County, of the 
same State, living there until 1838, when they became identified 
with Steuben County, buying 160 acres of Government land on 
section 32, York Township. In 1844 they sold their farm, and in 
1845 moved to Noble Township, Branch Co., Mich, Two or three 
years later they moved to Marion County, Iowa, where Mr. Croy 
died Nov. 13, 1875. John Croy was a pioneer man by nature and 
habit, robust and strong, energetic and undaunted by obstacles, a 
man whom all remember kindly for his honorable life and many 
good qualities. His widow survived in 1885, and was living on the 
homestead in that county. The children born after the parents 
moved to Michigan were — Levi, now of Guthrie County, Iowa, was 
born Oct. 31, 1829, the first white child born at White Pigeon; 
Mary Ann, wife of Andrew Fuller, of Gilead, was born in 1831, the 
first white child born at Gilead, Branch County; Sarah Ann, wife 
of R. O. Bowdish; Rachel, wife of Jacob Grate, and Mrs. Malinda 
J. Gray were born in Branch County, and now live in Marion 
County, Iowa; Henry. David and Elijah were born in Steuben County, 



dL 

fi 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



859 



Henry and David are deceased. David and Elijah were soldiers in 
the war of the Rebellion. Jacob Croj', the father of John Croj, 
was born in Maryland in 1781. He had a family of ten children, 
six sons and four daughters. He moved to Marion County, Ohio, 
where his wife and one son died. In 1833 he moved tc^ Lan-ano-e 
County, Ind., where he died in 1851, aged seventy years. He had 
a fine farm on Pretty Prairie. Andrew Oroy, the subject of this 
sketch, was married July 24, 1853, to Amanda L. Gates, a native 
of Broome County, N. Y. Three children were born to them — 
Alice, now wife of John Chdm]>ion; Almon W., of Anton County, 
Mich., and Alfred, who died in infancy. Mrs. Croy died Dec. 28, 
1869, aged thirty-six years. May 28, 1870, Mr. Croy married Sarah 
D. Eichmond, who was born in Ontario, Wayne Co., N. Y., May 
19, 1827. One child was burn of this marriage — Alta E., born 
Nov. 1, 1871. Andrew Croy came with his parents to this county 
in 1838, and, with the exception of less tlian two years, has been a 
resident since that time. He is a man much interested in all that 
pertains to the good of the public. In his early life he was de- 
prived almost entirely of schooling, but having a progressive mind, 
and being a constant reader and a close observer of passing events, 
he has overcome this lack. A Republican and quite prominent in 
local politics and is a trusty and trusted citizen. He has been for 
several years Assessor of Richland Township. He is a member of 
Angola Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., and the teachings of this 
honorable order he largely makes the rule of his action. 

John Douglas, merchant and Postmaster, Richland Center, Ind., 
was born in Richland Township, July 3, 1862, a son of Robert and 
Mary (Akers) Douglas. When he was tliree years of age his 
father died and his mother subsequently married James Hutchin- 
son, and lives in Hastings, Neb. His grandfather, John Douglas, 
was one of the pioneers of Richland Township, coming here in the 
early days of its settlement. He located on section 25, buying 
eighty acres of land upon which he made his home. He was born 
in Pennsylvania but was reared in Richland County, Ohio, where 
he married Mary Ann Kerr. Of their seven children three are 
living — Mrs. Martha J. Highland, of Michigan; Mrs. Margaret A. 
Slade, of Angola, and John, of Michigan. Those deceased are — 
Robert, Mrs. Matilda Everhart, Mrs. Lydia Newville and Diana. 
His wife died in 1853, and he subsequently married Eleanor Dou- 
gal, and to them was born one child — Mary Ellen, who died at the 
age of eighteen years. Mr. Douglas died Aug. 6, 1864, aged fifty- 



l'\ 



& 



fc_ J.«i . ■ *> J" 

860 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

five years. His widow survives and lives with our subject, whom 
she reared from his childhood. Our subject was reared a farmer, re- 
ceiving a good education in the common-schools of the township. 
In January, 1884, he bought the stock of merchandise of Morley 
& Son, and is now conducting a general mercantile business. His 
courteous, genial manners and accommodating disposition makes 
him well adapted to this branch of business, and he has a large and 
constantly increasing trade. He was married Sept. 26, 1882, to 
Susie Rudisill, a native of Lagrange County, Ind., born July 6, 
1862, daughter of Jacob Rudisill. Her father died when she was 
sixteen years of age, and her mother afterward married Harvey 
Olmstead, of Lagrange County. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. 
Douglas died in infancy, Nov. 16, 1884. A brother of Mr. Doug- 
las, Charles, makes his home with him. 

Melvin Gashlll was born in Ohio, July 31, 1853. His father, 
Asa Gaskill, was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1810, 
a son of Asa and Hannah Gaskill. In 1839 he visited Steuben 
County and bought 240 acres of land in York Township, paying 
$1,000 in cash for it, but returned to Ohio and was married Jan. 
13, 1846, to Mrs. Emily P. Benjamin, who was born Sept. 7, 1814, 
widow of David Benjamin, and daughter of Joseph Goodale. She 
died Jan. 17, 1864, aged forty-nine years, leaving two children — 
Emma, wife of Allen Fast, of Angola, and Melvin. The father was 
again married Jan. 21, 1868, to Olive Haskell, a native of Ohio, 
born Jan. 21, 1831, who, before her marriage, was a school teacher. 
They reside in Metz, their farm adjoining the village plat. Melvin 
Gaskill lived with his father till June 6, 1874, when he was married 
to Lizzie Norris, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born Oct. 
7, 1857, daughter of Abram and Mary Ann JSTorris. In 1867 her 
mother came to Steuben County, and settled in Richland Town- 
ship, where she died April 5, 1883. Her three children are — Ford, 
of Metz; Emma, wife of Asa Burch, and Mrs. Gaskill. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gaskill have had live children, four of whom are living — 
Fordis, Warren, Evile and Wayne. Their fourth child, Mamie, 
died at the ago of nine months. Thev are members of the Dis- 
ciples church, and among the prominent and prosperous young 
people of Richland Township. 

Ehenezer B. Hoadley was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, July 
25, 1807, a son of Gideon and Sarah Hoadley, natives of Connecti- 
cut and pioneers of Trumbull County. The father died in Stark 
County, aged 101 years, and the mother in Mahoning County, aged 



► V 



^! 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



861 



ninety-four years. Ebenezer B. Hoadley was married Jan. 8, 
1829 ' to Deborah McGowan, a native of Columbiana County, Utiio, 
bornAuc.. 2, 1810. They lived in Ohio till 1854 and then came 
to Steuben County, Ind., with their family and settled on section 
4 Richland Township, where they have since lived. Mr. lioaaiey 
bouMit 400 acres of land but has sold the greater part and is now 
livin- retired from the active labors of the farm. He has lived a 
useful life and is now reaping the reward of his labor. He was 
elected Assessor of PJchland Township, and served sixteen' succes- 
sive years. He has been a strong temperance man for over Mty 
years. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Disciples church. They have had a family of eleven 
children-Sylvester, who enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in 
the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Infantry, and died at Atlan a; 
Josiah, now of Dakota, served in the One Hundred and Eighty- 
ninth Ohio; Mrs. Martha Townsend, of Williams County, Ohio; 
Anna, died aged twenty-one years; Calvin, of Kansas, served four 
years in the Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry; Mrs. Hannah El is, of 
Michigan; Edward, died aged eight years; Mrs. Nellie Colwell and 
Mrs. Elizabeth Townsend, of Williams County, Ohio; Howai-d, ot 
Dakota, was a member of the Ninth Indiana Cavalry; Mrs. Emma 
Garside, of Williams County, Ohio. Thus in their old age they 
are left alone, their children all being settled with famihes of their 

'''' James Ireland, Sr., was born in Dutchess County, N. Y, 
March 16, 1816, and was four years of age when his parents, Will- 
iam and Charity (Rogers) Ireland, moved to Lower Sandusky, 
Ohio There the whole family were prostrated by sickness and two 
brothers, Harvey and Levi, died. In 1823 they moved to Seneca 
County, where the mother died in 1825. At that time there were 
five daughters and two sons, of whom three are now hvmg, James 
beinc. the eldest. Mrs. Betsey Hubbard lives in Colorado and Mrs. 
Aniline Dann lives in Northern Michigan. The father died m 
1858 When twelve years of age our subject went to Milan and 
lived with a brother-in-law, William Karkhuff, and attended school 
two years. Then worked by the month for some time and for four 
years was in the employ of a stage company, having charge of a 
route from Springfield to Sandusky. In 1840 he came to Allen 
County, Ind., and there married, Aug. 7, 1842, Sarah Ann Bracey, 
a native of Oswego County, N. T., born Nov. 20, 1824 daughter 
of Hiram and Bathsheba (May) Bracey. Her father died m 1839, 






862 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



and in October, 1842, her mother moved with her family to Allen 
County, Ind., where she died Nov. 6, 1878, the wife of Philip J. 
Shell. Mrs. Ireland went to Allen County with an uncle in 1841 
and was the first teacher in Springfield Township. In 1868 Mr. 
Ireland sold his farm in Allen County and moved to Steuben 
County and bought the farm on section 18, Kichland Township, 
where he now lives. To him and his wife have been born eight 
children— Lugenia M., Orlando, Harriet, Flora, Edward, Celia, 
Artemisia, James. Lugenia was married Feb. 28, 1865, to George 
W. Shell, who was born in Allen County, Feb. 17, 1840, and died 
Dec. 27, 1869, leaving one child— Cora D., now the wife of C. D. 
Lash, of Edon, Ohio. He was a member of the Forty-fourth In- 
diana Infantry and for gallantry at Shiloh, where he was wounded, 
was promoted to Captain of his company. June 24, 1875, Mrs. 
Shell married William Stuller, who was born in Carroll County, 
Ohio, in 1838. His father built the first house in Edon, Ohio. He 
died April 24, 1881, leaving two children by a former marriage — 
Mrs. Ella C. Scott and Mrs. Flora E. Boon. In the spring of 1883 
Mrs. Stuller moved to this township and settled on sectionl9, where 
she owns eighty acres of choice land. Orlando and Harriet are 
deceased. Flora married Melvin Monroe and lives in Kansas. 
Celia is the wife of Darwin Morley. Edward lives in this township. 
Artemisia married Zachary Chandler, and lives in Colorado. James 
lives in Hamilton. In politics Mr. Ireland is a Republican. In 
religious faith a Universalist. A brother of Mrs. Ireland, Walstein 
Bracey, was born in New York, June 2, 1830. In May, 1847, he 
enlisted in the Sixteenth Regiment, U. S. A., and served in the 
Mexican war under General Taylor. In 1852 he went to the Pa- 
cific coast and while there served in the Second California Cavalry, 
against the Indians. In 1866 he was employed by the Western 
Union Telegraph Company in transcontinental survey and visited 
Alaska and the Siberian coast. He endured six months of severe 
hardship, three months of the time had no provision except fish. 
That expedition so injured his health that he has never recovered. 
In November, 1867, he came to Indiana where he has since lived 
with the exception of two years in Dakota where he owns 480 acres 
of land. 

John S. Lint was born in Centre Township, Williams Co., Ohio, 
Sept. 15, 1845, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Lint, his father a 
native of^Pennsylvania and his mother of Holmes County, Ohio. 
They settled in Williams County in 1841, where the mother died in 



-7- 



J? 



&) 



-7t 




HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



1858 and the father still lives. Of a family of six children three 
beside our 'subject are living, viz.: William, Mrs. Mary Kreizer 
and Mrs. Lydia Shoup. John S. and William were both members 
of Company E,Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry, enlisting Sept.23,1862. 
Their first engagement was Stone Kiver; later Hoover's Gap, 
Mission Ridge, Atlanta campaign, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Jonesboro, Sherman's march to the sea, through the Carolinas to 
Washington, participating in the grand review May 22, 1865, and 
were discharged July 12. Aug. 1, 1869, John S. Lint was marned 
to Rebecca Allomong, a native of Richland Township, born March 
6 1847 daughter of Joseph and Catherine Allomong. They have 
three children-Flora, Mary and Martha. After their marriage 
they settled on the farm where they now live on section 20, where 
they have a pleasant home. They are among the most worthy citi- 
zens of the township. Mr. Lint is a member of Angola Lodge, No. 
236 F. & A. M., and also of Boon Post, No. 227, G. A. R., at 

Edon, Ohio. 

Albert Morley was born in Ontario County, N. Y., March 13, 
1832 a son of Ebenezer and Salinda Morley, the former a na- 
tive 'of Connecticut, born April 26, 1792, and the latter of 
Vermont, born in 1797. In 1842 Ebenezer Morley came to 
Steuben County, Ind., and settled on section 21, Richland Town- 
ship where he became a prominent and influential citizen. He 
died in 1864 and his wife in 1859. Of their family of eleven chil- 
dren five came with them to this county-David, now of Iowa; 
Jane wife of R. V. Dally; A^lbert; George, of Michigan; and James. 
Martin came later but returned East and died in Pennsylvania; 
Mrs Mary Perkins, deceased, also came later; Calvin came before 
the parents but is now a resident of Washington County, Neb. In 
his early life the father was a Democrat but his last vote was for 
the Republican ticket. Albert Morley is one of the active, public- 
spirited men of Richland Township, and has served the people m 
several offices of trust and responsibility. When he was fifteen 
years of age he began to take care of himself and learned the trade 
of a carpenter and joiner, subsequently becoming a master-builder 
and contractor. . He has worked at his trade the most of the time 
till within the past few years. Nov. 8, 1852, he was marned to 
Ruth Dally, who was born in Ohio, March 16, 1833. Their only 
child, Robert G., is a partner of his father in the ownership of the 
real estate and business. The farm contains 86 acres and is situ- 
ated on sections 19 and 20, the residence of the father being on 



» 



^%^ 



— ^ [ y^ 

864 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

section 19 and the son's on section 20. They were for some time in 
the mercantile business at Richland Center but in Januarj,1884, sold 
out to John W. Douglass. 

Robert G. Morley, the only son of Albert and Euth (Dally) 
Morley, was born in Richland Township, Jan. 11, 1855. He re- 
mained at home till his marriage, Oct. 3, 18T5,to Eugenia Gary, also 
a native of this township, born March 15, 1855, daughter of George 
and Cordelia Cary, now of Edon, Ohio, who settled in this town- 
ship from Knox County, Ohio, in 1850. Their homestead is now 
the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Morley. To them have been born 
three children — Leo R. , Nellie C. and Dea R. Robert G. Morley is 
one of the leading young men of Steuben County. In June, 1880, 
he was appointed County Surveyor to fill vacancy and served with 
such efficiency that he has since been elected three times to the 
same office. 

William A. Musser was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Feb. 
17, 1839, a sou of Henry and Mary (Leppard) Musser, natives of 
the same county, his father born in 1808 and his mother in 1810. 
His parents were married in 1838 and in 1854 moved to Crawford 
County, Ohio, and the next year to this county and settled on sec- 
tion 18, Richland Township, the home now of our subject, where 
the mother died July 15, 1859, and the father Feb. 18, 1861. Mr. 
H. Musser was in early life a Whig but after its organization af- 
filiated with the Republican party. He and his wife were mem- 
bers of the Lutheran church. Their children were five in number 
— William A., John, Edwin, Samuel and David. All save the 
youngest were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. Edwin en- 
listed in the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry and died at Henderson, 
Ky., of measles, in April, 1862. Samuel also gave his life for his 
country, enlisting in 1863, in Company A, One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and died at Chattanooga in May, 
1864. John was a member of Company B, One Hundredth Indi- 
ana Infantry. William A. Musser lived at home till his marriage 
Feb. 26, 1860, to Lucinda E. Stevens, who was born in Morrow 
County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1839, daughter of Jonathan and Susan 
(Langford) Stevens. Her mother died May 9, 1850, and her father 
afterward married Mrs. Jane Sprague. In 1853 he moved to Dela- 
ware County and in 1856 to Hardin Count}', Ohio, and three years 
later came to Steuben County, and settled in Scott Township. 
His family consisted of nine children, seven of whom are living — 
Mrs. Lydia Rapp, Mrs. Lucinda Musser, Mrs. Mary L. Hart, Mrs. 



*^- 



^ 



JV^ 






HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



865 



Sarah E. Hanna, Mrs. Snsau A. Zimmerman, Albert D. and Alex- 
ander. The eldest, GilmanB., enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Twenty-second Ohio Infantry and was killed at Winchester, Ya., 
in December, 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. Musser have been born 
two children — George W., born Feb. 22, 1861, and Ida Myrtie, 
born Ang. 6, 1867,died March 7, 1869. March IT, 1871," they 
adopted a little girl, Nora, at that time two years of age, now a 
bright young lady of sixteen years. They are active members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican. 
He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in Company H, One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served till Sept. 15, 
1865. He participated in the Atlanta campaign under General 
Sherman; was at Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's 
Station, and other battles of lesser note. After the fall of Atlanta 
he was with Thomas's army in the battles of Franklin and Nash- 
ville, and in all the engagements did his duty faithfully and dis- 
tinguished himself as a gallant and brave soldier. 

Albert H. Omstead was born in Springfield Township, Lagrange 
Co., Ind., March 15, 1853. His father, Harvey Omstead, lo- 
cated in Lagrange County in 1837, and there married Miss Gage. 
One son, Elijah, and daughter, Clarissa, were born to them, now 
residents of that county. After the death of his wife he married 
Mrs. Anderson, who died a short time, later. He then married 
Miss Elizabeth Burel, who died in 1864 leaving four children — 
Albert H., Mrs. Elizabeth Routsong, Mrs. Clara Jennings and 
Jacob A. Omstead, of Lagrange County. He is now living with 
his fifth wife, and at his last birthday, Dec. 7, 1884, was seventy- 
three years of age. Albert H. Omstead made his father's house 
his home till his eighteenth birthday, March 15, 1871, when he 
started for Oregon, and lived in that State at Baker City, Powder 
River Yalley, three years, and at Silver City, Idaho, nearly one 
year, engaged in farming and mining. Returning East he reached 
home in March, 1875. He rented the ' old homestead which he 
worked three years. In the spring of 1879 he became identified 
with Steuben County, buying the farm on section 17, Richland 
Township, where he has since lived. He owns 109 acres of choice 
land and his buildings are all comfortable and in good repair. His 
worth was soon recognized by his townspeople and his intelligence 
and honorable, upright life have won the confidence and esteem of 
all who know him. He was elected Township Trustee in 1884, a 
position he is filling with satisfaction to all. He was married 



"7- 



■|v 



\ « ^ -• • x^ 

•j — ~ — " 

866 HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

March 16, 1876, to Rachel Rudisill, who was born iu Lagrange 
County, Ind. , Oct. 6, 1852, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret 
Rudisill. Her father died Jan. 6, 1878, and her mother is now 
the wife of Harvey Omstead. To Mr. and Mrs. Omstead have 
been born two children — Harvey Jacob and Margaret E. 

Samuel W. Scoville and his wife were the second family to set- 
tle in Richland Township, coming in October, 1837. They settled 
on section 31, where they now live, the oldest resident settlers of 
the township, Robert Jackman, the first settler, having no repre- 
sentative here. Mr. Scoville was born in Onondaga County, K. 
Y., July 10, 1815, a son of David and Sally Scoville, the former, a 
native of Connecticut, died in Onondaga County in 1847, aged 
sixty years, and the latter, of New York, died in 1880, aged eighty- 
four years. His lather was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. 
Rosamond M. (Thompson) Scoville was born in Madison County, 
N. Y., Dec. :^7, 1817. Her father died in that county aged lifty- 
nine years, and her mother subsequently came to Steuben County 
and. died at the residence of her daughter, aged sixty-six years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Scoville were married March 15, 1837, and came the 
same year to Steuben County, entering 160 acres of land, of which 
he has made a fine home. He also owns thirty acres on section 
32. When seventeen years of age he learned the tailor's trade at 
which he worked ten year.-'. He took an active part in the organi- 
zation of the township and served several years as Trustee. He was 
County Auditor from 1856 till 1860; has served as Deputy Sheriff 
and Deputy Recorder, and also held commissions as Notary Pub- 
lic from the following Governors: Oliver P. Morton for four 
years from Jan. 23, 1861; Oliver P. Morton for four years from 
May 8, 1865; Conrad Baker for four years from Sept. 15, 1870; 
Thomas A. Hendricks for four years from April 5, 1875; James 
D. Williams for four years from April 5, 1879. Before the repeal 
of the Missouri Compromise he was a Democrat, but became 
active in the organization of the Republican party in this county. 
Although he has reached the allotted threescore and ten years he is 
still possessed of as much vigor and strength as most men of fifty 
years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scoville are firm believers in the good- 
ness of God toward all mankind, and in the faith that all will, 
through his goodness, be finally numbered among his people. In 
their home a genuine hospitality abounds and stranger and friend 
alike find a hearty welcome. Their son, James W., born Sept. 
13, 1838, was the first white child born in the township. He is 



-^Pv 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 867 

now in the mercantile trade in Cherokee County, Ala. Their 
second son, William T., died in infancy. Of their other cliildren 
Laura is the wife of George W. Twichell; Cornelia, of Henry S. 
Ball; EllaM., of Jerome B. Cheney, and Charley F., a promis- 
ing young man, is at home. 

William D. Scoville was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., Oct. 
27, 1822, a son of David and Sally Scoville. He lived with his 
parents till twenty-two years of age, on a farm, and has always 
followed agricultural pursuits for a livelihood. In 1854 he settled 
on his present farm on section 19, Richland Township, where he 
has eighty acres of choice land, all of the improvements having 
been made by him. He was married Oct. 27, 1849, to Clarissa 
ShefFel, who was born May 21, 1829, and died Jan. 12, 1862, leav- 
ing two children — Leonard, now of Labette County, Kas., and 
William W., at home. Dec. 23, 1862, he married Julia Ann Trow- 
bridge, who was born Dec. 29, 1840. She died Dec. 21, 1869, and 
also left two children — Clarissa E., of Eichland, and Elzena J., at 
home. Feb. 12, 1871, he married Mrs. Mary F. Watkins, a na- 
tive of Huron County, Ohio, born Feb. 8, 1839, daughter of De 
Witt and Lydia Hicks, early settlers of Stafford Township, De Kalb 
County, Ind., where the father died in 1846 and the mother in 
1863. They have had five children — Mattie F. and Myrtie E. 
twins, born Jan. 28, 1872; Ernest E., born October, 1876, died 
January, 1877; Frank D. and Fred S., twins, born Jan. 10, 1880. 
Mr, and Mrs. Scoville are members of the Disciples church and 
are among the most prominent and respected citizens. 

Garrett Waller was born in Morgan County, Ohio, Julv 14, 
1824, a son of David and Elizabeth Waller. In 1845 the parents 
and five of their children came to Steuben County and settled on 
section 8, Richland Township, where the father bought 160 acres 
of land. This he improved and made his home till death, April 
7, 1852. His wife survived till Aug. 3, 1874. The five children 
who accompanied them to Steuben were — William, now of Do 
Kalb County; Garrett; John, of Kent County, Mich.; David, died 
in January, 1865, and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Mathews. The other 
children were — Jesse, who settled in Scott Township the same year, 
where he died some years later; Sarah, deceased, wife of Moses 
Romans, who came in 1845; Anna and her deceased husband, John 
Smith, also came in 1845; Jacob, who settled with his family in 
De Kalb County in 1843, and later moved to Scott Township, 
Steuben County. Garrett Waller now owns the south half of his 



■7'i 



-♦- 



^ 



-« «> 



868 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



father's homestead, of which he has made one of the finest farms 
in the township. He was married Jan. 4, 1849, to Jane Sinkey, 
a native of Delaware County, Ohio, born May 19, 1827, daughter 
of Richard and Helen Sinkey, pioneers of De Kalb County, set- 
tling in Newville late in the year of 1833, Her father died in 
Montcalm County, Mich., in September, 1863, and her mother in 
May, 1864. Eight of their eleven children are living — Mrs. Wal- 
ler, John, Thomas, Abraham, Nancy, James, Luke and Daniel. 
The deceased are — Sarah, William and Henry. Mr, and Mrs. Wal- 
ler have had ten children — William H., a physician, of Angola; 
Margaret, died at the age of three years; Mrs. Nancy Hopkins, of 
Williams Count}', Ohio; Mrs. Anna Hopkins, also of Williams 
County; Mrs. Nora Cameron, of Steuben County; Adell, died in 
infancy; Ella, Lettie, David S. and Clarence are at home. Mr, 
and Mrs. Waller are members of the United Brethren church. In 
politics he is a Republican'. 







■ ^- 



_ W 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




lilllllllliM' 

0014 751 962 A 



■.'!■,•' •,>'«■ 



■;■'.»' 



■<^v»f 



yry.:'y, 



':m^-<lZ:y; 






../' 



i . 



r-'W'^.. 



.•,'\:-v'V';'M**^M!'..'. 




■■.■■ •.■■•-■v'W:'^^' 



■/■'f-iii:' ;■•[•'•:•;':• 



